This course is a collaborative effort, made possible by several individuals and organisations from the university and the communities. This is the first year (of what we hope will be many years) that the course is offered. It will be an adaptive learning experience for everyone involved. Constructive feedback by students, faculty, and community members is highly valued for future course improvements.
Instructor: Dr. Kelly Bannister <kel@uvic.ca>
Dates: May 1-30, 2003
Course advisors:
• Dr. Rod Dobell (UVic Public Administration)
• Mr. Stan Boychuk (Clayoquot Biosphere Trust)
• Dr. Barbara Beasley (former research coordinator, Long Beach Model Forest Society)
Course sponsors and community partners:
• Clayoquot Alliance for Research, Education and Training
• UVic Public Administration (Rod Dobell)
• Clayoquot Biosphere Trust (Stan Boychuk)
• Tofino Botanical Gardens (George Patterson)
• Pacific Rim National Park Reserve (Nadine Crookes)
• Nuu-chah-nulth Regional Aquatic Management Society (Gerry Schreiber)
• Raincoast Education Society (Jen Pukonen)
• Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council Fisheries (Josie Osborn)
• Toquaht First Nation (Anne Morgan)
• BC Parks (Jur Bekker)
• Sylvia Harron
Course theme and purpose:
What role does academic research play in resolving, or assisting communities to resolve, environmental and social problems? What specific challenges are involved in collaborative research between universities and communities? The objective of this course is to explore these questions, and to problematise the concept of "community-based research" in both theoretical and practical contexts. The focus will be on past and present social and environmental research in the Clayoquot Sound region of western Vancouver Island, with emphasis on problems arising in the process of community transformation from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based society.
Through out the course, students will be asked to consider questions such as: (i) What role (if any) does research have to offer in addressing local issues? (ii) What kinds of research and research relationships would be most suitable for a given context? (iii) What ethical or legal issues would need consideration in the research? (iv) What kinds of barriers exist at the university? In the community?
Course Format:
The course will be a dynamic combination of lectures, guest speaker presentations, class discussions, and a mandatory field component. A portion of the class time will be spent on campus, and another portion (i.e., field component) will take place in the Clayoquot and Northern Barkley Sound region of western Vancouver Island.
Course Schedule :
Thu 01 MAY/03
9:00am-12:00pm David F. Strong Building C124
• Class introductions
• Distribution of course readings
• Required reading assignment (Due: May 12 th at 9 am)
• Initial discussion about course project (Due: June 20)
• Payment of course fee ($150 estimated)
Fri 02 MAY/03
9:00am-4:00pm Location David F. Strong Building C126
• Lecture
• Overview of course
• Preliminary plans for field trip
• Guest Speaker:
• Dr. Rod Dobell (Professor, Public Administration) on theoretical practical background behind the Clayoquot Alliance for Research, Education and Training
• Class discussion
Mon 05 MAY/03 through Fri 09 MAY/03 (inclusive)
• No formal classes
• This time should be used to complete the required reading and assignment
Mon 12 MAY/03
9:00am-4:00pm (with break for lunch) David F. Strong Building C124
• Submit reading assignments A-C
• Class discussion on reading/assignment
• Lecture Topic
• Community-based Research
• Guest speaker presentations
• Dr. Anne Marshall (Professor, Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies) on interdisciplinary research and community-university collaborations from an academic perspective
• Ms. Suzanne Batten (Ph.D. Student in Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies) on Participatory action research
Tue 13 MAY/03
9:00am-12:00pm David F. Strong Building C124
• Guest Speaker
• Dr. Warren Magnusson (Professor, Political Science) on research considerations in Clayoquot Sound from a sociopolitical context
Wed 14 MAY/03
9:00am-4:00pm (with break for lunch) David F. Strong Building C124
• Lecture Topic
Science Shops and other models of Community-University Collaboration (Janet Dunnett, MPA student in Public Administration)
• Guest Speaker
• Dr. Martin Bunton (Professor, History) on property rights and community-based management regimes in the Clayoqout Sound region
Thu 15 MAY/03
9:00am-4:00pm (with break for lunch) David F. Strong Building C124
• Lecture Topic
• Standard of Research Conduct and the evolution of the "CLARET Protocols Project"
Fri 16 MAY/03
9:00am-4:00pm (with break for lunch) David F. Strong Building C124
• Guest Speaker
• Dr. Michael M'Gonigle (POLIS Project on Ecological Governance) on the role of the university in "community"
• Visit to VIPIRG and discussion of public interest research
• Field trip plans
Tue 20 MAY/03 through Tue 27 MAY/03 (inclusive)
• Field trip to Clayoquot and Northern Barkley Sound
Thu 29 MAY/03
1:00pm-4:30pm Centre for Innovative Teaching 120
• Student oral presentations
Fri 30 MAY/03
9:00am-11:30 pm Centre for Innovative Teaching 120
• Guest speakers:
• Gyspy Wilson (Iisaak and Clayoquot Biosphere Trust) on the Iisaak Sustainability Project
• Sharmalene Mendis (Masters student, U Sask) on her recent research experiences in the Clayoquot Sound region
12:00-4:00 University House 4
• Group lunch
• Course wrap-up
• Feedback on course
• Submission of field journals or journal summaries
• Approval of course projects
Course reading:
No text book is required for the course. Required reading material will be provided on the first day of classes. Recommended reading will be placed on reserve at the library.
Course project:
Each student will be required to complete a course project. The project will be directly related to the course material and/or field experience but individualised for each student and selected in consultation with the instructor. Projects can take the form of a written paper of approximately 3000 words (e.g., literature review, mock research proposal, critique), or an alternative form agreed by student and instructor.
Evaluation for Grade:
• Reading assignment A-C 20% (due May 12)
• Reading assignment D 10% (due May 16)
• Participation and contribution to class discussion 10%
• Field Journal (or summary) and oral presentation 20% (presentations May 29)
• Course project 40% (due June 20)
Notes on field component (May 20-27):
The field time will include visiting a variety of sites and community contexts where research and related activities take place, hearing presentations by First Nations and non-First Nations community members, and having group discussions. Some participation in community projects may be involved (note: this is not a methods course). We may be joined by some community participants during the field component.
The field component is an integral part of the course that will require a flexible attitude and cooperative effort of all students. The instructor will take care of arrangements for travel, accommodation and activities. The students will participate in coordinating food and other supplies. Class time will be provided for planning and organisation. The course fee (approximately $150 per student) will cover basic transportation and accommodation costs. Food and personal items will be extra. Note that the field component is heavily subsidized through cash and in-kind support of the course sponsors and partners.
Minimalist accommodation at the Tofino Community Centre will be provided in Tofino as a base for activities. Restaurants are accessible in Tofino but a kitchen is also available for cooking. Students will need their own sleeping bag and bed roll, as well as rain gear and other personal items (also to be organised in class). PLEASE NOTE THAT SPACE WILL BE LIMITED FOR GEAR. Practical, casual clothes and footwear are strongly recommended.
Transportation to Ucluelet/Tofino will be by two 7-passenger minivans. Four student drivers will be needed for the vans. Mild to moderate hiking will be involved.
Students will be requested to sign a waiver form prior to the field trip.
Students will be required to keep a field journal. In the final classes, each student will give an informal oral presentation to the class and submit a written summary of their journal.
More specific details on the field activities will be made available during the course but tentative plans include:
• Introduction, led by Mr. Stan Boychuk (Executive Director, Clayoquot Biosphere Reserve).
• Tour of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve's new interpretive trail and introduction to Nuu-chah-nulth cultural perspectives, led by Ms. Nadine Crookes (First Nation Program Manager, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve of Canada).
• Tour of Tofino Botanical Gardens and discussion of research needs, opportunities and plans for a research centre, led by Mr. George Patterson (Director, Tofino Botanical Gardens).
• Forest hike down Willowbrae Trail enroute to Half Moon Bay beach to explore old growth and second forests, discuss forest structure and its affect by logging and natural disturbance, and discuss current research, led by Dr. Barbara Beasley (former research coordinator, Long Beach Model Forest Society).
• Rocky intertidal exploration at Big Beach and hike along part of the Wild Pacific Trail in Ucluelet to examine intertidal biodiversity and discuss eco-tourism issues and the need for research/education, led by Dr. Barbara Beasley. Discussion of Ucluelet Harbour Project, led by Mr. Gerry Schreiber (Stewardship Coordinator, Nuu-chah-nulth Aquatic Management Society).
• Visit to wetlands along highway and setting of traps for larval amphibians, combined with discussion on how forestry and highways affect amphibian populations, and current research in collaboration with community members and Parks Canada, led by Dr. Barbara Beasley.
• Discussion of the Protocols Project/Standard of Conduct for Research with Clayoquot and Northern Barkley Sound Communities with Gerry Schreiber, Nadine Crookes and Kelly Bannister
• Visit to Chesterman Beach and Tofino Mudflats Wildlife Management Area to look for shorebirds and talk about monitoring by local naturalists in cooperation with Parks Canada; discussion of development and ecotourism issues related to environmental stewardship, led by Dr. Barbara Beasley and Jur Bekker (Clayoquot Area Supervisor, Environmental Stewardship Division) .
• Visit to Clayoquot Island Preserve on Stubbs Island (annual community event).
• Visit to the Raincoast Interpretive Centre and presentation on community research activities, led by Jen Pukonen (Raincoast Interpretive Centre).
• Discussion on local research archives and database with Ms. Sylvia Harron (community researcher, Clayoquot Alliance for Research, Education and Training) and presentation on tourism in the region.
• Visit to Toquaht Band Office and discussion of Huaciiyuk wap Ciqyak "Bringing Back the Language" (Nuu-chah-nulth Language Project), led by Ms. Anne Morgan (Cultural and Education Coordinator, Toquaht First Nation and Chairperson, Hu?aciiyuk' w ap Ciqyak).
• Summary presentation on biology, conservation principles, socioeconomic concerns, and First Nations issues related to Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council Fisheries, led by Ms. Josie Osborne (Tribal Council Fisheries)
• (Optional) "Cultural Mystery trip" with Gisele Martin (Tla-ook Adventures) involving a 4-hr paddle to Meares Island by canoe and a hike to explore native plants and learn about cultural history and traditional knowledge of the Tla-o-quiaht First Nation (cost is extra)
Course Syllabus
Course Syllabus
Standard of Research Conduct