J. Lawrence Bencze, Associate Professor Emeritus

Using action research to promote/study ecojustice via science education

Welcome to my website! I am a 'semi-retired' science/STEM education professor, doing some university service (i.e., FOE Chairing; SMT Participation), but mainly focusing on my 'STEPWISE' research & publication project. This work is driven by my concerns about risks &/or harms (e.g., climate crises; food system collapses; military wars/invasions; rich-poor divides; etc.) within STEM-SE relationships. Although many such risks/harms seemed linked to STEM fields, they seem mainly due to capitalist influences on many/most entities - including, for example, on science/STEM education, popular culture & politics. 

Based on the STEPWISE framework, I facilitate action research to develop effective approaches in science/STEM education that help students to critically analyse STEM-SE relationships and develop & implement research-informed & socially-negotiated sociopolitical action (RiNA) projects to help overcome risks &/or harms of their concern in such relationships.

Broadly, STEPWISE is particularly aimed at countering pro-capitalist networks to help increase global social justice & environmental vitality. Elaborations of my views are available in my Position Statement and via my publications; and, you can access related pedagogical resources here.

'Larry' Bencze

'Larry' Bencze

John Lawrence Bencze
Dept. of Curriculum, Teaching & Learning
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)
University of Toronto
252 Bloor St. W.
Toronto, ON, M5S 1V6
Canada

 

E-mail: larry.bencze@utoronto.ca
Website: www.lbencze.ca
STEPWISE Research: www.stepwiser.ca

 

Note: I now live in Kingston, ON, but can and often do come to Toronto for meetings.