Under the guidance of faculty member Dr. Alexandra Arraiz Matute and OPH Officer Hanan Ghazal, students enrolled in the Critical Approaches to Child Development course delved into real-world applications of their studies, crafting valuable resources aimed at enhancing youth involvement in public health initiatives. Their efforts did not go unnoticed, as several groups from the class submitted their work to a city-wide competition.

We are proud to announce that our students Chloe Sykes, Will Bordeleau, Jemma Woschitz and Natasha Kislev secured the top prize for 杏吧原创 University, and Kate Belanger, Vivian Jaquemet, Alexandra Kropop and NooralHooda Eedan earned recognition among the top 12 groups city-wide. Their outstanding achievement not only reflects their dedication and creativity but also underscores the impactful contributions our students make to the broader community.

As the only Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) department represented in this competition, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to the students for their remarkable achievement. Their commitment to academic excellence and community engagement exemplifies the values we uphold within the FASS community.

We extend our gratitude to all the students who participated in CityStudio Ottawa and commend their dedication to making a meaningful difference in the world around them!

Check out this recent interview by The Childhood, Law & Policy Network (CLPN) featuring co-editors and . In this interview, Julie, Director and Full Professor in IIS at 杏吧原创, and Neil, University of Toronto, discuss their recent edited collection, 鈥�.鈥�

The interview can be found

: Insight Development Grants support research in its early stages. They enable the development of new research questions, as well as experimentation with new methods, theoretical approaches or ideas. Funding is provided to individuals or teams for projects of up to two years.

The article is titled 鈥淐onsidering Children in Museums,鈥� and was written by Rebecca Friend, a current IIS Contract Instructor and previous Childhood and Youth Studies Teaching Assistant. This piece tackles the important work of moving towards a 鈥淣ew, critical Children鈥檚 Museology鈥� in which children are engaged as 鈥減otential partners and co-producers鈥�.

See the article .

Abstract:
This article explores the ethics and transformative potential of youth participatory action research (yPAR) using data from a 2-year school-based yPAR study at an elite, independent school in Toronto, Canada. I use discourse analysis to show how school-based yPAR with racialized girls intensified their experiences of gendered racism, shaping the research in a circular fashion. I demonstrate how youth researchers’ strategies for counteracting this intensification contradicted the project’s critical race feminist investments. This study concludes that yPAR facilitators must address the potential/actual harm of youth researchers’ involvement in yPAR as part of the research process.

First published: 15 December 2023 |

Room 4207, 4th floor, Maanjiwe Nendamowin building,
University of Toronto Mississauga, UTM

1535 Outer Circle Mississauga, ON L5L 3E2

Mayurika Chakravorty will draw upon children’s fantasies from Bengal during the colonial period to speak about anti-colonial nationalism and the role of children’s literature, especially fantasy literature, against the backdrop of the subcontinent’s tumultuous sociopolitical landscape at the time. Particular focus will be on the genre’s propensity for subversion of authority, both political/colonial as well as cultural/literary.

Mayurika Chakravorty is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English and the Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies (Childhood and Youth Studies program), 杏吧原创 University, Canada. Her research focuses on fantasy and speculative fiction; children鈥檚 literature; and the representation of children and youth in literature and media. Dr. Chakravorty holds a Ph.D. from the School of Oriental and African Studies, London, UK and was a Felix doctoral scholar. Her first book, based on her Ph.D. research on fantasy and speculative literature in colonial India, is forthcoming in 2024.

Provost Scholar Award Virtual Ceremony

Question 1: How has your experience in Child Studies been?

My experience has been wonderful. It started with meeting Georgina Cole (CHYS undergrad administrator) who was absolutely helpful and welcoming in answering my inquiries (that made a big difference and I felt welcomed even before I was a part of CHYS!). That led me to enrolling in the program. Our professors are knowledgeable and encouraging as well. They have made the learning experience engaging, I especially loved the project -based learning outcomes that are part of some of the courses (such as writing children’s book or working on a project one is passionate about). Finally, the friends I have made through the program.. we were there for each other when times were stressful or otherwise.

Question 2: What led you to becoming a part of the Childhood and Youth Studies program?

There is no simple answer to this. My educational path has been anything but straight-forward. I think I was curious about the courses offered in the program and my previous work with children. AND shout out to Georgina who made me feel welcomed!

Question 3: What helped you to be so successful and receive these awards?

Success is very subjective. I was not setting out to win the award, I didn’t even know it was there. For me success was measured as going from one point to the other having gained some skills as a bonus! Throughout my time at 杏吧原创, I appreciated having had opportunities in which students can learn from and contribute, such as research or volunteer etc.

Question 4: What advice would you give to future students who would like to receive the Provost Scholar Award and the Peter J. Ricketts Award?

My advice for students is to set goals for themselves and reaching those goals. I encourage students to reach out to their professors and seek opportunities, advice etc. It is also equally important to be curious about things that deeply resonate with you (learn about that, ask questions, write it, share it).

Question 5: What are your future plans?

For the future, I plan on pursuing graduate work in critical studies and write children’s books.

Thank you so much Hikmet! We at the IIS wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

For more information on the Provost Scholar Award Recipients:聽/provost/2021/provost-scholar-awards-announced/

Provost Scholar and Peter J. Ricketts Award Winner Hikmet Mawi