To Be Part of the Controversy Around Metallic Pollution in Québec, or Not to Be?

• In Event: 52.078 - Equity in Science Teacher Education: Toward an Expanded Definition

Abstract

Since October 2012, a controversy has been unfolding in a Quebec City neighbourhood known as Limoilou over the issue of nickel contamination caused by port activities related to the transshipment of ore. In addition to introducing the problem of red dust to the media, the citizens involved in this controversy have produced scientific knowledge which has been used by all the actors involved, enabling them to understand the situation and act upon it (Lalande & Duchesne, 2013a, b, c). More specifically, the efforts of Véronique Lalande and Louis Duchesne as well as many other citizens have revealed that the nickel dust falling on Limoilou and the surrounding areas poses a health hazard, has been found in the air in the downtown areas of Quebec City for approximately ten years, emanates from the Port of Québec and affects a wider area than initially thought. The controversy over the metallic pollution has involved specific instances of citizen participation in terms of (re)defining the problem, producing scientific knowledge and identifying possible avenues for action.

In this paper, as an answer to the question « How am I part of the controversy around metallic pollution? », I explore the ways in which I have been engaged in the sociopolitical development of the controversy as a researcher, but as well, as an female intellectual resident of Limoilou (Lamoureux, 2013). For an example, I have been documenting the situation in academic journals (Author, 2014a, 2014b), made a joint presentation with Véronique Lalande in a science education course (Author and Lalande, 2014), have written letters (Author and colleague, 2013; Author, 2013; Author, in press) and an opinion piece for the general press (Author, colleague, & colleague, 2014). Further more, I meet regularly with Véronique Lalande (who has become a friend) to discuss the ins and outs of the controversy and finally, I work on a book intending to highlights the impacts of citizen involvement in the controversy.

In addition to exploring the ways I engage in the controversy, I discuss four of the goals that I have set for myself with a concern for social justice, solidarity and inclusion: 1) to highlight the capacity of citizens to understand and produce relevant knowledge (including scientific knowledge) (Author, 2008), 2) to bring out the effects of citizen involvement on the actions undertaken by the industrial, port and government authorities in place, 3) to help introduce the controversy in classrooms, and 4) to encourage and support the engaged citizens in dealing with the socio-political aspects of the situation. In other words, for my part, it is less a question of empowering the citizens (who have already shown themselves to be empowered) than carrying out a theoretical and more symetric analysis of their capacities and actions and thus countering the prevalence of the model whereby citizens are generally seen as suffering from a knowledge deficit and being incapable of grasping the complexity of scientific issues (Author, 2009, 2014c).

Author

• Chantal Pouliot, Université Laval