Abstract

In this presentation, Dr. M.J. Barrett reflects on her personal and scholarly journey towards more ethical, multispecies relations. She explores how threshold concepts — ideas that are troublesome, transformative, and often irreversible — can function as portals that help individuals move from dominant, human-centred epistemologies into more relational, multispecies ways of knowing. She will also share some key findings from recent research focusing on intuitive interspecies (human-animal) communication.

Biography

Weaving intellect and intuition, Dr. M.J. Barrett’s research focuses on transformative sustainability education and intuitive interspecies communication. Her research has developed pedagogical processes and theoretical framings for transformative sustainability learning and research methods where the more-than-human world is respected as intentional, intelligent and communicative. Dr. Barrett’s research also illustrates ways in which conventional thinking reinforces knowledge and species hierarchies. She is now an adjunct professor at University of Saskatchewan where she worked as a faculty member for 14 years. She holds degrees from Harvard University (AB), York University (MES), Queen’s University (BEd) and University of Regina (PhD).