Constance Scarlett’s a strong voice for science, in an era when science needs advocates
Age: 39
Job Title: President and CEO, Telus World of Science – Edmonton
As a kid growing up in Edmonton, Constance Scarlett was a self-professed “museum nerd.” Some of her fondest memories come from the times she spent at Fort Edmonton Park or at museums and galleries in the area.
Her experience with Telus World of Science was a little more hands on.
“As a lifelong Edmontonian, I used to love coming here as a kid. My dad would bring us to IMAX films. When I got a little bit older, my mom encouraged me to get a volunteer job here, which I did in junior high. Then I worked part time here in high school and university, at the box office. I’ve seen this organization over most of my life, and I’ve seen the impact it has on people, first-hand.”
Today, she’s the president and CEO of the newly renovated TWOSE, and she understands that the role it plays in education and advocacy is more important than ever. Social media is filled with misinformation and anti-science rhetoric.
“People can get information in more ways than they ever could before, but it’s not always correct information. But, science centres have always been places that people have trusted for information, and that has only increased over the last couple of years. [Early in] the pandemic, when our community wanted simple information about what was happening, the information that they needed, told in a way they could understand, they turned to us. And we take that responsibility seriously.”
TWOSE is a participant in Science UpFirst, a Canada-wide collective of researchers and educators who actively debunk the misinformation and disinformation that’s out there.
“The science centre has a role to play in leading that conversation in our community,” says Scarlett.
This article appears in the Nov/Dec 2023 issue of Edify
