Challenging the way we think
Developed in partnership with the Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF), Behind Racism: Challenging the Way We Think is a new exhibition that explores the mental processes that contribute to racism and discrimination. It shows how the processes that can help us think and act quickly can lead to dangerous biases against people who are different from us. This show challenges visitors to acknowledge the role these processes play in their own lives while exploring some of Canada’s history and its connection to present-day racism and inequities.
With help from interactive components, visitors will learn about the science of cognition and perception, including how interference, bias, blindspots and other mental processes can help—or hinder—our ability to understand the world around us.
This exhibition asks visitors to consider: What if we could better understand the mental processes that lead to inequity? Could we unearth the roots of racism in ourselves, alter our own behaviours and effect greater change across our communities and institutions?
Confronting racism in Canada
Behind Racism: Challenging the Way We Think also looks closely at the real-life effects of bias, discrimination and exclusion in Canada.
It features individual accounts from people who have experienced unfair treatment and discrimination in their everyday lives. This exhibition also showcases powerful statistics that demonstrate how systemic racism continues to harm Indigenous communities, Black communities and other racialized groups.
This exhibition aims to help visitors challenge bias, prejudice and racism in their daily lives. It encourages a renewed focus on working together—whatever our backgrounds—and celebrating our differences.
The exhibition and its tour are presented by the Canadian Race Relations Foundation with the generous support of the Government of Canada and in partnership with Mosaic Institute, the Ontario Science Centre and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
Science Centre admission is not required to visit this special exhibition.
Information From: Ontario Science Center
