Cross-Disciplinary Interpretation: Art, Science, and School Learning
Presenters: Shirin Divanbeigi and Madalina Raduta, Aga Khan Museum; Julie Jones and Martin Fischer, Ontario Science Centre
Join Shirin Divanbeigi and Madalina Raduta of the Aga Khan Museum and Julie Jones and Martin Fischer of the Ontario Science Center as they discuss their collaborative school-museum partnership. A Q&A will follow the presentation.
This session introduces collaboration, outlines its learning goals, and examines the value of school–museum partnerships. The presenters will share how they developed and implemented cross-disciplinary interpretive approaches.
The Aga Khan Museum and the Ontario Science Centre collaborated to reinterpret the Aga Khan Museum’s collections for school audiences through both artistic and scientific ways of thinking. Grounded in object-based learning and inquiry-driven pedagogy, this partnership created interdisciplinary pathways for engaging with Islamic art.
Presenter bios:
Shirin Divanbeigi works in interpretation and digital learning at the Aga Khan Museum. She creates interactive programs, media, and educational resources that translate complex artistic and historical ideas into meaningful visitor experiences, making Islamic art accessible and relevant to contemporary audiences. Her work combines educational strategy, creative direction, and cross-department collaboration.
Madalina is the full-time Educator at the Aga Khan Museum. In her role, she develops and teaches award-winning school and community programs. As an Ontario Certified Teacher and a visual artist, Madalina strives to deliver programs through a welcoming and accessible learning environment.
Julie’s formal education is in Forestry, and she has a passion for physics. During her 30+ years at the Science Centre she has developed both exhibits and public programs. For the last 10 years, Julie has led the operation of Science School and developed/delivered curriculum-based programs for students.
Martin loves combining scientific rigor with creativity and curiosity, inspiring both learners and teachers to experience awe and wonder through hands-on exploration and deep questioning. He holds a Master’s degree in Geography from the University of Zurich and has been a science educator for 25 years.
Cost to attend:
- IC Members: this event is free, but we invite you to choose to donate between $5 and $20 to help IC cover costs of planning our professional development sessions
- Non-members: $60
Cancellation policy:
If you wish to cancel your registration and are a non-member who has paid for a ticket, please note that refunds are only offered if the cancellation is made 72 hours or more in advance of the event. No refund will be issued if you cancel within the 72-hour period. Refunds can only be offered via e-transfer and may take 1-2 weeks to be processed. To request that a refund, please email info@interpretationcanada.ca. Non-attendance at an event does not qualify for a refund.
