We are an Indigenous-led home for critical and creative research on the politics of technoscience
The Labs
Since 2007, the Technoscience Research Unit at the University of Toronto has served as an Indigenous-led hub for scholars in science, technology, and environment, supporting Indigenous, feminist, queer, environmental, anti-racist, and anti-colonial methodologies through projects, labs, and working groups focused on Environmental Data Justice, Indigenous Science, Technology & Environment Studies, and Indigenous Science and Ethical Substance.
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The Environmental Data Justice Lab is an Indigenous lab that focuses on the relationships between data, pollution, and colonialism with a focus on Canada’s Chemical Valley, where 40% of Canada’s Petrochemicals are refined, and which is on the territory of Aamjiwnaang First Nation. The lab is dedicated to community-based and led research, and is co-led by M Murphy (Red River Metis) and Vanessa Gray (Aamjiwnaang First Nation). The lab includes students, faculty, and community researchers.
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The ISES Lab brings Indigenous STS and community-based methods to transform material discovery, our understanding of chemical risk, and and frameworks of ethical substance. We strive to ensure the ethical integration of Indigenous knowledges and values into research design for chemistry, chemical management, and materials discovery.
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Indigenous contributions to science, technology, and environmental studies (STES) signal a new era of research collaboration. Fields as distinct as chemistry, AI, and pharmacy now seek to collaborate with Indigenous scholars. At the same time, Indigenous scholars are taking the lead in developing their own methods of Indigenous research suited to data and computationally driven research conditions, current and future technologies, and urgent environmental needs while transforming policies, protocols, and practices that support self-determination. The Technoscience Research Unit is committed to advancing the research in the field of Indigenous Science, Technology, and Environmental Studies (ISTES) at the University of Toronto and globally.
We are a mix of Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers creating a decolonized and feminist Research Community.
The Technoscience Research Unit at the University of Toronto is an Indigenous-led home for critical and creative research on the politics of technoscience. The TRU draws together social justice approaches to Science and Technology Studies from across the university with an emphasis on Indigenous, feminist, queer, environmental, anti-racist and anti-colonial scholarship.
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Spotlight Features
TRU to Steward $22M New Frontiers in Research Fund - Transformation Grant
Led by Indigenous researchers and the Technoscience Research Unit at the University of Toronto, this project re-envisions chemical risk management amid environmental crisis.
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IEDJ Publication Announcement
M. Fernanda Yanchapaxi and M. Murphy’s “Indigenous Environmental Data Justice” examines how Indigenous communities advance data sovereignty through practices that challenge colonial environmental data systems.
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Community Publications from Aamjiwnaang
The Environmental Data Justice Lab published two pieces on Aamjiwnaang First Nation’s environmental relations: Understanding Our Surroundings – Tanks and Suncor’s Crude Oil Spill on the Gchigami-Ziibii.
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ISTES Publication Announcement
Staff scholar Dr. Reena Shadaan’s new paper, “‘It’s a mixture of emotions’: Nail technicians’ visual storytelling of work and health,” uses arts-based research to center participants’ imagery and narratives, shifting chemical relations from the lab to everyday life.
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Become a TRU Member!
We welcome applications from academics, community members, and others who connect with our work. As an Indigenous-led lab, we strive to create a decolonized and feminist research community.
Join us for the
2025/2026 Technoscience Salon:
Ethical Grounds
The Technoscience Salon is an open forum for entangling intellectual and political questions about technoscience across the disciplines composing Science and Technology Studies. TRU is thrilled to announce this year's Technoscience Salon Series: Ethical Grounds.
