Inspiring women and girls to take a different path
As a new graduate student at Cape Breton and Memorial universities, I'm on a career path that isn't a traditional one for women.
I'm working on my master's in process engineering, after completing a degree in environmental engineering and obtaining my designation as a professional engineer.
My education continues in the direction of a STEM career — focused on science, technology, engineering and math. Studies show that this is not a typical career path for women. Among workers aged 25 to 64 in scientific occupations in Canada, only 28 per cent are women, according to data collected by Statistics Canada in 2016. That's one of the reasons I welcomed the opportunity to work with local women on CBU's Island Wise (women in sciences and engineering), during my graduate programming.
Island Wise is a program designed to bring STEM to young girls and women across Cape Breton. The goal is to build interest and enthusiasm in science, technology, engineering and math careers, targeting girls in Grades 6-12. As an engineering student, a woman and a mom of two girls, Island Wise speaks to me on many levels.
Island Wise provides an opportunity for girls to meet female role models, who can answer their questions about why they picked their career path and what challenges they faced. For girls who may not know anyone in science or engineering, meeting women working in these fields makes it feel achievable. That's been part of my personal experience, after a chance meeting with Stephanie MacQuarrie, associate professor of chemistry at CBU.
As the local champion for Island Wise, MacQuarrie encouraged me to consider graduate studies and continue my academic career in the field of process engineering — something I had always considered. Meeting women, who like me, are raising children, finding work-life balance and pursuing their scientific career goals was so inspirational it gave me the confidence to embrace those challenges.
Island Wise is one of several initiatives across Canada designed to build interest and raise awareness of STEM and related careers and opportunities.
The program is free, thanks to support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada through its PromoScience program.
MacQuarrie, (mentor to me and many other aspiring STEM professionals), launched the program at CBU in 2010. She's built a powerhouse of female role models from the university and the larger community. With their support, Island Wise began offering day camps and science retreats, aiming to broaden the horizons of young girls, providing examples of the many careers in science, technology, engineering and math where women are thriving.
Last year, the Globe & Mail published an article that read “You can't be what you can't see,” a story about a photographer who created an exhibit of women working in STEM fields. This visual representation celebrates Canadian women who demonstrate leadership, diversity and expertise in STEM. That's what Island Wise is working towards, providing access to the role models that will allow young girls, as well as those in under-represented groups, to see living examples of women achieving success in STEM careers.
Experiential and inquirybased learning, two of the models in the Island Wise approach, provide handson experiences in STEM to build knowledge. Simply stated, Island Wise gets girls involved in fun and intriguing science activities, provides connection with female role models and introduces exciting possibilities for future careers.
So, it's 10 years later and the program continues to grow and evolve, with 2020 bringing a shift in how we are making it happen.
This year, Island Wise is offering online learning opportunities over the summer, with in-person events to unfold when community health protocols adjust.
While we will miss the collective energy of the inperson summer camps, the design of this year's program will still include virtual group sessions and guest speakers and will engage girls in the living laboratories surrounding them in their home environments.
Follow Island Wise on Facebook for DIY experiments, trivia and upcoming news for these online events.
Shantelle Mercer is graduate studies student at Cape Breton University, in co-ordination with Memorial University, as well as a research assistant with Dr. Stephanie MacQuarrie.