Mona Nemer, PhD, FRSC

1
Increasing the visibility of women in science
Role Models, Mentoring and Awards

• Mona Nemer, PhD, FRSC
• Professor of Biochemistry
• Vice President, Research
• University of Ottawa
• April 20, 2009

2
Women leaders in Academic SE Making news in
Canada

• Last ten years Canadian academic scene marked by
  appointment of women scientists and engineers to
  high-level positions in research intensive
  universities
• Examples
• Indira Samarasekera (engineer) President of the
  University of Alberta
• Heather Munroe Blum (scientist) Principal,
  McGill University
• Recent appointment of women as first female dean
  of engineering schools/faculties
• Cristina Amon, University of Toronto
• Elizabeth Cannon, University of Calgary
• Tyseer Aboulnasr, University of British Columbia
• Suzanne Fortier (scientist) President of Natural
  Science and Engineering Research Council of
  Canada (NSERC) main national funding agency for
  academic S E research

3
Sustaining Success and avoiding complaisancy

• While these are encouraging success stories,
  the access of women scientists and engineers to
  academic leadership positions is a recent trend,
  and its sustainability is problematic.
• Among other, demographic gap due to
  hiring freezes of the 90s presents challenges
  for mentorship and WISE presence on committees.
• Significant gains made by women in SE fields in
  Canada since the 70s mainly on the educational
  front (first at the undergraduate level, then at
  the masters doctoral level). But
• Engineering female undergraduate enrolment has
  declined consistently since 2002, both in
  absolute numbers and as a proportion of total
  enrolment (under 20)
• Mathematics, Computer and Information Science
  decline of womens representation at the
  undergraduate and masters level since 1992

4
Female Students in Canadian Universities, 2007
Women in SE vs Women in all fields
Source CAUT Almanach 2007 J. Vassileva, Cameco
NSERC Prairie Chair, 2008
5
Women faculty by rank, SE and all fields
Source CAUT Almanach 2007
6
National Initiatives to Promote Women in ST

• 1989 Through NSERC, Canadian government creates
  national university-based chair for women in
  engineering
• The Northern Telecom/NSERC Women in Engineering
  Chair funded jointly by the federal gouvernment
  and by the private sector (Northern Telecom)
• Half of Chairs mandate devoted to the
  development and implementation of strategies to
  increase womens presence in SE at all levels.

7
Outcomes of National Chair

• Northern Telecom/NSRC Chair heads two national
  Taskforces on Women in SE (Canadian Committee on
  Women in Engineering, 1990-1992 Task Force on
  Women in SE, 1995-1996) resulting in
• Creation of 5 regional chairs for Women in SE,
  funded jointly by NSERC and corporate sponsors,
• The program has 2 key objectives
• increase the participation of women in STEM and
• provide role models for women active in and
  considering careers in these fields
• Launching University Faculty Awards to support
  universities appointment of promising women
  researchers to tenure-track positions in S E
  (controversial program because of reverse
  discrimination charges).

8
Outcomes of Regional Chairs Program

• Through networking, outreach, research and
  mentoring activities, chairs have promoted
  further development of leadership amongst women
  in STEM, inside and outside of universities, at
  the local, regional, national and international
  level.

9
Sustaining Womens advancement in Science
Need coordinated Local, National
and International
Initiatives
10
Advancing Women in Science Engineering
Some uOttawa Initiatives

• Open House in Engineering for high school girls
  Go Eng Girl!
• Encourage undergraduate females in SE to
  experience research WISE summer scholarships
• Enhance the visibility of female
  researchers/profs on all university commitees and
  in all communications
• Revive the uOttawa chapter of WISE
• Regular seminar series with leading female
  speakers, followed by opportunities for
  networking and informal exchange
• Establish a mentorship program and award and
  promote mentorship at all levels
• Remind University Leaders regularly of the
  importance of gender balance and representations
• Launch ad campaign in public media celebrating
  women achievments in research and academic
  leadership

11
Advancing Women in Science Engineering Granting
Council Initiatives Canada Research Chairs, a
highly visible Program

• Problem representation of women at CRC far
  lower than their representation on faculty
  bodies.
• Initiatives to correct problem
• 1- Convene national conference of all canadian
  university research vice presidents focused on
  women advancement in universities
• 2- Require each university to provide gender
  targets and a plan for achieving it. Plans posted
  on web.
• 3- Require broad advertisement of each Chair to
  be filled
• 4- Enhance the visibility of female researchers
  in all communications

12
Advancing Women in Science Engineering The
Royal Society of Canada Initiatives

• Enhancing participation of Women in SE at all
  levels is one of RSCs stated priorities
• Dedicated Funds to support National and
  International Programs
• National Initiatives
• Opening access to RSC symposia to senior
  high school
• and university undergraduate students
• Establishment of Regional Offices charged
  with outreach
• activities vs public, high schools and
  universities
• National WISE Fellowships opportunities
  for RSC fellow
• to travel to another region and
  deliver talks
• at local universities and high schools
• Mentoring Program Pairing female
  university student-RSC Fellow

13
Advancing Women in Science Engineering The
Royal Society of Canada Initiatives

• Example of International Programs

• RSC-NSERC visiting fellowships for WISE,
• a bilateral exchange program with
  other academies
• ( UK, Japan, France)
• Helping junior scientists/professors access
  international networks while providing inspiring
  role models to young trainees, may be one of the
  most effective mechanism to advance women in SET.
• Such programs could be funded thru public-private
  partnerships both nationally and internationally

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CONCLUSION
Advancing Women in Science Engineering
Role Models Matter
Mentorship Crucial Networks
Essentials