A group of successful Acadia University alumnae are making their way back to campus on September 29 to share their experiences with current students during an evening workshop designed to encourage young women to pursue rewarding careers in science and technology.

The Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) group at Acadia planned WISE Works! to provide a venue for our students to connect with WISE alumnae who have gone into science and technology-related careers.

“Many women undergraduates are interested in careers in science, but then leave science or become focused on a small number of career options, such as medicine,” explains co-organizer Dr. Glenys Gibson, a biology researcher. “Our goal is to help our students connect with alumnae with wide ranging careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Hopefully, the event will spark interest in scientific careers and inspire students to go for their dreams.”

She adds that all interested students, staff, and faculty are welcome to attend.

WISE Works! is scheduled for September 29, 2015, from 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. at the Sheldon L. Fountain Learning Commons at Acadia University.

Dr. Deb MacLatchy (’85), Vice-President Academic and Provost at Wilfrid Laurier University, will start the event with a keynote address on women in science. Following this, students will be able to talk with alumnae, our WISE Advisers, in a series of 10-minute conversations. Sixteen WISE Advisers have generously volunteered to participate. They have wide-ranging careers in areas such as health sciences, architecture, geoscience, conservation biology, computer programming, physics, and environmental engineering (listed below), and work in government, university, and the private sector.

“This type of discussion is invaluable to students who are at a crossroads in thinking about their future careers, but also, will provide insight into managing work-life flow,” Gibson explains.

Almost all of the WISE Advisers are alumnae of Acadia (the exception is a professor at Acadia), and their collective backgrounds include 13 departments and schools.

Organizers thank the Associated Alumni of Acadia University, Women’s and Gender Studies, the Faculty of Pure and Applied Science, and the Acadia Centre for Estuarine Research for generously supporting the event.

Special thanks to WISE Advisers:

• Svetlana Barkanova, Professor, Physics Department, Theoretical Physicist
• Amanda Crawley, BSc Computer Science (’14), Software Quality Engineer
• Lesley Frank, MA Sociology (’95), Assistant Professor, Sociology of Health
• Therese Forsythe, BSc Chemistry (’87), B Ed ('91), MSc Ed ('98, '03, '10), High School Math Teacher
• Lara Hazelton, BSc Biology & Certificate Applied Science (’90), MSc Ed (’13), Psychiatrist & Medical Education
• Erin Hennessey, BA English/ Sociology (’94) and BEd (’96), Dentist
• Donna Hurlburt, MSc Biology (‘97) and Aboriginal Student Advisor, Conservation biologist, consultant in Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge
• Deb MacLatchy, BScH Biology (’85), Physiologist; VP Academic & Provost (Wilfrid Laurier University)
• Catharine MacQuarrie, Certificate in Applied Science, Architect
• Judy Price, BScH Biology ('89), MSc Biology ('94), Family physician
• Lisa Price, BScH Psychology (’89), Professor, Clinical Psychology
• Melissa Quinn, BSc Nutrition (’06), Industry Development, NS Dept Agriculture
• Joanne Redden, BSc Home Economics (’83), Clinical inpatient dietitian
• Samantha Sanford, BScH Biology and Kinesiology (’09), Veterinarian
• Amina Stoddart, Certificate in Applied Science (’08), Environmental engineering, PhD Candidate
• Mary Jean (MJ) Verrall, BSc Geology (’83), Geoscience Research
  
  

Visit event details online.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Glenys Gibson, Department of Biology, 902-585-1250, glenys.gibson@acadiau.ca or

Dr. Barb Anderson, School of Nutrition and Dietetics, 902-585-1346, barbara.anderson@acadiau.ca