COMMUNITY
Patching the STEM Pipeline
Five organizations across Canada are creating opportunities for girls and women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
By Claire Sibboney | Photography courtesy of CAGIS
A CAGIS member, Shifa, paints her dreams of pursuing STEM in the future.
IMAGINE A PIPELINE stretching across the country, carrying girls and young women from the early education stage on to thriving careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). But there’s a problem. The pipeline is leaking.
The oft-used term “leaky STEM pipeline” illustrates the systemic barriers women continue to face in these disciplines, which emphasize innovation, problem solving and critical thinking. Girls begin their STEM journeys full of passion and potential, but stereotypes and biases steer many of them away from advanced-level classes in high school. In university, the lack of mentorship leaves many young women without support and networks; then, after graduation, few women are hired for STEM jobs. Meanwhile, the gender-based pay gap persists. Finally, a mere trickle of talent moves into STEM positions, of which less than 25 percent in Canada are held by women, with an even lower percentage held by women who are Black or Indigenous, women of colour and women living in remote areas.
Across Canada, mindful of the need to patch these leaks, organizations big and small keep their focus on challenging biases, fostering mentorships and building more inclusive programs, ensuring that the STEM pipeline will carry the full potential of talent for future generations of girls and young women.
“Across Canada, mindful of the need to patch these leaks, organizations big and small keep their focus on challenging biases, fostering mentorships and building more inclusive programs.”
A portrait of a female scientist in a lab. | BACKGROUND VIDEO: DC_STUDIO/ENVATO
CANADIAN ASSOCIATION FOR GIRLS IN SCIENCE
In 1992, fourth-grader Larissa Vingilis-Jaremko’s passion for science hit a roadblock. After she volunteered to set up a classroom experiment, her teacher told her they needed a boy to do the job. Vingilis-Jaremko, whose parents are scientists, knew that her teacher was demonstrating gender bias. So, at just nine years old, she founded the Canadian Association for Girls in Science. Today, CAGIS is one of Canada’s largest and longest-running STEM clubs for girls and gender-diverse youth aged 7 to 17. The non-profit, which is based in Mississauga, Ont., hosts virtual and in-person events for members to visit labs and field sites, participate in workshops, meet mentors and engage in wide-ranging hands-on activities, from building model neurons to welding beams. Now a cognitive scientist and president of CAGIS, Vingilis-Jaremko attributes part of the organization’s success to its numerous alumni who have discovered their career paths at CAGIS events. “There’s nothing,” she notes, “like seeing a kid’s eyes light up with that aha moment.”
GIRLS+ IN STEAM AT THE SASKATCHEWAN SCIENCE CENTRE
Every February, starting in 2022, the Saskatchewan Science Centre in Regina has been hosting the Girls+ in STEAM Conference, inspiring students from grades 6 to 9 to explore sciences and the arts. (The “A” in STEAM stands for Arts — a reference to how creativity fuels innovation.) Aligned with the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the hybrid event is open to youth of all gender identities and includes an optional live component in Regina. “We’re really hoping to see a shift in our workforce in the years to come as a spinoff of this conference,” says Tenielle Bodgan, director of development and stewardship. Classrooms register and participate free of charge and receive supply kits for hands-on activities such as coding, robotics, aviation and nuclear science, while industry mentors share pre-recorded career stories and even visit some classrooms in person. This year’s keynote presenter was deep-sea scientist Moronke Harris. “We’re thrilled to showcase an ocean-aligned career here in good old landlocked Saskatchewan,” says Bodgan.
A CAGIS member, Mayim (right), collects insect samples with a biologist during a CAGIS event at a research field site.
WISE KID-NETIC ENERGY
A Manitoba-based non-profit founded in 1990, WISE Kid-Netic Energy is one of Canada’s largest STEM organizations. Every year, through camps, workshops and science and robotics clubs for girls, this community outreach program engages up to 30,000 youth — including Indigenous and Black youth — from under-represented populations across Manitoba. Instructors also travel to Thompson, Flin Flon, The Pas and other small towns, offering programs free of charge to rural and Indigenous communities. Michelle Carriere began her STEM journey at age 14 at a WISE Kid-Netic Energy camp, mentoring kids aged 9 to 12, building simple motors and circuits. Now an environmental science graduate and an Indigenous outreach facilitator for the organization, Carriere is more than happy to keep inspiring children. “Growing up, I didn’t see many Métis women in STEM. Being able to be a mentor for that next kid…you get to hear them say, ‘I had this interaction with Michelle and it was amazing. It inspired me.’ ”
WOMEN IN SCIENCE, ENGINEERING & RESEARCH
WiSER, which is based at the University of Alberta, has been helping graduate students and early-career professionals in STEM since 2008. One of its flagship projects is the Trio Mentorship Program, which connects trios comprised of an experienced professional, an early-career professional or graduate student, and an undergraduate. Another program is the Industry Mixer, wherein participants network with executives from top STEM companies. WiSER welcomes participants from academia, industry and government at every career stage and is open to members beyond U of A. Co-chair Jenna Evanchuk, a medical student at the University of Calgary, views WiSER’s focus on community as essential. Along with co-chair Angelle Britton — a PhD candidate in microbiology at the University of Alberta — Evanchuk is focused on expanding representation for biological and medical sciences. “It’s the balance and the connection, making people feel part of a community in graduate school or early STEM life. It can be challenging, but rewarding.”
SOCIETY FOR CANADIAN WOMEN IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
For over 40 years, the Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology has been championing gender equity in STEM. SCWIST supports young women in the early stages of their STEM journeys, but, as neuroscientist and interim president Melanie Ratnam points out, it’s crucial to continue that support into the career space. Otherwise, barriers don’t disappear, she notes. “They shape-shift and persist in other ways.”
SCWIST provides career development resources and addresses systemic issues through policy and advocacy work, including running workshops for STEM executives and HR personnel on how to build more inclusive workplace cultures. And this year, the non-profit is taking its annual networking event, Ignite, on a cross-country tour — from the Pacific to Atlantic Canada to the Northwest Territories — fulfilling a long-held dream to foster community and connect women in STEM nationwide.
“To be able to champion the type of systems change we’ve been advocating for,” Ratnam reflects, “to take this flagship event across the country… It’s very special.” CAA
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PHOTO: DC_STUDIO/ENVATO