Vanier College is thrilled to celebrate the 11th annual Women of Science Symposium that will run October 2-6, 2023. The symposium aims to inspire students to consider a career in science by offering a program of exciting speakers covering a range of topics bound to pique the curiosity of young minds.
This year's program includes presentations and research on neuroscience, environmental issues, science and Indigenous culture, and Indigenous health, as well as a panel of researchers working on conservation projects all over the world, and another panel featuring young women starting their science careers. The following are some of the scheduled speakers. See the full program for times and details.
Northern Canada: understanding the North in the face of shifting landscapes by Samantha Darling, Executive Director for the Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies (ACUNS) will compare conventional science, traditional knowledge, and the impacts of development, and the need for more inclusive worldviews.
Fadia Ounissi, M.Sc. student, Concordia University, will discuss her research and share her experiences pursuing a career in mathematics.
The many aspects of environmental impact assessment. Dr. Erin C. McCance, Senior Compliance Officer for Regulation and Policy (Fisheries and Oceans Canada), will discuss the importance of environmental impact assessments.
Family Medicine in Indigenous Communities within Canada. Dr. Sonali Srivastava, a Vanier graduate and family doctor, will discuss her work with indigenous communities in Northern Quebec, Ontario, and Northwest Territories.
Connecting and protecting land, Indigenous rights and public health. Amanda Sheedy, author and consultant in network development and management, research and community engagement, will discuss working with Indigenous Nations and governments.
Think Globally, Act Locally: Tackling Eco-Anxiety using Indigenous Approaches. Kailey Nicholas, a graduate of the Vanier Environmental & Wildlife Management program and an advocate for bridging the gap between Western science and traditional Indigenous knowledge, will explore the impact of climate change on Indigenous peoples.
Panel discussion: Women in international conservation (Oct. 4, 10 am to 12 pm)
Vanessa Kilburn (Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society), Becky Johnson (Cheetah Conservation Foundation), Nadja LeRoux (Kalahari African Wild Dog Conservation Project) and Florian Blot (Stand Up 4 Elephants), will discuss opportunities and challenges presented by doing conservation work in places such as Belize, Namibia and Nepal.
Panel discussion: Early-career professionals in environmental science (Oct. 4, 2 pm to 4 pm)
Sara Pancheri (GIS Analyst with ESRI Canada), Serena Duperron (Zoologist at the Ecomuseum), Taylor Patterson (Biologist at Hydro Québec), and Maegan Bushell (Biological Technician at Parc des Rapides du Mille Isles), all graduates of the Vanier Environmental and Wildlife Management Program, now in the early stages of their careers in environmental fields, will share their professional journeys from college to their current positions.
Unmasking online food & nutrition misinformation - The Food Truth Project. Veronica Jaramillo, McGill student will explore the influence of social media postings about food and nutrition, nutritional labeling, fad diets, artificial and natural foods, and food additives.
Fantastic planets and how to find them. Dr. Lisa Dang, (Université de Montréal), will give an overview of how we find and study planets around other stars, and share cutting-edge exoplanet research projects.
Video games in STEM classrooms: A distraction or a techno-pedagogical tool for meaningful learning? Dr. Neerusha Baurhoo, (Université de Montréal), will discuss the effects of video games on the brain and its executive functions, working memory, and processing speed.
Tracking Wildlife: What two decades of data can tell us about a single animal population. Nathalie Jreidini, McGill University, will present research on the movements of a single animal population.
