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Empower.    Include.   Inspire.     Connect.    Sustain

APRIL 2020

Message from the President

 

I’ve noticed many mentions of the top global leaders in responding to the pandemic, as being notably all women — from New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen; locally we have seen this with Dr. Theresa Tam and Dr. Bonnie Henry. The next pandemic-related surge I’m hoping to see is all the newly inspired girls and women wanting to be like them — running for office, speaking publicly, and leading us through troubled times.


Contrast this to the evidence that women and girls are being disproportionately negatively impacted by the pandemic — increased domestic violence, more women at risk in front-line healthcare roles, and women continuing to shoulder more of the unpaid care work even while they themselves are attempting to work, study, teach and write from home.


Over here at SCWIST, we are adapting — our Technical Committee has finalized the new virtual meeting software we will use and we have already reimagined some of our signature events to online formats. Our adult mentoring and skills exchange program, Make Possible, is available virtually, our ms infinity youth e-mentoring program will still be running online, and we continue to have companies hiring on our STEM job board.

 

The SCALE Steering Committee met earlier this week and were the first to use the new video break-out room feature to have three in-depth discussions on SCWIST’s strategy and plans regarding our: Volunteer Recruitment, Engagement & Retention; Organizational Model & Governance; and Advocacy & Policy.

 

The Board Nominating Committee has just wrapped up the interview stage with 17 phenomenal women who put their hands up to help lead SCWIST this coming term. The short-listed candidates will be observing the May board meeting. SCWIST Members will get first introductions to the 6 Board Nominees in the AGM Report circulating to members in early June (one more reason to be a member!) Thank you to all who applied! And a special thank you to the nominating committee: Anja Lanz, Dr. Zhila Pirmoradi, and Dr. Christin Wiedemann.

 

Regarding our AGM — given that everyone’s schedules are atypical, we thought a poll to help select the date and time would be best. Please complete by May 10: https://forms.gle/dbwFvmsotgrUE4Wk7 


From a safe distance,

Kelly Marciniw,
SCWIST President

 

SCWIST Events and Programs

At this time we are monitoring the changing situation and following risk-informed decision making guidelines from the Public Health Authority of Canada. With specific updates for upcoming events, as follows:

  • June 17 or 19 AGM (complete poll) — ONLINE Virtual conferencing platform and voting software 

  • Job Fair Day — ONLINE in end of June 2020

  • Volunteer Training event — ONLINE in early July 2020. Find out more about volunteering here

  • CCWESTT Conference and Manitoba SCWIST Affiliate event — RESCHEDULED to November 12–14, 2020

  • Reception with Nobel Laureate Professor Donna Strickland & SCWIST Members — RESCHEDULED to May 2021

  • All SCWIST Affiliate in person events (Prince George, Calgary, Winnipeg and Montreal) and post-secondary school Brown Bags — Cancelled for now

Technology Committee
Volunteer Call Out


SCWIST is looking for volunteers who are passionate about the promotion of STEM professions to women and girls to join our Technology Committee. 
Come and join a dynamic national network of volunteers, and have an opportunity to learn new skills and engage with our pan-Canadian network. Find out more here.
Artist's impression of coronavirus and Venus symbol.

Pandemic Amplifies Gender Disparity

by Christin Wiedemann, PhD via LinkedIn

COVID-19 is increasing existing gender inequalities, and as stated in the UN policy brief released on April 9 2020, due to the pandemic “[…] limited gains made in the past decades are at risk of being rolled back”. Read More

SCWIST Advances Gender Equality As Part Of National Call To Action

Advancing gender equality in Canada will require collective action on four priorities identified by the Gender Equality Network Canada (GENC).
Read more

Introducing Zoe Elverum!

Introducing Zoe Elverum, one of the incredibly talented recipients of the SCWIST Youth Skills Development Scholarship. She will be participating in the Skills Nunavut Territorial and Skills Canada competition.
Read more

Gender Bias in Academic Conferences

by Kassandra Burd

With men the dominant majority in STEM fields, it is not surprising to hear that presenters and speakers at academic conferences are predominantly male. Read more

 

Virus Math: Flattening the Curve!

More great work coming from Alexa Bailey, Founder of Girls to the Power of Math. See her video here and read up on how her girl-to-girl math mentoring program came to be.

Women in Technology & Indigenous Women in Technology Scholarships


In the midst of all this weirdness we hope our announcement is a little ray of light. Applications for 2020 Women in Technology & Indigenous Women in Technology Scholarships are now available through the Irving K. Barber BC Scholarship Society. Read more

Ten scholarships valued at $10K each will be awarded in August.

The application deadline is July 6, 2020.

Instructions on how to apply, links to application forms, and full eligibility criteria can be found here. You can learn more about last year’s Women in Technology Scholarship recipients here.

For more information, visit the Society’s website here, or email us or phone (toll-free) at 1-844-478-4645.
SCWIST Honourary Member Nominations

Do you know someone who has made an outstanding contribution to SCWIST or to our vision of environment without barriers for women and girls in STEM?

Honourary Life Members are persons who have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to the Society or to the society’s vision. A prospective Honourary Life Member must be nominated in writing by a member in good standing, must consent to admission as an Honourary Life Member, and must be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) resolution of the members in attendance and entitled to vote at a General Meeting.


By May 18, please email resourcecentre@scwist.ca with the nominee's name and a brief summary of why you think they have been an outstanding contributor to SCWIST or our vision.

 

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