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Women of Innovation: The Impact of Leading Engineers in Canada

March 02, 2018

Written By: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford

International Women's Day is just around the corner on March 8th, a perfect time to profile a project funded as part of the that is making change in a big way: the Women of Innovation Symposium and the book published parallel to the event.

Hosted by and of the University of Waterloo as part of the 's (CIM/ICM) annual conference, the Women of Innovation symposium took place on August 30th, 2017, with the aim of recognizing and documenting the experiences and accomplishments of innovative Canadian women in engineering, and disseminating their inspiring stories. The event featured panels with topics such as 鈥淏uilding the Archives of Canadian Women in Science, Engineering, and Innovation,鈥� 鈥淓ngineers in Industry,鈥� and 鈥淓ngineers in Academia and Government.鈥� A keynote address also featured (president of the University of Calgary), as well as talks by Dr. Anne Millar and Dr. Mary Wells, of Finesse Solutions Inc., and of 丁香园AV. The speakers all addressed barriers to innovation, ways to increase innovation, and how it is reflected in their work. Between talks and panels, attendees were given time to network and work in groups together, focusing on how to drive innovation in engineering forward and include more women in the process.

Source: Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.
From left to right starting from the top: Stephanie Willerth, Jill Green, Amanda Kalhous, Elizabeth Canon, Elizabeth Croft, Catherine Harwood, Genanne Beck, Monique Frize, Valerie Orsat, Izabela Witkowska, Margaret Kuzyk, Claire Deschenes, Jennifer Smith, Ying Zheng, Goldie Nejat, Denise Pothier, Colleen Legzdins, Jeanette Southwood, Catherine Mulligan, and Carolyn Ren. Courtesy of Women of Innovation.

Parallel to the event, CIM/ICM published , authored by Drs. Wells and Millar. This book profiles 20 women in the field of engineering, and they, according to its preface by Dr. Elicia Maine, B.Sc., S.M., PhD., 鈥渁re extraordinary. They have contributed to our world not only in the fields of environmental engineering and biomedical engineering but also in robotics for space applications and across a broad range of other engineering disciplines. [鈥 Through their candid stories about their educational and life choices and the meaning they have found in their engineering careers, they serve as inspirational role models to girls and women considering a career in engineering.鈥�

Dr. Maine notes in her preface that some of the greatest challenges facing humanity currently are 鈥渁ccess to clean water, fresh air, and food; limiting climate change; and curing diseases. These are complex problems, requiring creative, collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches. Technological innovation will be crucial to solving those problems.鈥� But girls, although they score as high as boys in primary and high school math and science assessments, are 鈥渓ess likely to study STEM subjects in university and 鈥� even after graduating 鈥� are less likely to enter and prosper in STEM careers.鈥�

Source: Women of Innovation

The profiles of the women in 鈥淲omen of Innovation鈥� will inspire younger generations of girls and women in 鈥� or not yet in 鈥� STEM. In turn, the event served to 鈥渉elp encourage other young people to consider pursuing a career in engineering,鈥� as stated by Dr. Anne Millar of the University of Waterloo鈥檚 Department of Mechatronics and Mechanical Engineering. Dr. Mary Wells, also of the University of Waterloo鈥檚 Department of Mechatronics and Mechanical Engineering, hopes some of the knowledge learned by attendees will reduce some barriers for the future of entrepreneurs in Canada.

WWEST is pleased that the response to the symposium was positive, and is excited to be a part of an event that inspired so many women.

For a recap of the symposium, along with commentary by industry professionals and students alike, check out the video below.

鈥淲omen of Innovation: The Impact of Leading Engineers in Canada鈥� can be purchased .
Drs. Millar and Wells have also authored a book entitled 鈥淲omen of Impact in the Canadian Mining, Metallurgy, and Materials Field,鈥� which can be purchased .