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Celebrating Women in Science

The United Nations General Assembly has declared February 11 the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Keep reading to explore the many ways Perimeter Institute supports this initiative in February and throughout the year.


inspiring future women in science - LIve Q&A

PRESENTING SPONSOR

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On Thursday, February 11, 2021, a dynamic group of four women working in various fields of science will take students’ questions in a live online session. The program is designed for high school students who are interested in science and want to learn more about careers in related fields. Although this event is part of Perimeter Institute’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science activities, high school students of all genders are welcome to register to attend. (This event is a modification of our annual in-person conference - which we hope to resume next year!)

LIVE Q&A GUESTS:

Asimina Arvanitaki
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Aristarchus Chair in Theoretical Physics, Perimeter Institute
Education: Bachelor of Physics, Athens University;
PhD Theoretical Physics, Stanford University

 

Asimina is a particle physicist who specializes in designing new experiments to test fundamental theories beyond the Standard Model. She has been a faculty member at Perimeter Institute since 2014. She was co-awarded the 2017 New Horizons in Physics Prize by the Breakthrough Prize Foundation; and received the Outstanding Achievement Under 40 Years of Age Award 2016 by the Hellenic Heritage Foundation in Canada.

Tiera_FletcherTiera Fletcher
Aerospace Engineer
Co-Founder, Rocket With The Fletchers
Co-Author, Wonder Women of Science
Education:
B.S. Aerospace Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; 

M.S. Engineering Management (2021), Duke University


Tiera Fletcher is an award-winning aerospace engineer, co-founder of Rocket With The Fletchers, co-author of the book Wonder Women of Science, motivational speaker, mentor, and teacher. In 2017, she graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and she is now pursuing a Master of Engineering Management from Duke University. Tiera focuses on outreach via National Academy of Engineers’ Engineer Girl, Encouraging Women Across All Borders, Disney Dreamers Academy, MIT OEOP, and so much more. She has appeared on BBC/PBS Breakthrough and Discovery Channel’s competition show Rocket Around the Xmas Tree in addition to featuring in Google VR The Female Planet series, North Face She Moves Mountains campaign and the Ad Council She Can STEM campaign. Facebook: @TieraAndMyronInstagram: @rocketwiththefletchersTwitter: @TieraAndMyron
 

Jessica_SchaubJessica Schaub
Master of Science Student in Oceanography,
University of British Columbia

Education: HBSc Oceanography & Biology,
University of British Columbia




Jessica grew up in rural northern Alberta but has always been drawn to ocean sciences. After graduating high school, 17-year old Jessica made the difficult decision to move to Vancouver after being accepted to the University of British Columbia. Navigating academia as a first-generation university student was challenging, but incredibly rewarding. Jessica graduated with a combined honors degree in Oceanography and Biology in 2018 and developed a passion for jellyfish research. Now as a graduate student, Jessica is dedicated to addressing barriers for under-represented groups in academia, including women and Indigenous peoples. Her outreach is directed by the challenges she experienced as an undergraduate student in the hopes that she can improve experiences for future students. Twitter: @jellieswithjess; Academic: www.researchgate.net/profile/Jessica_Schaub3

Roopali Chaudhary
Founder/CEO - Lotus STEMM
Senior Scientist Cell Biology Specialist - Allarta Life Science
Research Associate - Department of Biology, McMaster University
Content Editor, Sci-Illustrate Stories - Sci-Illustrate
Lead Baker and Owner - SugarKube
Education: HBSc Molecular Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto; MSc Genetics, University of Waterloo; PhD Cell Biology, McMaster University; Post doctoral Fellowship Immunology, McMaster University

Dr. Roopali Chaudhary is the Founder, CEO and Lead Researcher of the non-profit Lotus STEMM, an organization geared towards outreach and increasing the visibility and representation of South Asian women in STEMM (including medicine) fields. She is also a Senior Scientist - Cell Biology Specialist with Allarta Life Science Inc. and a Research Associate with Dr. Juliet Daniel at McMaster University. 

Roopali changed fields and research specialization after each of her degrees. She started university with a desire to enter the medical field, but realized her love for research. She began with working on fruit flies, switching to studying Inflammatory Bowel Disease using a mouse model, followed by immunology of food allergy. Currently she works on testing immune evasive technology for helping cure Diabetes. Roopali also leads 3 social-science related projects through Lotus STEMM related to South Asian women’s experiences with STEMM. Roopali does science communication through her non-profit, as a content editor for Sci-Illustrate writing about women in science throughout history, and through her custom cake bakery focusing on science-themed cakes.
www.lotusstemm.org; Twitter: @Lotus_STEMM and @chaudr8, Instagram: @lotusstemm; LinkedIn

REGISTRATION:
We’ll be taking students’ questions online from 4:00-5:00pm ET on Thursday, February 11, 2021! During the session, pre-registered students will be able to submit and upvote each other's questions. This is your chance to ask women in challenging fields about their education, career path, typical workday, and lessons learned along the way. Students can register as individuals, or teachers can register a group for regions where assembling in groups is permitted. Registration has now closed. If you did not register, you can still watch online here but you will not be able to access the Q&A tool to submit questions to the scientists. 
 
PAST AND FUTURE EVENTS:
Perimeter Institute seeks to involve a diverse group of STEM mentors in this annual event supporting the UN's International Day of Women and Girls in Science. If you are interested in sharing your story at a future event, please contact us at [email protected]. Stories and videos from past events are available by year: 20202019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015.
 

Stories from women in physics

IDWGS ImageIn celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, and as part of the ongoing conversation about the lack of diversity in physics, the Women in Physics group of the Inclusive PI Platform (a grassroots, volunteer-led initiative at Perimeter) asked women-identified researchers to tell their stories.

 


forces of nature poster series

Women have been historically under-represented in physics; progress is happening, but there is much work to be done. Part of making positive change includes celebrating the contributions women have made to science, especially those women overlooked in their time.

Poster_ImagesThat’s why Perimeter Institute has created the free “Forces of Nature” poster series. In February 2021, the collection grew with the addition of Rosalind Franklin, Bibha Chowdhuri, and Hedy Lamarr. Download your posters here

 


ESCAPE THE FORCES OF NATURE MUSEUM

Image_of_PostersIn this free online escape room activity, you are accidentally locked in the Forces of Nature Museum after it closes, and will need to solve a series of challenges to escape! The puzzles require logic and creativity; advanced mathematical skills are not required but the youngest members of your household might prefer these colouring pages instead. When you escape you’ll unlock new Forces of Nature posters and if you succeed in solving all challenges before Noon ET on Monday, February 22, you can enter a draw for a Perimeter Institute prize pack. Begin your adventure here.


EMMY NOETHER INITIATIVES

Curiosity doesn't have a gender. PerimeteEmmy_Noetherr Institute aims to effect real change in the under-representation of women in theoretical physics through a series of special initiatives named after pioneering German mathematician Emmy Noether (pictured at left).
Learn more 

 

INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL FOR YOUNG PHYSICISTS (ISSYP)

This two-week online program brings together Canadian and international high school students for an exciting and challenging look at life and work in a world-leading physics institute. Perimeter ensures that half of the attendees each year are young women. Applications close March 31! Learn more


PUBLIC LECTURE SERIES

Perimeter Institute brings great thinkers from around the world to Canada to share their ideas on a wide variety of cutting-edge subjects. Each event is tailored for the general public and everyone is welcome to attend. No mathematical or physics knowledge is necessary or assumed, but curiosity is required. Learn more