By Vanessa Parks
Internal Communications and Engagement Specialist
March 8 is International Women’s Day, a day to promote women’s equity by celebrating women’s achievements, raising awareness about discrimination and taking action to forge gender parity.
This year’s theme is Accelerate Action. According to data from the World Economic Forum, it will take until 2158 to reach full gender parity at the current rate of progress – that’s five generations from now. Accelerate Action calls for increased momentum and urgency in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face, in both their personal and professional lives.
This year, we celebrate women in the Faculty of Science who are making a difference on this day and every day. Meet some of the exceptional women in Science who are helping to #AccelerateAction for gender equality.
Jen Parks, Associate Dean for Diverse, Inclusive and Safe Science
For Jen Parks, being equitable isn’t something you do, it’s how you think – a mindset that earned her a 2024 Equity and Inclusivity Award. Ask her students and colleagues, and they will tell you that Parks not only advocates for equity but embodies that equity in her everyday actions and interactions.
Read more about Parks and her contributions to equity in the Faculty of Science in No student left behind.
Savannah Sloat, Manager of Science Indigenous Initiatives, and Kirsten Müeller, Chair of the Biology department
Savannah Sloat and Kirsten Müeller are leading an initiative to transform science education by weaving Indigenous and Western scientific teachings into the classroom. They’ve redesigned a biology course to include Indigenous knowledge frameworks for an inclusive educational experience.
Explore this initiative in Weaving Indigenous science into the classroom.
Natoya Peart, Assistant Professor, Biology
Natoya Peart is an RNA and molecular biologist conducting research in the Department of Biology. With an impressive academic journey that includes a BSc from Yale University, a PhD from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and postdoctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania, Peart is poised to make significant strides in RNA research and as an Assistant Professor.
Read more about Peart’s experience in Reflecting on one year in Science.
Charlotte Doyle, student in Medicinal Chemistry
A well-rounded education goes beyond just textbooks and lectures, it’s about finding yourself in the unexpected. For Charlotte Doyle, that journey took her from the lab to the vineyards of Dijon, France, to learn about the chemistry of wine making.
Read more about Doyle’s experience in A taste of chemistry in France.
Tiffany Chan, student in Biology and Music
Tiffany Chan isn’t just any student; she’s a science enthusiast, a musician and a savvy world traveller. With her violin and biology books, Chan pursued her passions for science and the arts during an exchange at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia.
Explore Chan’s experience abroad in An adventure down under.
Melanie Campbell, Professor Emeritus, Physics and Astronomy
The Department of Physics and Astronomy is celebrating the career of Professor Melanie Campbell, who retired from her faculty position in the fall of 2024. Campbell is a pioneer in visual optics, a champion for equity, and an inspiring mentor who has shaped the fields of physics, optometry and biomedical imaging, while breaking barriers for women in STEM.
Learn more about Campbell’s career in Through the lens.
Haavia Rajakumar and Jessica Lin, students in Honours Science
Haavia Rajakumar and Jessica Lin, both students in Honours Science, participated in the summer research assistantships program. They worked in Dr. Natoya Peart’s lab, where they gained essential lab skills and conducted research on RNA-binding proteins.
Learn more about their experience in Undergraduate Research: Exploring the role of RNA-binding proteins in cancer cell lines.
Linda Nazar, University Professor, Chemistry
Linda Nazar is a world authority in electrochemical energy storage whose immense impact on the field has resulted in seminal contributions to materials chemistry and electrochemistry. She has advanced fundamental knowledge to solve important problems related to sustainable energy storage. This work led to Nazar receiving the Royal Society U.K. Hughes Medal, an honour rarely given to someone out of the U.K.
Learn more about Nazar’s research and the Hughes Medal in Royal Society U.K. bestows Hughes Medal on Dr. Linda Nazar.