Vanier College Celebrates Women in Science

The Environment will be the focus when Vanier College celebrates Women in Science October 13-15, 2015. For the third year in a row, Vanier College has selected three days to look at the research being carried out by leading women scientists from Montreal universities who will share their personal experiences as women in science and describe their scientific work on the environment.

Speakers

Marianne Falardeau-Côté from Natural Resource Sciences at McGill will discuss her work on Arctic Ecosystems and address the challenges of going on polar expeditions – particularly as a woman.

Julia Freeman, from the McGill School of the Environment, will talk about fascinating controversies raised by genetically engineered (GE) agriculture in India. What was accepted and what was rejected.

Nivatha Balendra from the McGill’s Physiology Department who discovered an oil-eating species of bacteria in her backyard while attending CEGEP and who is featured in a TED Talk (http://tedxmontrealwomen.com/3042/nivatha-balendra), will describe her work on the application of these bacteria to environmental clean-up.

On Wednesday at 11:30, Parisa Ariya (Departments of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, and Chemistry at McGill) will discuss green techniques for mercury remediation of the bio-accumulative pollutant ecosystem then at 12:30 join other guest speakers for a panel discussion moderated by Sylvie Tardiff of the Vanier Chemistry Department. The panel will cover many topics including the impact of environmental issues on the election campaign, the current crisis in science on funding and muzzling scientists, climate change, and challenges to pursuing a career in science (is there a particular challenge for women?).

Other speakers during the 3-day event will include McGill biologist Kiyoko Gotanda discussing her research on how variation in selective pressures affects the origins and evolution of biological diversity;

Christie Rowe from Earth and Planetary Sciences at McGill describing the geology of earthquakes and the insights provided by ancient fault lines across the globe; and Université de Montréal Mathematician, Christianne Rousseau explaining the math involved in understanding climate change.

“We have some extraordinary women scientists right here in Montreal, and during our mini festival we want to celebrate them. We also hope to inspire both young women and men to pursue university studies in science, consider a career in scientific research, and become comfortable with the new normal of women as lead investigators,” says Vanier biology teacher Stephanie Felkai the principal organizer of Vanier Celebrates Women in Science.

All talks take place in the Auditorium (A-101) except the panel discussion on October 14, which will be in A-548. See the full schedule at www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/msc/women-in-science