Laurier Centre for Women in Science

🔬 Who gets to do science?

It's a simple question, but one that has shaped who participates in discovery, whose knowledge is valued, and whose voices are heard throughout the history of STEM.

In the inaugural episode of Through the IDEA Lens, Dr. Mahadeo Sukhai and Dr. Shohini Ghose explore why inclusive science is good science, and why science itself is stronger when everyone has the opportunity to contribute.

From discussing science as a human right to examining how exclusion can limit innovation and credibility, this conversation challenges us to think beyond who can do science and consider who gets to do science.

🎙️ If you've ever wondered how equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion strengthen research, this episode is well worth a listen.

Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/show/033s7NEH2Kjw7awPzztEqQ

Who gets to do science? The answer should be: everyone.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this conversation, coming in early July.

🌈 Pride Month is both a celebration and a reminder.

A reminder that the rights and visibility many enjoy today were hard-fought through activism and resistance, including the uprising at the Stonewall Riots that helped spark the modern Pride movement.

It is also a reminder of those whose contributions were overlooked because of who they were. Scientists like Alan Turing, whose groundbreaking work helped lay the foundation for modern computing, faced persecution because of his sexuality despite his immense contributions to science and society.

Today, 2SLGBTQIA+ scientists, researchers, educators, and advocates continue to expand our understanding of the world while working to make STEM more inclusive, equitable, and accessible for future generations.

At WinS, we recognize that scientific excellence thrives when people can bring their full selves to their work. Diversity of identities, experiences, and perspectives strengthens research, drives innovation, and helps build a scientific community where everyone belongs.

This Pride Month, we celebrate the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, honour those who came before us, and reaffirm our commitment to a future where everyone has the opportunity to participate in and contribute to science.

Interested in learning more? Visit this link: https://www.springernature.com/gp/researchers/sdg-programme/sdg10/pride/articles-chapters

Happy Pride Month. 🌈

🧡 June is National Indigenous History Month.

This month is an opportunity to learn about, reflect on, and celebrate the diverse histories, cultures, knowledge systems, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples across Turtle Island.

At WinS, we recognize that science and ways of knowing extend far beyond Western institutions. For thousands of years, Indigenous Peoples have developed knowledge systems grounded in observation, experimentation, stewardship, and deep relationships with the land. These contributions continue to shape fields including ecology, environmental science, agriculture, medicine, astronomy, and climate research.

As we celebrate Indigenous History Month, we also acknowledge the ongoing impacts of colonialism and the importance of advancing reconciliation within STEM, education, and research spaces. Building a more inclusive scientific community requires recognizing Indigenous knowledge as valuable, meaningful, and essential to addressing the challenges of today and tomorrow.

We respectfully acknowledge that Wilfrid Laurier University is located on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabe, and Haudenosaunee Peoples. This land is part of the Haldimand Tract, a tract of land promised to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. We recognize the enduring presence, resilience, and contributions of Indigenous Peoples and communities.

This month and every month, we encourage our community to learn, listen, and engage with Indigenous voices, histories, and perspectives. 🧡

What a wonderful evening celebrating the incredible women making an impact across our community at the BMO KW Oktoberfest Women of the Year Awards 💜

We are so proud of Eden Hennessey for her nomination in the STEM category and for the meaningful work she continues to do in advancing equity in STEM, supporting women in science, and fostering community through research, mentorship, and advocacy.

Congratulations to all of the nominees and award recipients whose leadership and contributions continue to inspire positive change across so many fields. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to the organizing committee for putting together such a thoughtful and celebratory evening.

It was an honour to be part of this event and to celebrate alongside so many inspiring individuals. 👏

We are incredibly proud to celebrate Dr. Eden Hennessey on her nomination for the BMO KW Oktoberfest Women of the Year Award in the STEM category 💛

This recognition reflects Dr. Hennessey’s ongoing commitment to advancing equity in STEM, supporting women in science, and building meaningful community through research, mentorship, and advocacy. We are honoured to see her recognized alongside such inspiring leaders, including Nobel Laureate Donna Strickland. 🏆
On behalf of the WinS community, we are wishing Dr. Hennessey the very best at the awards ceremony later this week! 👏

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Laurier Library for an engaging and thought-provoking conversation with Vincent Larivière.

Dr. Larivière, who holds the first UNESCO Chair on Open Science, shared powerful insights into inequities within scientific research and publishing, exploring how funding gaps, citation disparities, and systemic barriers continue to shape the experiences of researchers in STEM. His discussion encouraged important conversations about equity, representation, and the future of a more inclusive scientific community.

We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Larivière for sharing his expertise and to everyone who attended, participated, and contributed to such a meaningful discussion. Events like these remind us of the importance of continuing conversations around equity and inclusion in science.

Thank you again to the Laurier Library and the Office of Research Services for hosting this event and helping create space for these important conversations.

If you would like to learn more, check out Dr. Larivière’s book using this link: https://unesco.ebsi.umontreal.ca/en/publications/equity-for-women-in-science-dismantling-systemic-barriers-to-advancement/

🚨 Funding Alert for STEM Changemakers! 🚨

Are you planning or attending a national STEM event that supports women or equity-deserving groups in Canada? Two amazing opportunities are now open from May 1 to 31:

🌟 Dr. Margaret-Ann Armour National Conference Grant – For non-profit conferences that advance women in STEM
🌟 CWSE-CISE Network Inclusion in STEM Award – For individuals from equity-seeking groups to attend national STEM events

Let’s keep building a more inclusive future in science, technology, engineering, and math in Canada.

Visit the WINS website through the link in bio for more information and how to apply.

We honour the life and legacy of Dr. Juliet Daniel. 🤍

Dr. Daniel was a groundbreaking Canadian cancer researcher, molecular biologist, mentor, and advocate whose work transformed both science and the communities around her. As a professor at McMaster University, her research focused on the genetic and molecular mechanisms driving triple-negative breast cancer, a disease that disproportionately affects Black women and underserved communities.

She was widely recognized for discovering and naming the Kaiso gene, a major contribution to cancer biology that advanced our understanding of tumour progression in breast, colon, and prostate cancers. Beyond her scientific achievements, Dr. Daniel was deeply committed to equity, mentorship, and creating pathways for underrepresented communities in STEM. As a co-founder of the Canadian Black Scientists Network, she helped build spaces where Black scientists could connect, thrive, and lead.

We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to have welcomed Dr. Daniel into the WinS community. Her impact will continue to live on through the students she mentored, the scientists she inspired, and the barriers she helped break down in science.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, colleagues, students, and all who were touched by her life and work. Her legacy will not be forgotten. 🤍

🧪 Arab Heritage Month Spotlight

This Arab Heritage Month, we are celebrating Arab Canadian women whose work has shaped science and innovation.

Today, we highlight Dr. Hoda ElMaraghy, Egyptian‑Canadian mechanical engineer, professor, and leader in manufacturing systems. She was the first Canadian woman to earn a PhD in mechanical engineering and later became the first woman to lead an engineering faculty in Ontario as Dean of Engineering at the University of Windsor.

Dr. ElMaraghy has dedicated her career to advancing manufacturing research and innovation. She is the founding director of the Intelligent Manufacturing Systems Centre at the University of Windsor, a research hub connecting industry and academia to develop advanced production technologies.
In recognition of her leadership and impact, she was awarded the Order of Ontario, the province’s highest honour.

Her work shows that advancing science and engineering requires both expertise and mentorship. Dr. ElMaraghy has opened doors for women in engineering and inspired generations of researchers and innovators.

Join us at the Laurier Library for a thought-provoking conversation with Vincent Larivière, professor at the School of Library and Information Sciences at Université de Montréal and UNESCO Chair on Open Science.

Through the analysis of millions of research papers, Dr. Larivière’s work has revealed persistent inequities in science: women researchers receive less funding, do more lab work at equivalent career stages, and are cited less often than men, even when they are first authors.

In this conversation, Dr. Larivière will explore the causes and impacts of these inequities on researchers, the publication ecosystem, and society as a whole.

We hope you’ll join us for this important conversation.

📅 Date: May 5, 2026
⏰ Time: Starts at 3 PM
📍 Location: Robert Langen Art Gallery
🎟 Free & open to all