In celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the Krembil Research Institute hosted a free educational livestream on Friday, February 9, 2024.
The event, which can be viewed here, attracted more than 4,500 people, including over 2,800 students from more than 100 classrooms, some as far as Ecuador, Columbia, Iceland and Australia!
The event was streamed live by middle and high school students from 14 Ontario school boards, including the Toronto District School Board and Durham District School Board, as well as students at international schools and universities.
Moderated by Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa, one of Time magazine’s 2021 Next Generational Leaders and an accomplished physician, spoken word poet and advocate, the livestream featured the following Krembil researchers and health care providers:
● Dr. Tina Felfeli, Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute
● Dr. Nikita Looby, Schroeder Arthritis Institute
● Dr. Nardin Samuel, Krembil Brain Institute
Each speaker gave a short, TED-style talk about what inspired them to pursue a career in science, how challenges and obstacles shaped their scientific journeys, and why they find their careers so rewarding.
The livestream also featured guest appearances from Canadian inventor Andini Makosinski and Canadian aerospace engineer Natalie Panek. These remarkable women shared inspiring messages about the importance of dreaming big and refusing to set limits for yourself.
Sharing her advice for young science enthusiasts everywhere, Makosinski said, “Be bold in your passions and pursue them fearlessly.”
The event concluded with a lively panel discussion in which the speakers answered questions submitted by participating classrooms.
“As we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we recognize the transformative power of diversity in research," says Krembil Research Institute Director Dr. Jaideep Bains. "We hope that hearing from some of the incredible women on our team inspires young people of all genders and backgrounds to break barriers and apply their unique perspectives to answering pressing scientific questions.”
Want more inspiring stories about women researchers at UHN? Click here to read about some of the women who are advancing health research and innovation across the Institution.
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), women account for only one-third of researchers worldwide, despite representing nearly half the population of undergraduate and graduate students. To address gender inequities in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math, the United Nations declared February 11 as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.