Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science and Technology (WISEST) is an Alberta based program aiming to empower women and other underrepresented groups to pursue their unconventional fields of interest.
There is the perception that science leaders today are mostly men and that perception is being broken by a program based in Alberta.
Intel Women in Technology Scholarship includes bursary of €3000 per annum, a summer placement at an Intel campus + Intel mentor. Open to all female students pursuing specified honours degree courses in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. Details:https://t.co/xFhjOPAam3 pic.twitter.com/8rte811naD
— TU Dublin Computer Science (@tudublincompsci) September 5, 2019
One of the program’s beneficiaries is Hannah Bayne from the University of Alberta, currently in her first year of a degree in the Science field.
What I notice is the lack of women in the higher positions within the university. This semester I’m lucky to have a female professor in my astronomy course. But the rest of the other courses available have male professors.
Out of the 10 classes Bayne has for this year, she only has two female professors in it. This is an example of the scarcity of women professionals in the field of sciences.
Empowering women as science leaders
WISEST is not only focused on empowering women to take up unconventional fields to them as science and tech but also for men to try their skills in industries dominated by women like nursing and nutrition.
Milan Cuthbert, a former WISEST beneficiary and now spending time volunteering with the program shared,
The program’s advocacy is super important. Diversity is what drives change and innovation, getting people into areas to bring a different perspective.
The program has been in operation for 38 years now, opening opportunities to young people that might haven’t considered at first.
One of the aspiring stories of the said program is from one Grade 11 student who went to the summer research two years ago. The student worked on one of the engineering labs along with one of the programs experienced investigator. He encouraged the student to read more and follow up on her work with more creative ideas meant for research work. Results went great with the student and ended up publishing her research in a popular engineering journal.
WISEST focused to inspire younger generations
The program is focused to inspire and empower younger generations to start young where creative ideas are still vivid and innovative.
Statement of Dr. Lisa white, industry co-chair for WISEST regarding the program,
Younger generations make decisions about what they want to do with their future, we have these programs available to them so they can make a rational decision on what they want to pursue.
