Laurier Centre for Women in Science, 75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON (2026)

05/29/2026

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. 👏

05/20/2026

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! 👏

05/14/2026

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/

05/11/2026

🚨 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.

05/09/2026

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. 🤍

04/28/2026

🧪 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.

04/22/2026

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

04/21/2026

Autism Awareness Month Spotlight

This month, we are highlighting Canadian researchers whose work is shaping how we understand autism.

Today, we are recognizing Dr. Jessica Brian, Psychologist and Senior Clinician-Scientist at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital and Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Brian’s research focuses on the early emergence of autism and how it develops across childhood. She has been deeply involved in studies such as the Canadian Infant Siblings Study, helping improve how autism is identified in infancy and early childhood.

She also co-developed the Social ABCs, a program designed to support families in fostering early communication and development in young children. Her work centers families as key partners in care and emphasizes early, accessible support.

By working at the intersection of research and clinical care, Dr. Brian is helping ensure that scientific knowledge translates into meaningful support for children and their families. 💛

04/14/2026

🧬 Arab Heritage Month Spotlight

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

Today, we are recognizing Mona Nemer, a molecular biologist and Canada’s current Chief Science Advisor.

Dr. Nemer’s research focuses on heart development and cardiovascular disease, contributing to a deeper understanding of how the heart forms and functions. Beyond her research, she plays a key role in shaping science policy in Canada, advocating for evidence-based decision-making and strengthening the relationship between science and government.

Her career reflects the importance of not only advancing scientific knowledge, but also ensuring that science informs how we build and support our communities.

Science leadership matters. Representation at decision-making tables matters. 💛

04/10/2026

🚀 Christina Koch is literally part of a moonshot! She is the first woman ever to travel around the moon as one of the Artemis II crew.

Christina Koch is an electrical engineer and NASA astronaut who holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, spending 328 days aboard the International Space Station. During her mission, she contributed to hundreds of scientific experiments that helped us better understand life in space and prepare for future deep space exploration.

She was also part of the first all-women spacewalk, marking an important moment in the history of human spaceflight and representation in STEM.

Selected as a NASA astronaut in 2013, Koch is now assigned as a mission specialist on Artemis II, the first crewed mission in NASA’s Artemis program. She has become the first woman to journey to the Moon, marking a historic step forward in space exploration. 🌕

Before becoming an astronaut, Koch worked on scientific instruments for space missions and conducted research in extreme environments, including Antarctica. Her career reflects persistence, curiosity, and a commitment to pushing boundaries.

As Artemis II returns to Earth today, we recognize the dedication, teamwork, and innovation behind this mission. Moments like this remind us of what is possible when science, collaboration, and curiosity come together. ✨

Laurier Centre for Women in Science

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