Endless Exploration: WISE Conference 2023–24
On January 20–21st, in the heart of Toronto at the West Harbour Castle, WISE hosted its 12th Annual National Conference. With the theme of “Endless Exploration,” the conference encapsulated not only the spirit of scientific curiosity but also the relentless pursuit of knowledge that defines the STEM community, thus becoming a melting pot of ideas, insights, and inspiration. Ultimately, it provided a platform for women in STEM to connect with, learn from, and inspire one another.
The two-day event unfolded with a promise to fuel both professional and personal development, offering attendees the chance to expand their networks and reignite their passion for their respective fields. The comprehensive agenda included company-sponsored workshops, competitions, charismatic keynote speakers, informative panels covering various STEM disciplines, career fairs, and insightful fireside chats.
Keynote Brilliance: Illuminating Narratives
The conference’s luminaries and keynote speakers, Dr. Nancy Olivieri and Sarah Baldeo took center stage after the opening ceremony to illuminate the path for women in the science field. Dr. Nancy Olivieri, a distinguished Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Toronto, shared her insights, offering a glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of her journey in the field, while Sarah Baldeo, CEO, Global Keynote & TEDx Speaker, 5x Founder, Neuroscientist, and Technologist, provided a multifaceted perspective, inspiring the audience with tales of entrepreneurship, scientific exploration, and the fusion of technology with neuroscience.
Panels Galore: Insights from Various STEM Fields
The conference then split up into various panels that delved into diverse STEM fields, including robotics, cybersecurity, medicine, climate change, health policy and tech equity, biotechnology, space, and more, each panel providing the listeners with a rich variety of perspectives.
Experts like Erin Bedford, Head of Bioprinting Innovation at Aspect Biosystems, Leila Kheradpir from StarFish Medical, Daniella Lato, Data Scientist at Recursion Pharmaceuticals, Sowmya Shivanna, Senior Manager of Product Development at RedRock Regeneration Inc., and Kristin Musselman, Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, led the Biotech Panel, bringing forth their experiences, shedding light on cutting-edge developments in biotechnology, and discussing the various innovations and challenges in the sector.
The Robotics Panel, featuring Chloë Ryan, Melissa Greeff, Onaizah Onaizah, and Christine Van Kirk unfolded a narrative where technology intersected with different fields, explored advancements in robotics technology, and talked about their own journey into the field. Each speaker brought a new insight to the panel: Chloë Ryan, CEO & Founder of Acrylic Robotics, discussed her vision of merging art and robotics to explore untapped potential, while Melissa Greef, Professor at Queen’s University, delved into the realms of aerial robotics. On the other hand, Onaizah Onaizah, Assistant Professor at McMaster, highlighted the significance of robotics in the medical world and the balance between safety and innovation, while Christine Van Kirk, Software Development Engineer at Amazon Robotics, shared her perspective on building public trust and maintaining public confidence.
In the Cybersecurity Panel, Megan Doherty, Marissa Shiwdayal, and Carol Fung unveiled the complexities and challenges of safeguarding the digital realm. Megan Doherty, a Cybersecurity Technical Specialist at Microsoft Canada, emphasized the importance of mentorship in navigating the cybersecurity landscape, while Marissa Shiwdayal, Cybersecurity Transformation Lead at CAE, shared her experiences in tackling challenges at the intersection of cybersecurity and business. Furthermore, Carol Fung, Associate Professor and Gina Cody Research Chair at Concordia University, contributed her expertise in the intricate dance between productivity and security in the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape.
Apart from field-specific panels, the conference also boasted panels that provided insights into recent grads’ experiences, women in leadership, and academia. The Women in Leadership panel, composed of Athiya Rastogi and Amy Wasik, became a dialogue on paving the way forward for women in leadership roles. Athiya Rastogi, CEO at SnapWrite, shared her journey in leading a tech company and highlighted the importance of focusing on users, working with people, and aligning with their values. Amy Wasik, Head at Google Cloud Support Canada, contributed insights into leadership in the tech industry and recognized the significance of supporting and celebrating the achievements of women in diverse backgrounds, while other speakers highlighted the power of speaking up to initiate patterns that foster a supportive environment.
Empowering Through Skill-Building: Workshops
Workshops also emerged as empowering hubs for skill-building and active learning at the conference. UofT Toastmasters’ session on public speaking strategies, Dr. Gail Levitt’s insights on negotiation strategies, Margaret Mroziewicz’s emphasis on communicating science research effectively, and Ellen Roseman’s workshop on financial literacy equipped attendees with essential tools for navigating the soft skills required for STEM careers. Amy Wasik’s “Celebrate Your Success: #IAmRemarkable” workshop challenged perceptions around self-promotion and empowered participants to speak openly about their accomplishments. The WISE x YNCN Resume Roast, conducted by Asma Surti and Olivia Tracey, provided invaluable insights into crafting an impactful resume. Furthermore, the workshops “AI for Everyone” by Michelle Kong (Senior Technical Program Manager at Qualcomm), “UX Design Thinking” by Christina Park (IBM), and “Rocketry 101: Introduction to OpenRocket” hosted by the University of Toronto Aerospace Team (UTAT), provided attendees with insights into the cutting-edge developments in these fields, with the aim to demystify AI, enhance UX design thinking skills, and introduce the basics of rocket design and simulation respectively.
Exploring Career Opportunities: Career and Graduate Fair
Amidst the intellectual fervor of the WISE Conference, the career and graduate fair, held on the first day of the conference, emerged as a hub for forging professional pathways and exploring academic endeavors. Pioneering industry leaders such as Magna International, Qualcomm, Amazon Robotics, CIBC, Metrolink, Definity, Intuit, Mastercard, and so many others showcased avenues for engineering excellence, technological innovation, financial services, and more. Simultaneously, esteemed academic institutions including University of Toronto, McMaster, McGill, University of Waterloo, TMU, York, (and many others) nurtured intellectual endeavors and scholarly pursuits, providing insights into graduate programs, research opportunities, and academic pathways. Attendees seized the opportunity to network with representatives from both industry and academia, forging connections that could potentially shape their future endeavors. From informative discussions to one-on-one interactions, the Career and Graduate Fair became a platform for meaningful engagement and professional growth, exemplifying the spirit of exploration and opportunity that permeated the WISE 2024 Conference.
Competitions: Showcasing Talent and Innovation
The WISE National Conference 2024 organized three captivating competitions: the 5 Minute Thesis, the Qualcomm x Engineering Case Competition, and the Magna x Sustainability Case Competition, that allowed participants to apply their knowledge to real-world problems and showcase their skills and innovation. The competitions offered substantial cash prizes, recognizing and rewarding the exceptional efforts of the participants, with the results declared during the closing ceremony of the second day of the conference.
Fireside Chats: Insightful Conversations
Both days ended with the fireside chats, featuring Cassie Rosen, Nandita Vijaykumar, Dimpho Radebe, and Oana Voinicu on the first day and Jekaterina Novikova, Alana Bailey, and Lydia Cao on the second, who brought forth intimate conversations that ignited profound insights. Cassie Rosen, a Planner at IESO, delved into multidisciplinary aspects, indigenous community connections, and the intersection of engineering and policy. Alongside this, Nandita Vijaykumar, an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, shared her perspectives about the importance of hardware for software development. Dimpho Radebe, a Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Toronto, contributed insights into the academic journey while Oana Voinicu, Senior Global Quality Director at Cosma Group of Magna International, shared advancements in autonomous vehicles and talked about her pursuit of inclusivity. The next day, Jekaterina Novikova, Director of ML Research at Cambridge Cognition and Science Lead at ARVA, explored the importance of diversity in machine learning while Alana Bailey, Co-Founder at Sussed and Junior Engineer at Jacobs, provided insights into the challenges and triumphs of a young engineer. Lydia Cao, a Postdoctoral Fellow, added further depth to the conversation with her experiences in postdoctoral research.
The WISE 2024 Conference then concluded leaving behind a trail of inspiration, empowerment, and a profound commitment to endless exploration in the realms of science and engineering. With an amalgamation of diverse perspectives and profound insights, the WISE conference lived up to its theme of “Endless Exploration”. It created a platform for women in science and engineering to explore new horizons, connect with industry leaders, and gain valuable insights into the ever-evolving landscape of STEM. As the conference concluded, it left attendees inspired, informed, and ready to embark on their own endless exploration in the world of science and engineering.
