Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) is a student community on campus where students interested in tech collaborate and network together. The annual Dinner with Industry (DWI) and Brunch With Industry (BWI) events have been a big success for WiSE in the past, both for the number of attending high-ranking speakers, and the engagement and positive energy from the attendees.
The next DWI will take place on Tuesday, February 13th from 4:00-8:00 PM at The Isabel Bader Center. The theme is STRONGER TOGETHER, emphasizing the empowering experience of connecting with others, forming communities with people who share your passions, and finding unity among women in STEM.
Dr. Erin Meger will be one of four speakers attending the event to share her experiences supporting and collaborating with other women in technology, including her non-profit project Women in Combinatorics (WinCom).
In 2019 Dr. Meger co-founded WinCom, a platform for any Combinatorialist who identifies as a woman or non-binary person and would like to connect with other women. The platform is meant to provide community and support to underrepresented researchers worldwide.
Emily Scremin and Sara Di Luch are the current Directors of Events of the Queen’s Chapter of WiSE. We reached out to Emily, Sara, and their team to learn more about the upcoming events and the community they have created on campus.
Here is what they had to say:
Brunch With Industry and Dinner With Industry are the two big annual events that WiSE is known for on campus. What is the difference between the two?
Both BWI and DWI focus on making connections and promoting female empowerment in male dominated fields. Brunch with Industry takes place in the fall semester and serves, as the name implies, a delicious brunch. Dinner with Industry takes place in the spring semester and offers a dinner service. Each event offers a completely new panel of speakers, and is brought to life by 2 separate teams of amazing coordinators which keeps BWI and DWI unique! You can attend both events and have a brand new experience each time.
What makes these events successful?
BWI and DWI are currently the only conferences on campus promoting female involvement in sciences and engineering majors. They provides ample opportunities for students to network with strong female speakers from various career fields.
Networking events for health science and life science students in particular are far and few between on campus. With dinner tables set with other students in similar majors, this event also facilitates meeting and bonding with like minded peers following similar career paths.
BWI and DWI had some incredible women in academia and tech in attendance. What are some common bits of advice for young women that the invited speakers share?
- Never let anyone tell you what you are and are not capable of!!!
- Everybody is on their own uniquely individual path and timeline.
- Focus your energy on your goals and the people that support/cheer you on along the way.
- Finding mentors along your career journey will help immensely!
The theme for DWI 2024 is ‘Stronger Together’. Why is community important for women in science and tech programs?
From our experience at WiSE, community absolutely plays a vital role in helping women in STEM reach their full potential. When we feel supported and part of something bigger, it empowers us to stretch further and achieve more than we ever could alone. At the core of what we do is bringing women in science and tech fields together to share, learn and lift each other up. Through networking events, panels, mentoring programs and more, our conference fosters a sense of belonging that directly translates to real opportunities and growth.
Students see role models who’ve faced similar barriers and thrived. They are able to find mentors to advocate for them, and make impactful connections which help them pursue future jobs. That community accountability and inspiration propels us all forward in our work and helps form a strong female presence in these industries.
The theme of being ‘Stronger Together’ for DWI 2024 couldn’t ring more true from my experience at WiSE. By building relationships through our club, we all develop a sense of confidence knowing we have our peers in our corner ready to provide support and advice as we navigate through University and build our careers. Fostering community has been key to our mission since day one, and I truly believe it makes all the difference for the next generation of women leaders in STEM.
What are some other ways to get involved with WiSE?
- Listen to our podcast “How to be WiSE” on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and RSS
- Join our 2024/25 exec team! Starting in March we will be hiring for all director and coordinator positions!
- Applications open → Monday, March 11th
- Applications close → Saturday, March 23rd
- Interviews → Sunday, March 24th – Sunday, March 31st
- Hiring decisions made → April 4th
- Join our mentorship program! More information is available on our website www.queenswise.ca
- Keep up to date with our Instagram, @queenswise to learn about volunteer opportunities for our outreach programs!!!