Laurier Centre for Women in Science
Explore, Engage, Connect
Launched in 2012, the Laurier Centre for Women in Science (WinS) is proud to champion women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). We are building an inclusive scientific community through research, action, and communication. Indeed, our ultimate goal is to make this centre redundant. With your help and support, we know we can.
At WinS, our motto is E²C: Explore, Engage, Connect.
- Explore: Lead and facilitate research by women and about women in science and mathematical social sciences.
- Engage: Implement evidence-based strategies and expand conversations to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in science.
- Connect: Establish strong networks and unique partnerships with academia, industry and government that catalyze inclusive science in the community.
The 2020 NSERC Chair for Women in Science & Engineering
As of July 1, 2020, Dr. Shohini Ghose, the Director of The Laurier Centre for Women in Science (WinS), holds the NSERC Chair for Women in Science and Engineering (Ontario). Congratulations Dr. Ghose!
From 2020-2025, WinS has been focused on three objectives from the NSERC CWSE program:
- Provide women role models who are accomplished, successful, and recognized researchers in science and engineering.
- Increase the participation and retention of women in STEM.
- Develop and implement a communication and networking strategy.
Click on the drop-downs below to see how WinS has been achieving our goals!
WinS centre director Dr. Shohini Ghose is an internationally recognized quantum physicist whose research is helping to build future quantum technologies. She integrates equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) into all her education and research activities, which provides a vibrant and inclusive working environment for her team members. She has expanded her research in new directions, including quantum political science, and responsible quantum innovation. Dr. Ghose's book, Her Space, Her Time, released in 2023, details the lesser-known stories of women in physics and astronomy.
Dr. Ghose is a role model for the next generation - in 2020, Indian student Shraddha Aangiras was inspired by her talks to found Quetzal, an organization that is introducing quantum computing to fellow students across India.
WinS research and programs director, Dr. Eden Hennessey, is a leader in social psychology and EDI initiatives. Dr. Hennessey's research centres around EDI in STEM fields, mobilizing knowledge related to diversity promotion and discrimination reduction. She advocates for equity and inclusion in academia and combines arts with data to impact world-wide audiences through photo-research exhibits.
Dr. Hennessey is the EDI data specialist at Wilfrid Laurier University, and is working to make the campus experience more equitable for marginalized groups. She is passionate about mentorship, and has provided inspiration to countless students.
Legendary giraffe researcher Dr. Anne Innis Dagg (1933-2024), was a leader in the study of animal behaviour in the wild, and the first to study wild giraffes. Dr. Dagg also researched Canadian wildlife, penning multiple books on the subject throughout her storied career.
She was also deeply impacted by gender bias over her career, both abroad in field work and at home in academia. Receiving her PhD from the University of Waterloo in 1967, she applied for multiple professorship jobs, but was consistently turned down as universities refused to hire women. Despite the lack of recognition, she continued to tirelessly work on independent research, and was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2019.
Pictured at right, Dr. Dagg was featured in Dr. Hennessey's 2019 photo-research exhibit #TurningTablesinSTEM.
WinS members are passionate communicators who speak about women in STEM. Please get in touch if you would like us to present at your next event!
Hypatia and Knowledge Mobilization Awards
Students supported by WinS have gone on to attend conferences and present their research world-wide.
Looking for funding opportunities to support your research? Check out the awards WinS offers by going to our Grants and Awards page.
Dr. Margaret Ann Armour Award and CWSE-CISE Inclusion in STEM Award
Sponsorships and K-12 Engagement
WinS is proud to back many excellent programs that provide support to primary school students in STEM. Some examples include Up4 The Challenge, an organization led by professional women in science and engineering that works to encourage middle and high school students to pursue STEM fields, GITCon, a conference to introduce girls from grades 6-8 to the tech industry, Lotus STEMM's Degrees of Success conference which is geared towards promoting the participation of South Asian girls in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine), and Math to Power Her Life, which focuses on encouraging girls from grades 7-10 to pursue mathematics.
WinSights on Medium
WinSights is a knowledge mobilization project that takes complex scientific articles and summarizes them in an easy-to-read format. Since 2021, the WinSights team has summarized over 50 journal articles to make inclusive science more accessible to all.
WinSights writers are students who are passionate about excellent science communication and sharing knowledge. Interested in getting involved? Email us at wins@wlu.ca!
Partnerships and Collaborations
WinS is always seeking collaborators to faciliate performing excellent scientific research promoting gender equity in STEM. We have partnered with varied institutions, from the Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) to the Grand Valley Construction Agency (GVCA), on a diverse portfolio of projects.
Consulting
At WinS, we are always working to promote gender equity in STEM workplaces. In our consulting capacity, we have surveyed institutions such as the Perimiter Institute for Theoretical Physics, and the Triumf Particle Accelerator, to provide comprehensive analyses of the status of women, and marginalized groups more broadly, within these organizations.
WinS Milestones
2012: The Centre for Women in Science is launched at Wilfrid Laurier University
2014: WinS and WLU host the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics's (IUPAP) International Conference on Women in Physics
2015: Dr. Hennessey's photo-research exhibit #DistractinglySexist launches
February 2016: Dr. Hennessey represents WinS at the United Nations for the first International Day of Women and Girls in Science
May 2016: Dr. Hennessey launches her second photo-research exhibit, #DistractinglyHonest
2017: WinS commissioned Tharanga Goonetilleke, visual artist and singer, to create portraits showcasing the discoveries of women in STEM. This became the Her Space Time art series, including the portrait of astronaut Sunita Williams, at left.
May 9, 2019: Minister Kirsty Duncan was hosted at WLU to launch the Dimensions charter
October 2019: Dr. Hennessey launches the third photo-research exhibit, #TurningTablesinSTEM
February 2023: WinS' ten-acity party celebrating a decade of the centre.
November 2023: WinS hosts a book launch for Dr. Ghose's book, Her Space, Her Time
May 2024: In partnership with Conestoga College, WinS launches Dr. Hennessey's fourth photo-research exhibit, Building Equitable Trades
