Science Possibilities to Explore at Ms Infinity Conference
June 18, 2012 - News Release
A Ms Infinity Conference to showcase careers for women in science will take place at the University of Guelph June 23.
Organized by students in the College of Biological Science, the College of Physical and Engineering Science and the Ontario Agricultural College, the event will introduce career options and female role models to girls in Grades 9 through 11 in and around Guelph.
Meghan Yip, a graduate of U of G’s human kinetics program, says the event will bring science to life and support female students pursuing science careers.
“Participants will experience different areas of the health sciences, including human anatomy, biomechanics, nutrition and engineering with a health science focus, in hands-on workshops,” said Yip. “Throughout these activities, they will interact with undergraduate students and graduate students in addition to professionals, and be able to ask questions at any point. We aim to encourage young women to pursue their educational and professional goals.”
The conference will begin in the Lifetime Learning Centre at the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC). Workshops will run in respective labs: anatomy in the human anatomy lab (OVC); biomechanics in the Powell Building; nutrition in the Human Nutraceutical Research Unit; and engineering with a health science focus in the Thornbrough Building.
Keynote speakers will be Prof. Leah Bent, Human Health and Nutritional Sciences (HHNS), and Dr. Anne McCarthy, an Ottawa specialist in infectious disease and tropical medicine.
A panel discussion will feature Prof. Lori Vallis, HHNS; Dr. Brenda Berge, audiologist; Megan Kirkland, a student in biomedical communications; and Julia Graham, project scientist at RWDI Inc.
HHNS graduate student Erin Connelly hopes young women will learn how science can open doors to a health sciences career.
“There are some amazing professions that young girls don’t always hear about, and the conference will be a perfect chance to find out about them and ask questions.”
The conference is based upon Ms Infinity programs established by the Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology, a non-profit association supporting women and girls in science, engineering and technology. This is the first time a Ms Infinity event has been held outside western Canada.
For more information and to register, visit www.facebook.com/msinfinityontario.
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt, 519-824-4120, Ext. 53338, or lhunt@uoguelph.ca, or Shiona Mackenzie, Ext. 56982, or shiona@uoguelph.ca.
