We’re celebrating International Day of Women and Girls in Science!
We asked the women who make Scientists in School the organization it is today questions about the fields they love, the mentors who helped them get where they are, and what they’d say to girls with an interest in STEM.
We also asked the rest of our organization to share their favourite historical or contemporary women in science.
What is your favourite part of your STEM field?
“I enjoy exploring new ideas and possibilities. Being part of a community that supports collaboration and growth. Science provides a framework which allows you to ask questions, be inquisitive, and explore the unknown. The possibilities in STEM are exciting. Having an open and growth and learning mindset keeps you engaged, participating in an everchanging world.” – Scientist Rosalie, Workshop Presenter
“I am a Biology girl. I have always loved to study and learn how everything works. I do remember being about 10 years old and drawing the muscles of my dogs as they moved (or at least how I thought they moved). I spent hours on this activity! Or, checking how the fruits in my parents’ plants grew. Later, I became a molecular biologist. My favourite part has always being learning how life works – from atoms to whales!” – Scientist Sole M.Sc. PhD, Workshop Presenter
How did a mentor or teacher support you in pursuing your STEM field?
“The people who influenced me most shared a common thread: a belief in curiosity, creativity, and learning driven by questions. Teachers who encouraged hands-on exploration and valued questions over ‘right answers’ had the biggest impact on me.“– Jody, Outreach Program Specialist and Teacher
“My mentor was really kind and supportive during my training time at Scientists in School and it is probably one of the main reasons why I still remain so inspired and motivated at my job. Her mentorship helped build my confidence in the classroom and played a key role in shaping my growth as an educator.” – Scientist Tooba, Workshop Presenter
“My plant biology professor at university, Mario. I loved hanging out with him talking about plant evolution and chemistry. He had so much love for what he did that it was contagious.” – Scientist Sole M.Sc. PhD, Workshop Presenter
“During my graduate studies at the University of Guelph, I was fortunate to receive exceptional support from my advisor, laboratory support team, and fellow graduate students. This support became especially meaningful when my academic journey coincided with significant life changes.
My advisor, Dr. Danzmann, played a pivotal role in ensuring I could continue and succeed in my STEM training during this time. When my family plans changed unexpectedly and I welcomed three children in under three years while completing my thesis, he remained consistently supportive, flexible, and encouraging. He trusted my ability to manage both research and family responsibilities and supported non-traditional work schedules that allowed me to remain productive in the laboratory and in my writing.
That flexibility made it possible for me to complete my research during unconventional hours and ultimately finish my thesis on time. In addition, institutional support – most notably through NSERC-funded paid maternity leaves – allowed me to focus fully on my family during critical periods without compromising my academic progress.
I successfully defended my thesis while eight and a half months pregnant with my third child. This experience reinforced the importance of mentorship that recognizes the whole person. The encouragement, understanding, and advocacy of my mentor were instrumental in allowing me to persist in and complete my STEM degree.”– Jennifer, Team Lead and Community Outreach Specialist
What would you say to a girl who wants to become a scientist?
“Design, build, experiment, test and absolutely go and make the world a better place!” – Scientist Victoria, Workshops Presenter
“If you have an interest in how living and non-living things work, or you enjoy learning about new discoveries, science may be for you. Studying science at college or university can help you gain hands-on skills, giving you a useful degree that opens doors to interesting jobs. I started my career in a chemistry laboratory, which can be quite fun, and can take you in many directions. After years of working in a scientific field, I can tell you that a STEM career is a fantastic choice for women and girls!” – Scientist Thereza, Workshop Presenter
“You will not be disappointed. It is hard work, and there will be some heartache along the way. But researching is fun! You will always be learning! There will always be new worlds to discover!” – Scientist Sole M.Sc. PhD, Workshop Presenter
“Science is not just about experiments and equations — it’s about building a strong foundation within yourself. Like structures, when your foundation is steady, you can grow layer by layer, in your own time. Science teaches you to observe, explore, and ask questions — not only about the world, but about yourself. Take your time. Stay curious. Trust your voice. The world doesn’t need you to rush — it needs you to shine.” – Scientist Veena, Workshop Presenter
“I would tell her that the field of STEM needs her curiosity, her perspective, and her voice. Women are still underrepresented in this field, and their perspective is absolutely necessary for meaningful change and innovation.” – Scientist Tooba, Workshop Presenter
What does the International Day of Women and Girls in Science mean to you?
“It means having the opportunity that was denied to us in the past, it means that the future is open! It means I can inspire my kids and other kids to do great things without fear.” – Scientist Sole M.Sc. PhD, Workshop Presenter
“Through science, you learn about forces — the ones around you and the strength within you — and how to set boundaries so you’re not pulled in every direction by distractions. And like light, science reminds us that we all carry a spark within us. When you care for that spark, it can guide, warm, and inspire others. On the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we celebrate that spark — and the courage it takes for girls to follow their curiosity, trust their voices, and shape the world through science.” – Scientist Veena, Workshop Presenter
Share your favourite historical or contemporary woman in STEM and why she inspires you.
This prompt invited participants who are not women in STEM – either by not being women or not having a STEM background – to share about the women in STEM who inspire them as we celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science together.
“I am here getting to be a science communicator in no small part thanks to Alie Ward. Ward is the creator and host of the podcast Ologies (and for kids: Smologies), where she interviews experts on anything you can imagine. She brings such thoughtful questions, good humour, and infectious enthusiasm to each interview that I feel like I’m not only learning about the topic from the experts, but how to craft powerful science communication from how Ward dives into each interview. She inspires me to strengthen my skills and keep my mind wide open.” – Tighearnán, Communications and Marketing Coordinator
“One of my favourite activities is where students explore a list of female inventors and then design an invention of their own. I love highlighting creators like Bette Nesmith Graham, who invented liquid paper, and Josephine Cochrane, who designed the first practical dishwasher. These women saw everyday problems and created solutions we still rely on today. It’s a simple but powerful way to spark creativity, celebrate diverse role models, and help students see themselves as real innovators.” – Jody, Outreach Program Specialist and Teacher
“The woman in STEM who I admire most is my daughter, Maddie. She inspires me not only with her intelligence and determination, but also with the enthusiasm with which she has embraced her chosen field. She is currently studying aerospace engineering and is really giving it her all. Not only is she very dedicated to being successful in her courses but holds a position on her school’s engineering society and attends engineering conferences at every opportunity. It hasn’t been an easy path for her – she has faced negativity, sexism and dealt with anxiety, but she pushes through and won’t be deterred from what she wants to accomplish. She inspires me more with each passing year and I could not be prouder.” – Karin, Fund Development and Database Coordinator
“My daughter warms my science heart by working towards her MSc, studying & researching cowbirds, spacial cognition, and Statistics as she studies Cognitive Behavioural Neuroscience. I have every confidence she will make a difference in this world using STEM.” – Scientist Shannon, Workshop Presenter
“I love that more young girls (including my daughter) are pursuing science & math AND are proving that they are not only capable but are KILLING IT! I am most grateful for and impressed by the STEM women in my life who teach me something new every day.” – Michelle, Regional Manager
Our Commitment to Inspiring Girls to Become Scientists
Our roots go back to 1989 and an idea that sprung up at a branch of the Canadian Federation of University Women. These beginnings have stuck with us, and encouraging women and girls to pursue STEM has remained a foundational part of what we do as an organization.
We partnered with Western University to explore the impact of our workshops on young learners. That longitudinal research followed 2,000 students in grades 6-8 over three school years, and showed that when students experience our high-quality workshops repeatedly, their interest and confidence in STEM increases over time.
Further, the team found that when our workshops are offered free in communities facing economic or geographic barriers to excellent STEM education, that impact is even stronger.
In the entire study, the impacts on confidence and STEM interest were strongest for a specific group: girls. In cohorts with four workshops over two years and six over three years, the starting baseline 15% confidence and interest gap between genders narrowed and was nearly closed.
From our founding to the research results, one thing remains clear: focusing on creating excellent STEM enrichment helps bridge gaps and remove barriers for young learners who may not have otherwise seen the possibility of a STEM future.
Scientists in School is a Canadian science outreach charity dedicated to sparking children’s interest in STEM through hands-on discovery. Explore our workshops and help us turn your young learners into young scientists.
