SCWIST

About Us

Who We Are

The Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST) is a non-profit association established in 1981. Our mission is to promote, encourage and empower women and girls in science, engineering and technology.

Our Goals

To promote public awareness of the opportunities for women in science, engineering and technology by providing information and resources which aim to influence public policy and present positive messages about women’s achievements and potential in this area.
To encourage the full participation of girls and women in all aspects of science, engineering and technology education, through the provision of programs and activities which are developed and implemented in partnership with relevant community members.
To increase the representation, retention and status of women in the science, engineering and technology workplace by providing networking and mentoring opportunities and advocating for women-friendly workplaces and education policies.

Our Programs

In addition to its Resource Centre, SCWIST runs two signature programs.

ms infinity program runs across the province of BC and the Yukon expose young women to interesting and exciting career options and positive female role models who are pursuing dynamic careers and education in science, engineering and technology. ms infinity attempts to defy stereotypes of science careers and women scientists. You don’t have to wear a white lab coat and tape on your glasses to be a scientist!

IWIS Immigrating Women in Science (IWIS) helps women who have just immigrated to Canada and are internationally-trained in science and technology in their home country.

Our Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors consists of professional women and students working in the field of science and technology in industry and academia. These women bring to the SCWIST board a wealth of skills and talents from both business and academic arenas.

Our Staff

The SCWIST office is supported by its Resource Centre Coordinator, ms infinity Program Coordinator, ms infinity Outreach Education Coordinator, IWIS Program Coordinator and Bookkeeper. For more information, go to our staff page.

Our Supporters

Thanks to the many funders for their ongoing support. See our list of supporters.

Our History

A Distinguished Past and Growing into the Future
by Nadine Nakagawa

The Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST) was born in 1981 on the clematis-covered porch of Maggie Benston. It was here that the “undaunted five”- Mary Vickers, Hilda Ching, Abby Schwarz, Mary Jo Duncan and Maggie Benston- first conceived the idea of promoting the achievements of women in science. SCWIST was incorporated on July 30, 1981 with Mary Vickers as the founding president to encourage the full participation of girls and women in science and technology. Within its first year SCWIST presented eight public programs, started the first registry of women in science in B.C. and the Yukon, and held panel discussions about the issues surrounding the female position in science.

Following the extremely successful 1983 National Conference on Women in Science, the Society began to host “Girls in Science” summer workshops with the belief that the promise of ‘affirmative action’ would be undermined by the lack of women holding PhDs. The workshops were created to encourage more young women to enter professions in science. At this time, SCWIST members were also invited to serve on the federal government’s Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women.

The 1990s saw changing demographic patterns which resulted in a decrease in the traditional pool of graduates from technical and scientific fields and therefore an increase in the need for educated professionals. Women were considered an untapped resource and SCWIST capitalized on this new demand by increasing the breadth and outreach of their programs, targeting both professional women and school-age girls.

The mission of SCWIST was developed to promote the recruitment, retention and promotion of women in science. SCWIST has been successful in encouraging young women to study science, but more work is still needed in engineering, physics and computing science. Canadian women scientists and engineers are now confronting out-dated assumptions of women’s leadership roles in traditionally male-dominated fields. At the same time, there are growing numbers of highly-trained women who have immigrated to Canada who cannot work in their chosen fields. SCWIST grows with the new realities: SCWIST strives to support and promote women in their education and career choices through networking and events, and SCWIST continues to delight in encouraging girls to imagine science, engineering and technology as part of their future.

Presidents

Mary Vickers, President (1981 – 1983)
Betty Dwyer, President (1983 – 1984)
Hilda Ching, President (1984 – 1986)
Marian Adair, President (1986 – 1987)
Diana Herbst, President (1987 – 1988)
Josefina Gonzales, President (1988 – 1989)
Tasoula Berggren, President (1989 – 1990)
Penny LeCouteur, President (1990 – 1992)
Jackie Gill, President (1992 – 1994)
Hilda Ching, President (1994 – 1995)
Maria Issa. President (1995 – 1996)
Rosalind Kellet, President (1996 – 1997)
Hiromi Matsui, President (1997 – 1998)
Sara Swenson, President (1998 – 2000)
Judy Myers, President (2000 – 2002)
Dawn McArthur, President (2002 – 2003)
Stephanie Smith, President (2003 – 2005)
Amanda Smith, President (2005 – 2007)
Suzanne Ferenczi, President (2007 – 2008)
Elana Brief, President (2008 – 2010)
Anna Stukas (2010-present)