On February 9, we mark the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (internationally recognized on February 11). Join us for a fun, engaging, and inspiring event – the 2023 Girls in STEAM Conference!
The 2023 Girls in STEAM Conference is an opportunity for youth in grades 6 to 9 to meet women working in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) fields, gain new skills, and have a lot of fun with hands-on activities.
Following a keynote address participants will join one of four breakout sessions where they will meet a woman in a STEAM field and participate in a hands-on learning activity. The asynchronous breakout sessions will cover topics of Agriculture, Animation/Coding, Climate Action, Medicine/Biology, and Space.
NOTE: All breakout session materials are now spoken for. However, you can still register to attend the event virtually. You will receive a link to watch the conference the morning of the event. If you would still like to partake in the activities, you can download the Activity Guide and Supplies List here.
Keynote Speakers
Kristen Facciol, P. Eng
Operations Engineer, Mission Control Group - Canadian Space Agency
With nearly 14 years of experience as a Systems Engineer focusing on on-orbit satellite servicing and robotic manipulator operations for space-based applications, Kristen helps plan and conduct robotic missions on the International Space Station (ISS), and she also trains astronauts for Canadarm2 operations.
Ember
Ember is a grade 7 student from southern Saskatchewan who has developed a passion for coding. She previously attended a Go! Code: Girls club at the Saskatchewan Science Centre, and has been using technology to come up with creative projects ever since. She is excited to share her story on why she loves coding and how she has found ways to explore her passion while still in elementary school.
Cost
This event is FREE for all participants, however registration is required.
The 2023 Girls in STEAM Conference will be presented virtually, although there is a limited number of supplies for the breakout session activities. Upon acceptance to the event, participants will be shipped a kit of materials to help them complete breakout session activities. Teachers who register will receive enough materials for a class of thirty students.
NOTE: All breakout session materials are now spoken for. However, you can still register to attend the event virtually. You will receive a link to watch the conference the morning of the event. If you would still like to partake in the activities, you can download the Activity Guide and Supplies List here.
Streams & Mentors
Animation and Coding – Payton Gilbertson
Payton Gilbertson is a current computer science student at the University of Regina. Payton interned at Industrial Light and Magic where she worked on the Emmy Award winning StageCraft team and will be rejoining that team after she graduates this summer.
Medicine - Dr. Karissa Brabant
Dr. Karissa Brabant is the owner of Circle Medical Centre in Moose Jaw. Raised in Regina, she moved to Saskatoon for medical school and graduated in 2016. Dr. Brabant then completed her residency in Moose Jaw in 2019. She, along with her husband son, is very excited to call Moose Jaw their forever home!
Climate Action – Jenna McEwen
Jenna McEwen is a recent biology graduate passionate about environmental and climate change awareness. She will be discussing the importance of science communication and environmental advocacy.
Biology – Dr. Kara Loos
Dr. Kara Loos received her PhD in Microbiology from the University of Regina, and now works for the Public Health Agency of Canada as a Genomic Liason Technical Officer, where she helps track variants of prominent viruses, like COVID-19 and Influenza. Dr. Loos will be talking about how we can read and understand DNA through processes like genetic sequencing, and how coding (bioinformatics) has been extremely important in making that process more efficient.
Agriculture – Andrea DeRoo
An active farmer and current reigning cleavers queen, Andrea has a strong love for both farming and agriculture. Shes focused her carrer on agronomy research and helping growers get the most out of their fields. With an eye for detail and a hunger for knowledge, you’ll find Andrea in the field throughout growing season-validating and putting the knowledge gained by Crop Intelligence to the test. She has a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science from the university of Saskatchewan. Andrea joined South Country Equipment in 2018, and she serves as field support while also conducting reseach validation for the Crop Intelligence team.
Space – Dr. Samantha Lawler
Samantha Lawler is a professor of astronomy at Campion College and the Department of Physics at the University of Regina. She is an orbital dynamicist, studying the Kuiper Belt and exoplanet-dust disk systems. She completed degrees at the California Institute of Technology, Wesleyan University, and the University of British Columbia, followed by postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Victoria and NRC-Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre. In addition to her research and the astronomy courses she teaches at Campion, her research has been featured by many international news outlets, and she appears regularly on Saskatchewan local radio and TV to talk about what's currently visible in our beautiful prairie skies.
Event Schedule
9:30 am – Welcomes
Welcome and introduction – Laura Githegi
Welcome from Sandy Baumgartner
Remarks from Elder Brenda Dubois
10:00 am – Keynote speaker #1 - Kristen Faccio
11:00 am – Breakout sessions
12:00 pm – Lunch
1:00 pm – Welcome back – Laura Githegi
Movement break!
1:30 pm – Keynote speaker #2 - Ember
2:15 pm – Breakout sessions
3:00 pm – Sign off and thank you
NOTE: All breakout session materials are now spoken for. However, you can still register to attend the event virtually. You will receive a link to watch the conference the morning of the event. If you would still like to partake in the activities, you can download the Activity Guide and Supplies List here.
With Support From
FAQ:
My classroom will contain both boys and girls. Does this mean that I am unable to register?
No! This conference will contain themes and messaging that are meant to speak more directly to girls. However, the keynote and sessions will contain information and messaging that speaks to a larger audience and are appropriate for all audiences.
Do participants have to register as part of a classroom?
Yes, this event is available to classrooms and home schools.
Am I able to participate in the event even if I cannot receive supplies? Can I still apply to view the keynotes and breakout sessions?
Absolutely! This event has great information even if you do not have supplies. All activities that are a part of breakout sessions will show supplies that are used and are offered asynchronously so you are able to come back to those sessions at a future time. It is also worth noting, that our coding platform allows you to utilize virtual hardware so you can code along with us.
If I am a teacher and I apply, what would I receive?
Our classroom kits are designed to provide relevant materials for activities. They are designed for students to work in groups, and will be customized to class size. We can accommodate a maximum of 30 students in each kit.
Why is this conference designed with girls being the primary audience?
There is a lot of evidence that show as young women learn in school, they perform on par with boys, and enroll in STEAM classes on par. However, as time goes on, a gender gap grows as participation from girls in STEAM classes drops off. This is further widened by issues of race and class. Our goal in offering this program is to help these young girls begin to understand that anyone can be a scientist, engineer, coder, an architect, or any STEAM-related professional by creating positive experiences with other young women. We hope to dispel the myth that they aren't able to excel in STEAM fields.
About the International Day of Women and Girls in Science
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are a call to action to promote prosperity and protect the planet. Goal 5 seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. To achieve this goal, youth in particular girls, need more opportunities to learn about careers and opportunities to be future innovators.
International Day of Women and Girls in Science (unesco.org)