Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology

SCWIST was founded in Vancouver, BC in 1981{{cite web|title=SFU Archive|url=https://www.sfu.ca/archives2/F-39/F-39.html|publisher=Simon Fraser University |date=2012-08-01}} by six women: Mary Vickers, Hilda Ching,{{cite report | last= Ching |first= Hilda |title=Hilda Ching's Final Report as Ruth Wynn Woodward Professor|url= http://summit.sfu.ca/item/10431|publisher=Simon Fraser University|format=pdf|date=1991|quote= When the National Committee for Women in Engineering was being organized, I participated for SCWIST in discussions on the kind of research which should be done to increase numbers of women engineers.}} Abby Schwarz, Mary Jo Duncan, Diana Herbst and Margaret Benston. It was registered as a charity under the federal Income Tax Act{{cite web|title=Registered Canadian charities|url=https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/society-for-canadian-women-in-science-and-technology|publisher=Canada Helps|accessdate=2015-06-17}} in 1984.

In 1983, the Registry of Skilled Women, BC and Yukon was produced. SCWIST also organized the first National Conference on Women in Science and Technology the same year.

The members focused on girls and the development of the educational programs for them. The program Girls in Science{{cite news |last=Szpitun |first=Lin|date=1991 |title=Women Do Math and Ms Infinity: Two Projects for Girls Who Like Math |url=http://en.copian.ca/litweb/other/cclow/newslet/1991/sumer_v9/cover.pdf|language=English, French|newspaper=WOMEN'S EDUCATION DES FEMMES |location=Toronto |access-date=2015-06-28}} started in 1984 and ran in many communities in BC.{{cite web|title=SCWIST Expanding Horizons Since 1981|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyQGxYo_2_I|publisher=SCWIST|date=2011-05-02}} The program grew over the years into ms infinity (1990) and Project Tomorrow (1993). Ms infinity program is still ongoing. It is funded by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council{{cite web|title=PromoScience Program|url=https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Promoter-Promotion/PromoScience-PromoScience/Recipients-Laureats/index_eng.asp?Year=2016|publisher=NSERC|date=2020-05-29}} and it inspires young women by introducing them to exciting careers in science and technology.{{cite news |last=Alphonso |first=Caroline|date=2012-11-22 |title=Science careers start with young girls |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/education/science-careers-start-with-young-girls/article5543555/|newspaper=The Globe and Mail |location=Toronto |access-date=2015-06-26|quote='Whether it’s obvious or not, there’s still a picture in everybody’s head of what a good scientist or what a good engineer looks like. And it’s often not a pretty young woman. There’s a responsibility among adults to show kids role models that reflect the reality, which is that there’s lots of women in science," said Sandra Eix, vice-president of programs for the non-profit Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology.}} Ms infinity program also offers an e-mentoring program for the girls in the 11th and 12th grades.{{cite web|title=E-Mentoring Projects|url=http://www.focusit.ca/students/prospective-students/girls-in-ict/mentorship-programs-for-girls/|publisher=ICTC|accessdate=2015-07-06}}

SCWIST established a first year achievement award for a female student enrolled in BCIT full-time technology program in 1986. This award was renamed in honour of Margaret Benston after her death in 1991 to Margaret Lowe Benston Memorial.{{cite web|title=Generally Eligible Awards-BCIT|url=https://share.cas.bcit.ca/_.../AwardsEligibleforComputing_Students.xlsx|format=xlsx|accessdate=2015-07-06}} The scholarship program expanded over the years.{{cite web|title=SCWIST Scholarships|url=http://www.scwist.ca/programs-and-events/scholarships/|publisher=SCWIST|accessdate=2015-06-04}}

File:F-109-7-0-0-10 003.jpg

The stability in SCWIST funding was achieved with the establishment of Michael Smith Endowment Fund in 1993.{{cite web| title=Dr. Michael Smith, Nobel Laureate |url=http://www.msl.ubc.ca/about/michaelsmith|publisher=University of British Columbia|accessdate=2015-06-05}} Half of the prize money from Nobel Prize as well as the matching amount from different government organizations was put into Vancouver Foundation's Michael Smith Fund.{{cite book|title=No Ordinary Mike: Michael Smith, Nobel Laureate|author1=Eric Damer|author2=Caroline Astell|publisher=Ronsdale press|isbn=1-55380-014-1|quote=The other half of his prize money went to Vancouver Foundation to fund public science education through Science World and the Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST). A few colleagues were surprised by Mike's support for women - they could not remember him speaking at department meetings to support women in faculty position - but others accepted his rationale that he had always respected women as scientists and recognized that they encountered obstacles not faced by men. His first few doctoral students had been women, as were several of his most important collaborators. Behind the scenes, Mike supported women as candidates for teaching and research positions in his department, although gender parity was still a long way off.|year=2004}}

The first SCWIST web site was launched in 1997. The update and new logos were done in 2012.{{cite web|title=Inspire by example|url=http://www.scwist.ca/antonia-issa-inspire-by-example|publisher=SCWIST|date=2012-05-04}}File:Leaflet SCWIST.jpg

The most recent acknowledgement of the SCWIST value was done by Status of Women Canada. This grant funded a launch of an online mentorship network in 2014.{{cite web|title=Make Possible is a mentoring network to advance women in science and technology careers|url=http://www.makepossible.ca/about|publisher=SCWIST|accessdate=2015-06-04}} This program (named [http://www.makepossible.ca/ makepossible]) was developed to attract, retain and advance women in science and technology.{{cite web|title=Disclosure of Grant and Contribution Awards|url=http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/trans/account-resp/pd-dp/dgc-dsc/2013-2014/gc-sc-777-eng.html|publisher=Government of Canada|date=2013-06-17}}{{cite news |last=Kristiansen |first=Cheryl |date=2015-06-04 |title=Attract and Retain Top Talent in STEM|url=http://www.hrvoice.org/attract-and-retain-top-talent-in-stem/|newspaper=HRVoice |location=Burnaby|access-date=2015-06-27|quote=As part of the Government of Canada’s Status of Women Initiative to advance women in technology, The Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST) has developed programs and resources to understand and address gender diversity.}}{{cite press release|last=Weston|first=John|title=Supporting Project Aimed at Advancing Women in the Canadian Digital Economy|url=http://www.johnweston.ca/?p=5331|access-date=2015-06-28|date=2013-10-16}}

Immigrating Women in Science program (IWIS) started in 1999. It offers mentorship and other resources to women who have immigrated to Canada after having trained and established careers in science, engineering and technology in other countries.{{cite news |last=Mcilroy |first=Anne|date=2012-12-02 |title=Looking worldwide for the women Canada needs |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/education/looking-worldwide-for-the-women-canada-needs/article5903980/|newspaper=The Globe and Mail |location=Toronto |access-date=2015-06-26|quote=”As the director of Immigrating Women in Science and Technology, a program offered by the Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology, she helps recent arrivals build their networks, seek advice and share their common experiences. She wants to make it easier for female immigrants to land jobs in their fields. It is her way of giving back to her new country, which in the coming years will require increasing numbers of people trained in the STEM professions: science, technology, engineering and math.}} IWIS is partially funded by British Columbia Government.{{ cite web|title=Where the Money Goes|url=https://www.gaming.gov.bc.ca/reports/docs/fin-rpt-grants-year-to-date-payments-2014-2015.pdf?|publisher=Province of British Columbia|accessdate=2015-06-05}} IWIS also creates opportunities for the skilled immigrants to express their opinions.{{cite news|last=DeVoretz|first=Sacha|date=2011-06-18 |title=Highly educated female immigrants say Canada isn't on their side | url=http://www.vancouverobserver.com/world/canada/2011/06/18/highly-educated-female-immigrants-say-canada-isnt-their-side |publisher=Vancouver Observer|access-date=2015-06-26|quote=In June, The Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST) hosted an event at a local Vancouver pub to provide an opportunity for women in the sciences to exchange industry news and meet familiar faces. It helped women like Shrivastava learn about opportunities and offered a supportive place for the women to express their apprehensions.}}

Other SCWIST activities include workshops, speaker's events and networking opportunities for women to make valuable academic and industry contacts and develop a sense of community with other women in scientific fields. The prominent event held yearly is XX evening organized in cooperation with Science World (Vancouver).{{cite press release |last=McCuaig|first=Amanda |date=2011-02-28 |title= Female scientists and engineers discuss rewards and challenges of their chosen career on International Women's Day|url=http://www.scienceworld.ca/sites/default/files/2011-02-28%20XX%20Evening%20at%20Science%20World.pdf|location=Vancouver |publisher=Science World |access-date= 2015-06-26|quote=XX Evening 2011, now in its 20th year, is named after the XX chromosome which determines the female gender. It was designed by the Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology to help with their mission of promoting, encouraging, and empowering women and girls in science, engineering, and technology. This will be the event’s 11th year at Science World and is part of a long standing partnership between SCWIST and Science World.}} Many other events are organized with the prominent partners such as CIHR Café Scientifique,{{cite web|title=CIHR Café Scientifique|url=http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/35898.html|publisher=Canadian Institutes of Health Research|accessdate=2015-06-04}} Creating Connections {{cite web|title=Creating Connections 4.0|url=https://www.sfu.ca/sfuwest/cc-2015/schedule/full.html|publisher=Simon Fraser University|accessdate=2015-06-04}} and many others.{{cite web|title=Women Engineers helping pre-landed Women Engineers through Online Pre-arrival Services|url=http://www.mosaicbc.com/women-engineers-helping-pre-landed-women-engineers-through-online-pre-arrival-services|publisher=MOSAIC|date=2015-02-28}}{{cite web|title=Gender Diverse Workplaces|url=https://www.apeg.bc.ca/About-Us/Commitment-to-Community/Gender-Diverse-Workplaces/Gender-Diverse-Workplaces-Get-Involved|publisher=APEGBC|accessdate=2015-06-04}}

From the six founders in 1981, membership in SCWIST has grown steadily into a network of women providing support to individuals, able to help when faced with the obstacles in the science and technology careers{{cite news|last=Stukas|first=Anna|date=2012-10-09 |title=Time for women to explore new career horizons |url=https://vancouversun.com/technology/Opinion+Time+women+explore+career+horizons/7360074/story.html|publisher=The Vancouver Sun|access-date=2015-06-28|quote=It wasn't until my first industry meeting that it started to dawn on me that perhaps there was something "odd" about my choice of profession. When I walked into the room, everyone turned to stare at me-it took me a few moments to realize that I was the only woman there. Shortly after, I joined the board of the Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST), looking for a support system of people who had experienced the same thing.|id={{ProQuest|1095771252}}}}

SCWIST is incorporated under the BC Societies Act and governed by a Board of Directors. The Annual General Meeting held each spring and open to all members of the Society, votes on major decisions and elects directors. The Board is headed by the president and meets regularly in Vancouver. The ongoing work of SCWIST is carried out by standing and ad hoc committees and paid employees appointed by the Board.

File:2014 AGM SCWIST (Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology).jpg

As of July 2015 {{cite web|title=SCWIST team|url=http://www.scwist.ca/about-scwist/meetourteam/|accessdate=2015-07-06}} there are 5 paid employees and the following committees are active:

• Communications
• Events
• Grants
• IWIS
• Membership
• ms infinity
• Strategic Development

Some members are vocal about current affairs such as women on Canadian one-hundred-dollar note{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Charlie|date=2012-08-20 |title=Chinese Canadian National Council applauds Bank of Canada's apology|url=https://www.straight.com/news/chinese-canadian-national-council-applauds-bank-canadas-apology/|publisher=The Georgia Straight|accessdate=2021-02-06}} and Canadian Status of Women Committee {{cite web|date=2014-11-18|title=Status of Women Committee on Nov. 18th, 2014|url=https://openparliament.ca/committees/status-of-women/41-2/35/fariba-pacheleh-1/|publisher=openparliament.ca|accessdate=2021-02-06}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [https://www.apeg.bc.ca/Resources/News-and-Publications/Innovation-Magazine APEGBC Innovation Magazine featuring Anna Stukas, Past President]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304102320/http://www.thevantagepoint.ca/content/people-lens101-ways-move-your-organization-forward Vantage Point Guides Book 1 A People Lens featuring Linda Layton, SCWIST Director]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m6gj0gHNBI SCWIST - Volunteer week April 2009]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKq9jf0zjgU SCWIST - Volunteers 2009]
• [http://www.ccwestt.org CCWESTT-Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology]
• [http://www.ieee.ca/wie/en/index.html IEEE Women in Engineering in Canada]
• [http://www.wievr.ca Women in Engineering (Vancouver Region)]

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Category:Charities based in Canada

Category:Women in Vancouver

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Canada

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