IN THE NEWS

RIM, NSERC and CWSE-ON will celebrate their partnership on March 8th at the University of Guelph. Guest speakers at the presentation ceremony and dinner will be Dr. Alastair Summerlee, University of Guelph President; Dr. Suzanne Fortier, NSERC President, Mr. Robert Crow, Vice President for Industry, Government and University Relations, RIM; and Dr. Valerie Davidson, Chair for Women in Science and Engineering.

The event will feature research and images documenting the progress that has been made towards encouraging girls and young women to consider post-secondary education and careers in science, engineering and technology fields.

Over the past year, more than 8,000 people have taken part in events and initiatives supported by the Chair. “Our goal is to educate and innovate,” Davidson said. “We’re opening young minds to the possibilities of what a science education can bring and finding sustainable ways to support and increase opportunities for women pursuing science-related careers.”

“This partnership is a perfect fit for all involved,” Summerlee said. “U of G has a reputation for innovation in engineering and science and for making a difference by tackling difficult issues. RIM and NSERC are committed to reaching out to students to get them interested in these important fields.”

First created by NSERC in 2003, the Chair for Women in Science and Engineering was renewed in 2008 for another three years with RIM coming on as the industry partner. It is sustained by a $70,000 annual allocation from NSERC, which is matched by the University. RIM supports the chair through annual cash contributions and in-kind support.