Women in Science (WinS) is an initiative within the University of Windsor’s Faculty of Science dedicated to building a supportive community for women in STEM. Through in-person events, community outreach, and social media campaigns, the group focuses on inspiring, empowering, and connecting women pursuing science.

A key highlight of their efforts is the annual A Scientist Like Her event, where grade 7 and 8 girls visit campus for a day of hands-on STEM activities. Workshops that have been offered in the past include neuroscience and genetics activities, learning to code with Micro:bits, a campus scavenger hunt using compasses to navigate, and solving a fictional mystery using forensic science techniques.

Hadia Malik, WinS co-president and recent Honours Medical Physics graduate, spoke about the event’s success: “Each year, we find creative ways to showcase different science disciplines, and we always receive positive feedback from both parents and kids. This year, we even had some girls return from last year, now in grade 8!” The success of this year’s A Scientist Like Her highlights the importance of initiatives like these in inspiring and empowering the next generation of female scientists.

In addition to A Scientist Like Her, WinS volunteers are actively involved in Science Rendezvous Windsor. Most recently, they organized a hands-on paper airplane activity. Visitors designed their own planes, considering factors like gravity, aerodynamics, and drag, in an effort to create the best-flying design. Gabriella Agostino, co-president of WinS, reflected on the event’s success: “For me, the most rewarding aspect of Science Rendezvous is that we have the ability to spark young children’s interest in science, using fun and interactive activities! Seeing our young visitors get excited about science is such a great feeling!”

The Women in Science team at their booth before the doors opened to Science Rendezvous Windsor.