Our two Junior camps gave participants the chance to assume their roles as biologists-in-training and raise zebrafish for the week. As well as learning about the ins-and-outs of zebrafish development, participants enjoyed other STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) activities, including making aluminum foil boats, designing social media posts to inform others about important science topics, and exploring the psychology behind motivation and group work.  

Our Senior camps always intend to expand participants’ interest beyond the biology lab, and this year was no different! We spent the week observing the Sun (safely!) through telescopes with solar filters, making usable algae strings, learning about sleep and dreams, and creating art using cabbage juice as a pH indicator. Campers also got to learn how to spot fake news when browsing the web, and helped Citizen Science by tracking pollinators in our area.  

All of our camps featured role model sessions where participants got to learn about various STEM careers, including necessary schooling, what a day-in-the-life looks like, and what skills will help them be successful in those careers. Some of our role models’ fields of work included Aerospace Engineering, Environmental Science, Genetic Counselling, Registered Dietetics, and Bat Research.  

Thirty-two girls in grades 7-10 participated in a CSI-based spatter analysis activity where they got to put their mathematical skills to the test to determine where a balloon of Fruitopia popped. Additionally, the girls worked together in small groups to make their way through a STEM-themed escape room including tasks in binary coding, pH testing, constellation naming, and DNA transcription and translation. The retreat also featured our always popular role model session which gave participants the chance to interact with female scientists in civil engineering, physics, and environmental science, and learn about their careers.

While the retreat was not able to be held in person this year, it remained a success! Having the event virtually gave us the chance to host girls from outside of the Halifax area, bringing an enthusiastic group of aspiring scientists together safely to celebrate our love for STEM.

Featured below is some feedback we received from participants and their parents about their experiences in our 2021 Virtual Girls Get WISE Science Retreat;

“I really enjoyed the role model session and learning about different jobs in the STEM field.”

“It was a huge hit with our 13-year-old daughter… and a perfect activity while NS is in lockdown, and we are all staying at home.”

“My favorite activity was the escape room. I have been to two of these events in previous years and [have] enjoyed every one!”

A new study by Cech and Waidzunas (2021) details the disparity in STEM experiences between LGBTQ+ people and their straight counterparts in the US. In surveying a sample of 25,324 full-time STEM professionals, 1,006 of whom were LGBTQ+, they found LGBTQ+ individuals were having worse experiences in STEM across a number of dimensions. The factors they examined were career opportunities, harassment, professional devaluation (colleagues devaluing or discrediting their STEM expertise), social exclusion (not “fitting in” or being invited to things), health and wellness, and intentions to leave STEM.

LGBTQ+ individuals in the sample had fewer perceived career opportunities and less resources. They were also less comfortable “whistleblowing” (i.e. reporting harassment or discrimination without retaliation). Significantly more LGBTQ+ individuals in their sample were experiencing professional devaluation and social exclusion. LGBTQ+ respondents were more likely to experience harassment and negative mental health effects, and significantly more LGBTQ+ respondents were considering leaving STEM than their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts.

These authors also did an intersectional analysis and found that transgender and gender non-binary respondents reported more health and wellness issues, and were more likely to consider leaving STEM than their cisgender sexual minority counterparts. Similarly, LGBTQ+ women and LGBTQ+ individuals of colour were more likely than LGBTQ+ men and LGBTQ+ white individuals, respectively, to experience harassment and professional devaluation at work.

Though North America has come a long way in terms of marriage equality and other LGBTQ+ rights, this evidence shows us there is still more work to be done to include LGBTQ+ individuals equally and equitably across all sectors of society. Moreover, more research needs to be done in Canada, as most of the current literature is based on US samples. WISEatlantic is currently conducting research with Canadian LGBTQ+ postdocs in STEM, so stay tuned!

There are several organizations focused on LGBTQ+ inclusion and visibility in STEM, which can be checked out at these links! There even is one in Atlantic Canada, QAtCanSTEM:

https://qatcanstem.github.io/

https://Prideinstem.org

https://500queerscientists.com/

https://lgbtqplusstem.ca/

By Drew Burchell, WISEatlantic Research Assistant

References

Cech, E. A., & Waidzunas, T. J. (2021). Systemic inequalities for LGBTQ professionals in STEM. Science Advances, 7(3), eabe0933