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International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2024

To celebrate this year's International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we asked our colleagues to share with us which woman in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) inspired them to pursue their current careers at the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada.

Emily Leung
Emily Leung

A course on environmental impact assessments given by a remarkable professor at the University of British Columbia helped Emily realize she wanted to pursue a career in STEM. Find out how her studies eventually led her to work as a Project Analyst.

Emily Leung

Transcript: Emily Leung

Hi, I'm Emily Leung, a project analyst working with the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada. My interest in pursuing a career in environmental assessment was inspired by a remarkable professor and biogeographer, Dr. Nina Hewitt, from the University of British Columbia. Dr. Hewitt has dedicated her career to understanding and finding solutions to manage the impacts of human activities and climate change on ecosystems.

Driven by her example, I was inspired to conduct my own research modelling the changes to species distribution under different climate conditions. I also had the privilege of attending one of her courses on Environmental Impact Assessments, which emphasized the importance of taking a holistic approach to consider the complex and interwoven relationships between various perspectives. Her teaching was instrumental in helping me develop the skills to navigate and address environmental issues with an understanding of their multifaceted nature.

Dr. Andrea Service
Dr. Andrea Service

Andrea's inspiration came from Rachel Carson's book: Silent Spring. Find out how a book written by a world-famous marine biologist inspired her to pursue a PhD in Forest Ecology at the University of Ulster. Her studies, in turn, led her to work as a Senior Policy Analyst.

Dr. Andrea Service

Transcript: Dr. Andrea Service

Hi, my name is Andrea Service. I work for the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, and I began my career in science as a forest ecologist. I clearly remember reading Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring when I was 13. She was a marine biologist and a nature writer, and she advanced the global environmental movement. Her book, Silent Spring, brought environmental and health concerns to a new level and resulted in a nationwide ban on DDT and other pesticides in the U.S.

In her book, Rachel Carson meticulously described how DDT, the most powerful pesticide the world had ever known, exposed nature's vulnerability by entering the food chain, in effect, silencing spring. Without a doubt, Rachel Carson's strong scientific evidence of the enormous harm of pesticides, the way she used her training to make a case for science as a foundation for policymaking when she testified before the U.S. Senate, and her descriptions of the natural world where all living things are interconnected inspired me to pursue a career in STEM.

For me, Rachel Carson was the gladiator in defence of nature, and she bravely showed that science is open to all genders. Her conviction that decisions that affect our environment and our health must be based on science and sound evidence is the guiding principle in the work that I do today. And to this I add the equal importance of indigenous knowledge.

Kiera Smith
Kiera Smith

Kiera's mentor, during a co-op term with Environment and Climate Change Canada, helped her discover the importance of female voices in the public service and in STEM. Find out how this mentor inspired her to continue a career in science and become a Junior Project Analyst.

Kiera Smith

Transcript: Kiera Smith

Hi, my name is Kiera and I currently work as a junior project analyst with the Impact Assessment Agency, specifically in operations for Ontario Region. I've had a number of women in STEM inspire me to pursue a career in the STEM field, but the one who stands out for me is a mentor I had during my co-op term with Environment and Climate Change Canada.

This woman was a very successful mother, mentor, and public servant with a STEM background, and she was always encouraging young women in their love for science. She helped me see where my career could go based on my interests and how important it is for female voices to be heard in the STEM field.

Dr. Vivienne Wilson
Dr. Vivienne Wilson

Vivienne was inspired by women in STEM at a young age. Her influences include, not only, her grandmother but her two high school teachers in biology and chemistry. Vivienne now works as a Project Manager. Find out more about her lifelong love for the sciences.

Dr. Vivienne Wilson

Transcript: Dr. Vivienne Wilson

Hi, my name is Vivienne Wilson. I'm a project manager with the Prairies and Northern Region of the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada. I wanted to talk about women that have inspired me to study and to follow a career in STEM. I was lucky enough to have a scientist grandmother, but there are two teachers from my high school who really had a profound impact on my studying STEM at university and then going on to have a career and those two teachers are Norma Buckland and Rosemary Bellamy. They taught me chemistry and biology at high school. And not only were they really innovative and supportive teachers, but they really challenged me and the content material I looked at and in preparation for my exams. This led to my pursuing a double major in chemistry and biology during my Bachelor of Science at university and then on to grad work.

So I'm immensely grateful for all the support they've given me.

Audrey Lucchesi-Lavoie
Audrey Lucchesi-Lavoie

Audrey is a Université de Laval in Quebec and Institut national de la recherche scientifique alumna currently working as an Environmental Assessment Officer. Find out how the women in Audrey's life ignited her passion for STEM and inspired her to follow her dreams.

Audrey Lucchesi-Lavoie

Transcript: Audrey Lucchesi-Lavoie

Hello, my name is Audrey Lucchesi-Lavoie, I work at the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, at the Quebec Regional Office, in the Operations Sector.

I'm an engineer by training. I completed my bachelor's degree in water engineering at the Université Laval du Québec, and then decided to continue my studies with a professional master's degree in water science at l'Institut national de la recherche scientifique du Québec.

Today, I've been asked to name one woman who inspired me to go into the sciences: in my case, it's not one woman in particular. I'd say, I've had the opportunity to evolve and be surrounded by exceptional women who felt it was important to do what you love and not impose limits on yourself.

So for me, I didn't ask myself any questions, I've never set any limits on myself. I've always loved the environment. I've always loved the sciences. That's why I'm still in the sciences today. So, thank you to those women.

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