Women in STEAM will be front and centre at New Westminster’s 2019 Innovation Week.
The City of New Westminster is celebrating Women in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) with a symposium on Friday, March 8 at Anvil Centre. The full-day symposium will feature speakers and panels to explore what's working, and examine what’s needed and how to connect women and STEAM using arts-based creativity and computational skills.
“Every organization can learn something about the value of continuing to advance women in STEAM based fields, starting with why the ‘A’ is important in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics,” said Lisa Spitale, the city’s chief administrative officer. “Our work at the City of New Westminster with both Innovation Week and events in support of gender equality has highlighted the need for a regional conversation in order to create the lasting systemic change we need. I hope to see representation from government, business, non-profits, and residents.”
Sessions at the symposium will include themes like: Why Does Industry Need STEAM?, When Barriers Collide, and Holding Space For STEAM.
Aoife MacNamara, dean in the faculty of communication, art and technology at Simon Fraser University, is giving the event’s closing keynote address.
“This full-day conversation will highlight ways to advance women in technical and scientific fields,” said a press release about the event. “The modern economy is increasingly being driven by innovation sectors like science, technology and engineering, and while their demographics are changing, women remain under-represented in many of the key fields which are the new engines for growth and innovation.”
Tickets ($24.99) and information are available at www.innovatenewwest.ca.
