30 by 30 Task Group Report
Submitted by Margaret Anne Hodges, P.Eng., FEC
APEGS’s 30 by 30 is not alone in its efforts to raise awareness of what a great career engineering and geoscience can be and why it is important to support and encourage our professional members to remain engaged in the professions throughout their careers.
At the APEGS fall Professional Development Days, the Full STEAM Ahead! track session learned from experts on the experiences of women in the workforce, heard the insight from the Executive Leadership Panel and collected ideas for 30 by 30 from the membership. There is a great deal of information and research material available to us and there are many exciting initiatives taking place across the country. A couple of notes for our members to be aware of: Driving WinTech – drivingwomenintech.com
Driving WinTech is a community-based research initiative that aims to understand and elevate women in technology across Canada. Throughout the fall, members of Women in Tech completed a tour across Canada (coast to coast) to facilitate 50 community activities and reach more than 10,000 stakeholders nationwide.
30 by 30 participated by providing some funding and spreading the word to the membership about the opportunity to participate. The goal is to collect stories and we have a great one to share with you.
Past President Tara Zrymiak, P.Eng., FEC, attended the Saskatoon Conversation. As is often the case, Tara was wearing her set of 30 by 30 buttons. At her table were several professional women, one of whom had brought her daughter. When Tara was asked about the buttons, she didn’t get a chance to answer because the girl was able to explain that 30 by 30 was an effort to help girls enter engineering. She knew this because she wants to be an engineer and she had her own 30 by 30 buttons at home, which she got at the Saskatchewan Science Centre this past summer. I can’t think of a better story.
Check out the Driving WinTech blog to read a detailed account of their trip and contribute to their online survey.
OSPE’s Let’s Break Barriers in STEM – www.letsbreakbarriers.ca
The Ontario Society of Professional Engineers has launched its Canada 150 STEM Challenge: Overcoming Systemic Barriers for Women Choosing STEM Careers. Their proposal has been approved for funding by Status of Women Canada (SWC). OSPE is a member of Engineers Canada’s 30 by 30 Champions.
They have developed a survey to collect thoughts and ideas as to why women don’t choose to enter engineering and what can be done to encourage them to remain in the profession. Please check it out and contribute.
There is a lot more taking place across Canada and internationally to support and encourage girls and women in STEM. 30 by 30 will continue to bring these opportunities to you. I hope you will find a moment to check out these two excellent initiatives!