The under representation of women in science including, physics and engineering has been recognized for some time now
and research in gender equity and science education continues to be a focus for educators. During this session, Shohini
Ghose, Dawn Britton and Chandra Boon will discuss how their own work supports girls in science and how their own
passion for science education continues to inspire others. Opportunity for discussion and Q&A will be provided during
this session.
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Shohini Ghose is an Associate Professor of Physics and Computer Science and Director of the Centre
for Women in Science at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Canada. She is a theoretical physicist
who examines how the laws of quantum physics might be harnessed to develop ultrafast computers and novel
protocols such as teleportation. She and her research collaborators made the first ever movies showing
chaotic behavior at the quantum level. Her research has been published in Nature and has received
worldwide media attention. She was recently awarded a prestigious Sera Bangali Prize for her contributions
to science. Shohini is also a passionate educator and recently co-authored Canada’s first introductory astronomy
textbook. Under her supervision her students have created an online database that is a resource for learning
first-year undergraduate physics – designed by students, for students. She recently founded the Laurier
Centre for Women in Science (WinS), with the mission of building a strong community for women in science
through research, communication and action. The Centre supports and celebrates the contributions of women
scientists and also supports research and initiatives addressing challenges faced by women in science.
Shohini is an affiliate of the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics and the Institute for Quantum
Computing at the University of Waterloo.
Chandra Boon has been teaching for 9 years, the last 6 of which have been spent teaching
math, general science, and physics at Branksome Hall, an all-girls school in Toronto.
Chandra began teaching after earning a BSc in Physics and an MSc in Biophysics. She
is passionate about interdisciplinary learning and aims to inspire a love of learning
in her students by incorporating interdisciplinary connections in the classroom. It
was after reading both Mindset and Self Theories by Carol Dweck that Chandra began
using the mindset framework to increase students’ enjoyment of learning in math
and physics, specifically when faced with academic challenges. Chandra has led workshops
for teachers in the US, Canada, and South Africa, and has recently begun a flex-time
PhD in Education at OISE/UT.
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