“I’d love to see more women getting into computer science at Trent. As it’s seen as a male industry, it’s important to introduce computer science to women, as they are less likely to try it on their own,” said Julia Kroman on at the Women in STEM showcase that took place in the Great Hall on March 28.

Ms. Kroman, the only woman in her fourth-year of the Computing Systems program at Trent, was one of over 50 guests who gathered to hear from women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) about the opportunities and barriers women in STEM fields face.

The event, organized by the student run Trent Computer Science Society, kicked off with an introduction from Trent alumna, Member of Parliament for Peterborough-Kawartha, and the Minister of Status of Women, the Honourable Maryam Monsef ’03. Each panelist was then invited up to speak for 10 minutes about their experiences in the STEM field, followed by an open-panel discussion where they answered questions from the audience.

Panellists included Dr. Vanita Lokanathan, family physician and co-founder of the Peterborough & Country LGBTQ task force; Dr. Sabine McConnell, professor in Computing Systems at Trent University; Dr. Chloé Corbeil, a family medicine resident at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre and the Medical Centre; and Holly Pearson, business development specialist at Communitech.

“As a young woman entering the STEM fields, it’s motivating to hear from other female leaders in a similar field that I want to get into after graduation,” said second-year Computer Science student and event organizer, Laura Mann. “We were really happy with how successful the event was, and we received a lot of positive feedback. We hope to make it an annual event.”

The Trent Computer Science Society aims to create inclusive events for people of all disciplines to learn about technology. After the success of the first Women in STEM event, they are hoping to make it an annual event, featuring women from all disciplines of STEM. If you would like to be involved next year, please contact event organizer, Laura Mann