Dear Members and Friends,

On behalf of the MUN Women in Science and Engineering Graduate Student Society (WISE GSS), it is our pleasure to extend a warm invitation to you for our upcoming Women in Science and Engineering Conference. Scheduled to take place on Friday, March 8th, 2024, in honor of International Women's Day, this event aims to spotlight and celebrate the contributions of women and other underrepresented genders in the fields of science and engineering.

Our conference endeavors to create a safe, inclusive, and enjoyable space where we can collectively recognize the exceptional work, research, and accomplishments of gender minorities historically sidelined and undervalued in STEM fields. Through a series of presentations by faculty, staff, and students, encompassing poster presentations, oral presentations, and engaging 3-minute flash-talks, we hope to illuminate the brilliance and resilience of these often-overlooked contributors.

For faculty members, we are open to alternative presentation formats such as workshops, providing flexibility and accommodating diverse preferences for participation.

The conference, spanning the entire day, will not only feature enlightening presentations but also provide ample opportunities for networking. Attendees can enjoy a delicious lunch, light snacks, and exclusive WISE GSS merchandise. We are also optimistic about concluding the day with a delightful mocktail/cocktail reception, fostering a relaxed atmosphere for continued conversations.

Our primary goal is to empower women and other gender minorities, fostering a sense of community and exemplifying the power of advocacy. Through this conference, we aspire to showcase the incredible individuals shaping the landscape of science and engineering on our campus.

Highlighting a special event, we're excited to announce an Art Competition and Paint Night Fundraiser scheduled for for February 11th, 2024, at the Bannerman Brewery Loft, coinciding with the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Stay tuned for more details; this promises to be an engaging and creative celebration in support of our cause.

Register Now!

To secure your spot, please register using the following link or by clicking the below register button.

As we continue our preparations, we commit to keeping you updated on any further conference details as soon as they become available. Details on presentation length, location, and the conference schedule will be released in the near future. Feel free to reach out with any questions by emailing us at wisenlgss@gmail.com.

Join us on March 8th as we come together to celebrate diversity, promote inclusivity, and honor the invaluable contributions of women and gender minorities in science and engineering.

In collaboration with PEGNL (Professional Engineers and Geoscientists Newfoundland & Labrador), WISE GSS is hosting a free workshop given by Mark Fewer, COO and Deputy Registrar for PEGNL, to guide MUN Engineering and Geoscience students on how to achieve their professional licenses.

This workshop is open to everyone, but primarily intended for Engineering and Geoscience students that have recently graduated or are anticipating graduating soon, to allow them to make a smooth transition to the job market!

Register now on EventBrite to get your free ticket and the Zoom link!

When you picture a scientist, who do you see? The face of science is slowly changing for the better, but we still have work to do. Join us for a panel discussion inspired by the 2020 documentary, 'Picture a Scientist'! This documentary follows the lived experiences of three women researchers in STEM, detailing their mistreatment ranging from microaggressions to extreme harassment. This compelling documentary is important for everyone to see so that we as a society can move towards equity for all marginalized genders and communities in STEM.

This event is open to all students, faculty and staff at MUN. Register for a free ticket now on EventBrite to get the zoom link! https://tinyurl.com/yj7pbve2

Instructions on how to stream this important documentary asynchronously before attending the panel discussion will be sent to you upon registration. If you have any problems with accessing the documentary, simply send an email to wisenlgss.events@gmail.com and we will be happy to help you!

The panel discussion is on June 24th from 7-8 PM NDT on Zoom. Our panelists are:

Dr. Sherri Christian, Associate Professor
Dr. Christian is an associate professor cross-appointed to the Department of Biochemistry and the Faculty of Medicine. Her research focuses on how cells respond to, and influence, their environment. More specifically, her lab studies the cell surface molecule CD24 and the interactions between fat cells and cancer cells.

Dr. Kris Poduska, Professor and Department Head (Physics)
Dr. Poduska is a professor and department head of the Department of Physics. Her research focuses on how structural order affects the magnetic, optical, electronic, or mechanical properties of solid materials. She enjoys working in interdisciplinary teams and using physics to makes complex problems more tractable.

Mona El-Tahan, Professional Engineer and Founding Member of WISE NL
Mona is a professional engineer and entrepreneur, currently working as an independent consultant. She is the founder of WISE NL, the provincial organization for women in science and engineering. Mona has consistently dedicated her time to outreach activities and is a strong advocate for women in engineering.

This month we are thrilled to offer a seminar from Dr. Eugenia Duodu, CEO of Visions of Science Network for Learning (www.vosnl.org), a charitable organization that empowers youth from low-income communities through meaningful engagement in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). She devotes her time to community and global outreach initiatives and participates in various boards, organizations, and councils. She is an advocate for education and creating equitable opportunities for youth to achieve their full potential.

Dr. Eugenia Duodu holds both an HB.Sc. in Chemistry and Biology and a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Toronto.

This event is open to all MUN graduate students. Register for a free ticket now on EventBrite to get the zoom link!

Julie Bowering, School of Graduate Studies Career Development Coordinator, will be joining us to give a talk on the differences between resumes & CVs, the sections that should be included in an academic/STEM resume, how to describe your graduate experiences in job market language, and share some resources for transitioning from graduate studies to non-academia careers.

Julie has worked as the Career Development Coordinator for the School of Graduate Studies at Memorial University for 8 years and has facilitated numerous career programs, services and initiatives for graduate students. The focus of Julie's work is Enhanced Development of the Graduate Experience (EDGE), which offers workshops and resources designed to help graduate students build diverse skills and competencies to be successful in graduate school and beyond!

This event is open to all MUN graduate students! Once you register for the event through EventBrite, you will be able to access the Zoom link through the online Eventbrite page. If you have any questions, email us at wisenlgss@gmail.com.

WISE GSS is teaming up with WISE US (undergraduate society) to invite all undergraduate students to an informal discussion with graduate students from various fields! Students can ask questions about anything related to grad school life, completely off the books to promote honest discussion. We will start with an introductory group discussion and then go into breakout rooms for each field. Participants will receive a $5 gift card to Tim Horton's. Open to ALL undergraduate students!

Graduate mentor deadline: March 16th. WISE GSS members can apply to be a mentor here.

Undergrad registration deadline: March 18th. For undergrads interested in attending, register here.

February is Black History Month! Join WISE GSS for a free virtual Bingo/Trivia night to learn more about notable historical and current day Black women in STEMM.

There will be a chance to win a $50 gift card, generously donated by Coleman’s, plus other prizes!

Want to get a head start? We are featuring Black women in STEMM on our Instagram all month @WISE_GSS_MUN

Register to get your free ticket on Eventbrite now! You’ll get the zoom link for the event when you register

WISE GSS is hosting their AGM on Wednesday, January 27 from 12:00-2:00 PM NST through zoom. During this meeting, we will be going over our accomplishments in 2020 and will also be holding elections for all executive positions.

If you are interested in becoming a board member, we recommend attending our next meeting on Wednesday, January 13th from 12:00-1:00 PM NST through zoom. This would be a great opportunity to meet with other members and ask questions about our leadership positions. If you can not make it you are still eligible for election at the AGM if you attend.

For more information see our Facebook Event page.

Have an open discussion about workplace harassment and learn more about the MUNSAFE App and COVID Alert app at this event! With presentations from two speakers:

Holly Tobin, Acting Assistant Manager with Campus Enforcement and Patrol will discuss safety on campus, framed around the MUNSAFE app and all of its features.

Ashley Curnew, Associate Sexual Harassment Advisor with the MUN Sexual Harassment Office, will discuss topics relating to sexual harassment.

For more information see our Facebook event page.

An edit-a-thon to update the wikipedia pages of various women and gender minorities in STEM.

Do want to learn how to better negotiate pay, or other terms of a new job or promotion? Want to feel cool, calm and collected when you present at meetings or write professional emails? How many exclamation points are too many?

Taylor Young (Business Development Lead at CoLab Software) and Dr. Kathryn Hargan (Biology Professor, MUN) will lead you through a workshop on how to show up for yourself in negotiations and how to communicate effectively in professional situations.

For more information visit our Facebook event page.

We'll be taking a look back at 2019 and holding elections for ALL board positions. If you want to apply for a position, see our Facebook Event page.

Join WISE GSS as we drum up some holiday cheer! Bring a favourite dish to share and/or a board game you'd like to play. We're looking forward to a relaxed, informal way to celebrate the end of term and kick of the season.

We are trying to keep the planet in mind this potluck and are encouraging students to bring their own mug (BYOM!)

For more information see our Facebook event.

This two-day networking series is intended to help develop your networking skills and provide graduate students with the opportunity to meet with industry professionals in the science & engineering backgrounds.

Part 2: Speed Networking Night | Thursday, November 28th | EN-4000 | 6:00pm
Come and network with industry professionals; take what you learned from the workshop and put it to use! This speed networking event will connect you with professionals in many different science & engineering backgrounds. Peggy Dixon, Entomologist with Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, and Taylor Young, Business Development Lead with CoLab Software, will be talking about their experiences in the workforce. Talk one-on-one with professionals in your area of study and begin connecting with individuals in your network.

This event is open to all graduate students. There is limited space so reserve your spot now! Food and refreshments will be provided.

This two-day networking series is intended to help develop your networking skills and provide graduate students with the opportunity to meet with industry professionals in the science & engineering backgrounds.

Part 1: Networking Workshop | Thursday, November 21st | EN-4000 | 6:00pm
Jennifer Berrell, CEO of Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs, will be discussing fundamental networking skills. Learn what makes a good "elevator pitch", how to make a great first impression, guidelines for the following week's speed networking night, & much more!

This event is open to all graduate students. There is limited space so reserve your spot now! Food and refreshments will be provided.

Join WISE GSS as we discuss sexual harassment in the workplace and your rights. Many of us have been through a situation that has made us uncomfortable but few know what they can do after. Let's talk about this difficult subject in a judgment free, safe environment! The workshop will be held in Engineering 4000 at 12pm on Monday, October 28th

WISE GSS would like to welcome all of our new graduate students! Please come join us and see what WISE has to offer. Free pizza will be provided. This is a great opportunity to get to know our board members and learn about all of the exciting events we have planned.

WISE GSS is hosting a tour of the MUN Botanical Gardens. Be sure to bring your student ID for free admission. A carpool will be set up for those that need it.
Please meet in front of Feild Hall at 11:30am if you would like to carpool. If not, the tour will begin at 12pm at the Gardens (306 Mt Scio Rd). Dress for the weather since we will be outside. Hope you can join!

Join WISE GSS Wednesday, August 14th from 6-8pm at Bitters (Feild Hall) for a night of board games! All graduate students are welcome. Feel free to bring your favourite board game for all to enjoy. Light snacks and games will be provided! Students are welcome to order food from the bar on their own tab. We hope to see you there!

Come help WISE GSS grow as a society by joining us at our Strategic Planning retreat. Have your say in the goals we set, and share what WISE GSS means to you and what you want the society to look like!

Please join WISE GSS as we host speaker Mark Fewer, COO & Deputy Registrar for Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland & Labrador. Mark will be talking about achieving your professional license, focusing on the requirements and process to becoming a licensed professional. This event is open to all graduate students! Please RSVP with Eventbrite by using the link provided. We look forward to seeing you there!

WISE GSS is hosting an Online Profile & Biography Workshop on June 13 from 3-5pm in The Landing (UC-3018) and we hope you can make it!
Speaker Francesca Boschetti is here to help you on your journey up the professional ladder. She will be focusing on helping students use LinkedIn and other professional websites, discover new websites & apps for job hunting, and will help you create your own professional bio.

A photographer will also be available to take head-shots (first come, first served). This event is open to all graduate students. We hope you can join us!

Join WISE, mindfulness instructor Andrew Safer, and facilitator Dr. Janna Rosales for an introduction to mindfulness in the university context.