Prof aims for more women in sciences

Mount Saint Vincent University professor wants to expose more female students to strong role models.

Tamara Franz-Odendaal in her lab at Mount Saint Vincent University. Photo: Jonathan Briggins

A Mount Saint Vincent University professor wants to get girls in junior and high school excited about a future in science.

Tamara Franz-Odendaal is a biology professor at MSVU and is the Atlantic Chair for Women in Science and Engineering. She will be trying to get more women involved in science by creating a series of webinars and providing female role models.

Statistics Canada research shows the lowest enrolment in university disciplines by women is in the sciences, in particular mathematics, physical sciences, engineering and applied sciences. Mathematics and physical sciences enrolment was only 29.8 per cent of total enrolment in bachelor level programs in 2001-2002. Engineering and applied sciences was 23.7 per cent, while education was 78.5 per cent.

Importance of role models

Franz-Odendaal says her first role models in science were her aunt and uncle in Cape Town, South Africa. Both were mathematicians and university professors. Studying as a graduate student at the University of Cape Town, she had the chance to work with female supervisors who got her excited for a career in science.

"I've always been surrounded by really wonderful female role models. And I've come to realize that not all young girls are exposed to that," says Franz-Odendaal.

Raising her daughter highlighted the importance of getting girls involved in science and engineering.

"I have a daughter so it's important as a parent myself, wanting to know what opportunities there are for her when she gets older," she says.

Through the program, Franz-Odendaal will provide female mentors to girls. She says they will be ones who are passionate about their careers and will come from a variety of cultures to reach more students.

Educating girls and parents

The Canadian Learning Council says parents tend to think science is more difficult for their girls than it would be for their boys. Franz-Odendaal understands the importance of engaging both parents and their daughters. She will lead community seminars as well as webinars. Partnering with Nova Scotia Community College, Eastlink, and MSVU's long distance learning, the council will broadcast interactive webinars. These efforts will bring people across the Atlantic region together without having to be in the same room.

A primary reason for these webinars and seminars will be to work with girls and their parents to make them aware of the career choices that are available.

"They tend to only be able to name five or six off the top of their head. There's loads of careers within those disciplines," Franz-Odendaal says.

Tove Armstrong is a science student at MSVU. She says she wasn't given information in high school to help decide what she wanted to do in school. "We were never talked to about opportunities in science," Armstrong says. She says it is important for girls to know about careers in science. "It's important for women to have equality and be able to obtain those jobs," she says.

The Atlantic Chair for Women in Science and Engineering is part of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. It consists of five members from Atlantic, Ontario, Pacific, Prairies and Quebec working together to get more women involved in science and engineering across Canada.

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