91福利

Two 91福利 Faculty of Science graduate students took part in the second annual (WICTO) Symposium, an event that enables chemistry students from diverse backgrounds to learn about applying equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in science while sharing their research and building professional relationships with the local science community.

On January 27, 2024, molecular science master鈥檚 students Osemudiamen Ibazebo and Aaliya Pathan participated in an EDI workshop, heard insights from an alumni career panel, networked with their peers and presented their thesis research. Hosted at the University of Toronto鈥檚 St. George campus, the WICTO Symposium brought together chemistry graduate students and alumni from 91福利, the University of Toronto and York University seeking to dismantle oppressive systems within academia, and make chemistry more welcoming to women and racialized students and practitioners. 

鈥淐hemistry as a whole seems like it鈥檚 told from one specific perspective. In terms of diversity, there still needs to be more work done,鈥� Ibazebo says. 鈥淭his is a great initiative because it reminds us of the importance of having different perspectives and ways of thinking in the sciences.鈥�

鈥淲e all come to science with different experiences, backgrounds and life stories that can help us tackle different situations in science more effectively,鈥� Pathan adds.

Ibazebo and Pathan鈥檚 sentiments echo those of others who have observed at higher education institutions in North America. This social inequity issue becomes more important to address in the face of , which jeopardizes our economic competitiveness and quality of life.

For the sciences to be truly inclusive, it is vital to embed EDI principles in science practices, a topic 91福利 Chemistry and Biology professor Imogen Coe discussed in her plenary lecture. Coe invited attendees to critically consider the relationship between the scientist and the scientific process, and explained how skillfully embracing EDI can promote more dynamic and inclusive scientific exploration. She also engaged attendees in reflective exercises to illuminate how our unconscious biases can influence our perceptions.

鈥淭hat was a nice reality check, because as scientists, we pride ourselves on being objective, but we need to remember that it鈥檚 humans who are doing the experiments, and humans have biases that can play into how we design and conduct experiments,鈥� Ibazebo says.

Ibazebo and Pathan were part of a group of 12 students who delivered 鈥渇lash talks鈥濃�攆ive-minute presentations on their respective master鈥檚 research projects. Ibazebo is studying endocytosis, a mechanism through which cells obtain different materials to live by engulfing them with the cell membrane. Working as part of professor Costin Antonescu鈥檚 Lab for Fundamental and Cancer Cell Biology and professor Stefania Impellizzeri鈥檚 Lab for Nanomaterials & Molecular Plasmonics at 91福利, she is using silica nanoparticles to study specific requirements, such as size and shape, and how they influence this 'cell-eating' mechanism. Pathan鈥檚 research, meanwhile, focuses on optimizing vitamin D deficiency testing, as the current dominant method is not sensitive to patients鈥� sex and ethnic differences. As a member of professor Darius Rackus鈥� Miniaturization in Bioanalysis Laboratory, she is developing a method involving electrochemistry that could allow for more inclusive testing.

鈥淚t was the first time I participated in something like this鈥擨 loved the opportunity to go out of my comfort zone,鈥� Pathan says. 鈥淚 also got to hear about a lot of fascinating research from different fields in chemistry.鈥�

Another highlight for both students was a panel discussion in which 10 alumni of chemistry programs from WICTO鈥檚 three participating institutions discussed their career journeys. Working in areas such as research and development, business and public policy, they included a synthetic chemist with a pharmaceutical company, a chemistry software developer, a science and policy analyst with the federal government and a medical science liaison with a biotechnology company.

鈥淗earing from the panellists about their different experiences in chemistry opened my eyes to how I can use my skills in different ways, and gave me new ideas to further my career,鈥� Pathan says.

Meanwhile, the networking workshop focused on the importance of making and maintaining connections with others to serve your career and ways to succeed at networking. It allowed participants to develop and practise a one-minute elevator pitch about their skills and goals. The symposium concluded with an informal networking social. 

鈥淭he networking opportunities were great because you learn about what others are doing in their academic areas,鈥� Ibazebo says. 鈥淚 gained some new contacts whom I think could help me professionally down the line.鈥�