Travelling Exhibition Iron Willed: Women in STEM comes to Guelph Museums

Iron Willed: Women in Stem, a travelling exhibition from Ingenium Canada, arrives at Guelph Museums September 17, 2022.

The exhibition recognizes the crucial role of women in STEM. Through text and images, the display tells the stories of historical and contemporary Canadian women in STEM, their scientific contributions, as well as their challenges in the face of persistent systemic barriers.

To learn more about local women in STEM, Guelph Museums reached out to Dr. Joanne O’Meara, Department of Physics, University of Guelph, and co-founder of Royal City Science, Dr. Heather Slinn of 500 Women Scientists Guelph, and Dr. Cara Wehkamp, Special Advisor to the Provost on Aboriginal Initiatives at the University of Guelph.

With their guidance, the Museum connected with 24 Guelph women scientists, whose stories are featured in the exhibition:

From the College of Biological Sciences: Emma Allen-Vercoe – Professor, Molecular and Cellular Biology; Jennifer Geddes-McAlister – Assistant Professor, Molecular and Cellular Biology; Shoshanah Jacobs – Associate Professor, Integrative Biology; Elizabeth Manderville – Assistant Professor, Integrative Biology; Coral Murrant – Professor, Human Health and Nutritional Sciences; and Melissa Perreault – Associate Professor, Biomedical Studies.

From the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences: Genievieve Borg – PhD Candidate, Chemistry (Preuss Group) and Co-Chair Indigenous Student Society at U of G; Liliana Caballero – Assistant Professor, Physics; Monica Cojocaru – Interim Associate Dean and Professor; Judi McCuaig – Associate Professor, Computer Science; Joanne O’Meara – Professor, Physics; Beth Parker – Professor, School of Engineering; Kathryn Preuss – Professor and Department Chair, Chemistry; and Deborah Stacey – Associate Professor, Computer Science.

From the Ontario Agricultural College: Madhur Anand – Professor, Environmental Sciences; Susan Chiblow – Assistant Professor, Environmental Sciences; Kari Dunfield – Professor, Applied Soil Ecology; Jesse Popp – Assistant Professor, Environmental Sciences; Jacklyn Simonson – Undergraduate Student, Environmental Sciences; and Emmanuelle Arnaud – Associate Professor, Glacial Geology.

From the Ontario Veterinary College: Amy Greer – Associate Professor; Heather Murphy – Associate Professor; and Alicia Viloria-Petit – Associate Professor.

And Community Leader Katrina Stephany – 2SLGBTQQIA+ Health Research Coordinator with the Community-Based Research Centre.

The exhibition recognizes the historical barriers faced by all women in STEM, and acknowledges that BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) and 2SLGBTQQIA+ women have faced and continue to face even greater barriers.

This exhibition is presented in partnership with Ingenium, Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation.

Visitors to the museum can view the exhibition until February 20, 2023. Information regarding admission, hours, programming, and COVID-19 guidelines is available at guelphmuseums.ca.

Guelph Civic Museum is located at 52 Norfolk Street. It is physically accessible.

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