Chairholders
Profile
Annemieke Farenhorst
Department of Soil Science
University of Manitoba
Chair title
NSERC Chair for Women in Science and Engineering (Prairies)
Chair program
Chairs for Women in Science and Engineering Program
Role
Chairholder since 2011
Summary
Increasing the number of women in science, agriculture and engineering (SAE) professions requires both recruitment and retention strategies. Consequently, the program of the NSERC Chair for Women in Science and Engineering (Prairies) has a broad scope in its delivery of activities. Activities range from science clubs in which grade 2-8 girls meet weekly to professional development workshops that are held for early and mid-career women. The goals of the Chair’s program are to:
- Encourage girls to consider careers in SAE professions through outreach and public advocacy with an emphasis on helping Indigenous girls in the Prairies to learn more about SAE research and university programs.
- Celebrate women role models in SAE professions and enable female students to access them through a Prairie-wide research scholarship program, as well as through mentorship programs, because women networking opportunities have a positive impact of the retention of women in SAE careers.
- Examine the workplace environment of academics through collaborations with the social sciences, and collaborate with five research-intensive universities in the Prairies to develop and deliver strategic mechanisms to support women academics in SAE.
The Verna J. Kirkness Education Foundation is a major sponsor to the Chair’s program based on its vision to increase the number of Indigenous students graduating from science and engineering programs in Canada. Roughly 50% of First Nations in the Prairies live on reserves and the Chair’s program leads strategies to increase the number of girls in First Nations communities learning about SAE programs and career options. Sponsors to the Chair’s program include five universities in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, all of whom want to build a stronger supportive academic environment for women in SAE and participate in the Chair’s program initiatives that highlight successful women leaders and raise the capacity of women to become leaders. Women networking opportunities with an emphasis on female students in agriculture and engineering are achieved with the support of Manitoba Pork Council, Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba, the Province of Manitoba (Agriculture) and Iris Meck Communication Inc.
Dr. Annemieke Farenhorst, PAg is a Professor in the Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Manitoba. Her research program focuses on pesticides, natural steroid estrogens and antibiotics in soil and water and on drinking water quality in First Nations communities. Dr. Farenhorst is a board member of the Canadian Centre for Women in Science, Engineering, Trades and Technology and a board member of the Canadian Agricultural Human Research Council – Advisory Group Supporting the Advancement of Women in Agriculture. Dr. Farenhorst was named a WXN 2016 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award Winner.
Partners
- University of Manitoba/Université du Manitoba
- Verna J. Kirkness Education Foundation
- University of Saskatchewan
- Province of Manitoba (Agriculture)
- Manitoba Pork Council
- Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba
- University of Alberta
- University of Calgary
- University of Regina
- Iris Meck Communication Inc.
Contact information
Department of Soil Science
University of Manitoba
Email: annemieke.farenhorst@umanitoba.ca
Website:
http://cwse-prairies.ca/
