Women in Science & Engineering (WISE) U of T Student Chapter

WISE National Conference 2025 - The 13th Annual Women in Science and Engineering National Conference (WISENC) 2025, held on January 25–26 at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto, featured a diverse array of panels, workshops, and competitions, all designed to inspire and equip attendees with practical skills and insights.​ Keynote speakers included Dr. Sara Mazrouei, a planetary scientist and science communicator, and Jennifer Quaglietta, CEO and Registrar of Professional Engineers Ontario. The conference offered specialized panels covering biotechnology, space exploration, data-driven business decision-making, robotics, health sciences, and academic career pathways. The space panel featured experts from MDA Space and the Canadian Space Agency, discussing advancements in mission systems and health initiatives beyond Earth.​ Interactive workshops provided hands-on experiences in areas such as acoustical engineering, mechatronics, natural language processing, biomechanics, financial literacy, and neuroscience. Competitions at WISENC 2025, including the 5 Minute Thesis, BattleSnake, Qualcomm Case Competition, and Xylem Ignite Hackathon, allowed participants to apply their knowledge to real-world challenges, fostering innovation and collaborative problem-solving.​ The Career & Grad Fair connected attendees with leading organizations such as Amazon Robotics, Qualcomm, and Intact, as well as academic institutions like the University of Toronto and Western University. This facilitated valuable networking opportunities and insights into various career and educational pathways.​ Institutional support played a significant role in the conference's accessibility, with universities like the University of Toronto, Western University, and Toronto Metropolitan University offering subsidized tickets to their students, ensuring a diverse and inclusive attendee base.​

International Women’s Day Gala - The 2025 International Women’s Day Gala, titled Her-Story in the Making, was organized collaboratively by WISE U of T and GradSWE. The event featured greetings from Dean Christopher Yip of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. The keynote speech, delivered by Janice Liu, CEO of Mantis Group, centred on the theme "The Future is Ours to Shape," offering an inspiring vision for women in STEM fields. A dinner break allowed attendees to relax and prepare for two engaging panel discussions. The evening concluded with a networking session where attendees were encouraged to engage with sponsors and panelists, identifiable by their blue lanyards, and a closing ceremony thanking participants for their support.

Mentorship Programs - Connecting university students with industry mentors, the Industry Mentorship Program (IMP) provides structured yet personalized guidance. With 74 mentor-mentee pairs (a total of 148 participants), students receive advice tailored to their career aspirations, helping them navigate their professional paths effectively. This year, we hosted four events geared towards the mentor-mentee pairings: IMP Kickoff, Building Bridges, Getting Started in the Workplace, and a Wrap-Up.