The impact of women in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) will be at the centre of a networking event taking place Thursday, March 31.<\/p>\n
In collaboration with Professional and Continuing Studies at Brock University, the public event is hosted by Innovate Niagara<\/a>, an organization that provides structure, services and resources to assist those interested in getting ideas off the ground.<\/p>\n It will take place from 2:30 to 5 p.m. at the Stone Mill Inn, 271 Merritt St. in St. Catharines, and is expected to draw a wide array of new and established innovators, students and business community members.<\/p>\n Women in STEAM will feature keynote speaker Julie Ellis, co-founder of award-winning business Mabels Labels, as well as a panel of women leaders including Renata Dividino, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Brock University; Gina Grossi, Professor of Computer Programming, Game Development at Niagara College; and Ivy Truong, illustrator, game developer and business owner. \u00a0The panel will be moderated by Beatrice Ombuki-Berman, Interim Chair of Brock\u2019s Yousef Haj-Ahmad Department of Engineering and Professor of Computer Science.<\/p>\n Adding art to the STEM conversation opens doors to exploring fields such as game design, wearable fashion technology and art automation using aspects of machine learning and artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n \u201cEvents like Women in STEAM are important as Brock continues to seek ways to be responsive to education and learning in all fields,\u201d said April-Dawn Blackwell, the University\u2019s Associate Vice-President, Professional and Continuing Studies. \u201cProfessional development and networking are a core component of community and industry success for diversity and inclusion.\u201d<\/p>\n N\u2019ora Kalb, Director of Operations for Innovate Niagara, stressed the importance of attracting women to STEAM fields.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are all impacted when there is a lack of diversity in designing and developing new technology,\u201d she said. \u201cWithout diversity in these fields, we may miss out on designing solutions that work for a diversity of people.\u201d<\/p>\n As she prepares to participate in Thursday\u2019s panel discussion, Dividino emphasized the importance of supporting up-and-coming women innovators.<\/p>\n “Although women continue to make big strides in STEAM, they remain hugely under-represented,\u201d she said. \u201cBrock is addressing this disparity through its new Integrated Engineering program, which promotes gender balance, equity, diversity and inclusion. I\u2019ll be introducing the program during the event.\u201d<\/p>\n Ombuki-Berman called the intersection of art and technology \u201cextremely interesting and rich.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe advancement of technology has introduced new thought patterns, ideas\u00a0and innovative ways of thinking,\u201d she said. \u201cAs technology evolves, it changes the way art is created, consumed and shared.\u201d<\/p>\n To learn more about the Women in Steam event or to purchase tickets, which are $20 each, visit the Eventbrite website<\/a>.<\/p>\n