Atqiya Fariha, a Master of Public Health student at Brock University, is breaking down barriers by building up opportunities for young girls from marginalized communities to explore careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers.<\/p>\n
Fariha\u2019s impactful work with FeminSTEM recently earned her a Women in STEM Graduate Leadership Award<\/a>, which recognizes Brock graduate students for exceptional advocacy and efforts to advance women and underrepresented groups in STEM fields.<\/p>\n This year the award is divided among three outstanding student leaders, with Fariha receiving the top amount of $5,000 and Applied Health Sciences PhD student Briana Hockey (BKin \u201920, MSc \u201922) and Computer Science master\u2019s student Israt Jabin each receiving $2,500.<\/p>\n \u201cFariha’s leadership is a shining example of the impact one individual can have in shaping the future of STEM,\u201d says Acting Vice-President, Research Michelle McGinn. \u201cHer commitment to breaking down barriers and fostering a sense of belonging in the STEM community aligns perfectly with our values of inclusivity and diversity in research at Brock.\u201d<\/p>\n Fariha\u2019s own passion for STEM grew as she progressed through her academic career and discovered her love for math and science. However, she often encountered a lack of women STEM mentors, particularly women of colour, to look up to in the field.<\/p>\n