She may only be in her second year at Brock, but Madison Bower is already helping to shape the next generation of women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
Bower spoke to Niagara Catholic District School Board (Niagara Catholic) high school students, who visited Brock on Friday, Feb. 20 for the LeadHERship in Science Conference, about the value of forging an academic pathway in STEM.
“Keep all your doors open so you can prepare for your future. It’s not always going to be easy, but I can guarantee you it’s going to be worth it,” she said.
Once a Niagara Catholic student herself, Bower came to Brock to pursue her studies in Kinesiology in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences and has never looked back. She is also in the Med Plus program, a launching pad for students aspiring to enter the health-care field.
“Enrolling in the Med Plus program has introduced me to multiple health care career options and helped me think through what I want to pursue in my professional journey,” she said.
A transformative University experience for Bower has been working as a Brock Sports Medicine Student Volunteer for the Men’s Soccer Team as a physiotherapist.
“I’ve learned so much, especially in the Anatomy and Cadaver Lab,” she said.
Bower’s welcome to conference-attendees kicked off a day of dynamic workshops at the University. Organized by Brock’s Faculty of Education in partnership with Niagara Catholic, and supported by the Faculty of Science and Mathematics, the Brock University Library Makerspace and Student Recruitment, the day’s events featured experiential hands-on learning opportunities in biology, physics, robotics and 3D modelling.
From dry ice demonstrations to learning about coding and powering robots, Professor and Department Chair of Educational Studies Kamini Jaipal-Jamani said it was inspiring to connect with so many young women interested in STEM.
“It was an honour to host students and educators from Niagara Catholic and share a glimpse of what studying in science-related fields is like here at Brock,” she said.
Jaipal-Jamani said while there is more work to do to increase participation of women and girls in science, events like LeadHERship in Science Conference can make a difference.
“We hope that learning experiences that show how scientists and engineers solve real world problem will inspire confidence, spark passion and show young women that they belong in STEM — whether as scientists, engineers, researchers, or innovators,” she said. “Every student can pursue their passion for science with curiosity and courage.”
