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Diversity is great – but how do we do it?

Date and Time: 11:00 – 12:00am on Saturday, May 11
Session Type: Interactive Workshop
Location: Room 2012, Earth Sciences Building

Recognizing the value of diversity in a workplace is an easy first step. Identifying the issues of your particular workplace, and then addressing them, is a much more challenging process. In this interactive workshop, suitable for people at any level in a company, we will explore tools to identify issues and work towards solutions.

Speakers: Dr. Elizabeth Croft, Jennifer Pelletier

Elizabeth Croft

Elizabeth Croft

Elizabeth Croft is Professor and director of the Collaborative Advanced Robotics and Intelligent Systems Lab at UBC, and NSERC Chair for Women in Science and Engineering, BC-Yukon at the University of British Columbia, and a registered Professional Engineer in the Province of British Columbia. Her research investigates how robotic systems can behave, and be perceived to behave, in a safe, predictable, and helpful manner. Applications of this work range from manufacturing assembly to healthcare and assistive technology.  She leads a multi-institution project on robotic assistants for manufacturing (with GM) and an industrial visual serving project (with Hyundai Heavy Industries). She received a Peter Wall Early Career Scholar award in 2001 and an NSERC Accelerator award in 2007. She was named Fellow of Engineers Canada (2008) and of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (2009). As NSERC Chair for Women in Science and Engineering, BC & Yukon (2010-2015), Croft founded Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science, and Technology (WWEST) in order to: attract, recruit, and retain women in engineering and science.

Jen-Pelletier-cropped

Jennifer Pelletier

Jennifer Pelletier is the Manager of Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science, and Technology (WWEST), the operating name of the program run by the NSERC Chair for Women in Science and Engineering (BC / Yukon).  She also holds the position of Manager of Undergraduate Affairs and Special Projects for the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of British Columbia.   Jennifer has been involved in organizing the regional women in SET conferences, now known as Creating Connections, since they began in 2007.  Her educational background is in the fields of Adult Education and Project Management.  She has been recognized with a UBC Applied Science 2012 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Service and a UBC 2010 President’s Staff Award in the category of Enhancing the UBC Experience.

Jennifer was a member of the Board of Advisors for GEERing Up! UBC Engineering & Science for Kids from 2006-2012.  GEERing Up! is a non-profit organization dedicated to engineering and science education and outreach for the children and youth of British Columbia, particularly those in areas traditionally under-represented in engineering and science.

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