Canadian MP Kirsty Duncan Advocates That 'Science Is For

Thought Leadership

Canadian MP Kirsty Duncan advocates

that 'science is for © Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada everyone' Canadian Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, the Honourable Kirsty Duncan has been the driving force for putting science front and centre in the federal government’s agenda. In this exclusive interview with Research Features, Kirsty explains why she left academia for politics, her role of rejuvenating Canadian science and also discusses what ultimately needs to be done to ensure that women continue to enter STEM education and careers.

inister Kirsty Duncan was an and Minister of Sport and Persons with Associate Professor of Health Disabilities? Studies at the University It has been one of my greatest honours of Toronto and the former to serve the people of Etobicoke-North Research Director for the and to have been appointed as the first full MAIC Institute of Corporate Citizenship at Minister of Science and, recently, Minister the Rotman School of Management. In of Sport and Persons with Disabilities. 2015, Minister Duncan was appointed by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to As the Member of Parliament for Etobicoke- serve as Minister of Science in the new Liberal North, I make every effort to support the government following his election. diverse and vibrant community of people who call our riding home. It is a sincere privilege to In addition to delivering on her commitments help the members of our community achieve of strengthening science and curiosity in their greatest dreams; from opening a new Minister Kirsty Duncan with a group Canada, Minister Duncan is taking action small business and taking care of their families of young coders at the annual Code on the Hill event for elementary skill to improve equity and gender diversity in with the support of our government’s Canada students in Ottawa. the sciences. Minister Duncan discusses Child Benefit or welcoming new relatives from with Research Features how the Canadian abroad and pursuing new opportunities in government strongly believes in science and education. Whatever their goal, it is my duty scholars and students in Canada whose hard University, where you taught global is striving to improve the number of women in to assist them and share their remarkable work is leading to incredible discoveries: environmental processes and medical science in Canada. stories of success on Parliament Hill. new technologies, new medical treatments, geography – what made you change your new ways of understanding each other and career and enter politics? Hi Kirsty! Can you tell us about your role as As Minister of Science and Minister of the world around us. It all starts with science. At the end of many lectures, I encouraged my a Member of Parliament for the riding of Sports and Persons with Disabilities, I am students to make a difference in the world. Etobicoke-North and the Minister of Science proud to serve the outstanding researchers, My mission is to rebuild our culture of science At a certain point, I realised I needed to follow and curiosity after ten years of neglect under my own advice. the previous government. We’ve come a While we have women entering studies in long way in our two years as a government Under the Harper Conservatives, I witnessed to earn back the trust of our scientists. I know the pressing issue of climate change and the STEM fields in near equal numbers as there is much more to be done but I’m proud the needs of the environment take a back men, specifically at the bachelor’s level, of what we’ve accomplished so far. seat to the interests of industry. It became clear to me they had no concern for science You were an associate professor at the and evidence. Rather than watch silently from P Peter Fragiskatos, Minister Kirsty Duncan and Parliamentary these numbers drop dramatically as they Secretary Kate Young visit the headquarters of Let's Talk Science in University of Toronto, University of Windsor the sidelines, I decided to take action. That’s London, Ontario and meet a group of young scientists. progress through the academic ranks and an adjunct professor at Royal Roads when, in 2008, I ran for a Liberal party that © Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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Minister Kirsty Duncan at the launch of Maker Mobile, a travelling

Minister Kirsty Duncan meets Aida, a nine-year-old girl with juvenile The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science idiopathic arthritis, at an event to announce more funding for and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities. genomics research to study diseases like Aida's.

© Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada © Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada mirrored my values, that believed in science tenth percentile, I was told it was because the Choose Science campaign helping to coaches and mentors to support them as and climate change and that was committed “I was a woman.” change this? they express their interest in science and to taking these issues seriously. A strong performance in science, research at a young age. In the early days of my political career, I and technology, engineering, and mathematics is What has your personal experience been as a many other female Members of Parliament essential for a healthy, globally competitive Our goal is to start a national conversation woman in a leading role both in politics and faced an outdated attitude on the Hill that and innovative Canadian economy – one about the power of science to transform Minister Kirsty Duncan high fives a young student at Carleton University's Codemakers camp. in science? needed to change. that works for everybody, women included. lives. Science is that much stronger when all

I consider myself fortunate for having the people are invited to be curious, to ask bold © Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada opportunity to work with so many astounding, We’re working hard to change that political While we have women entering studies in questions and make astounding discoveries. inspirational women in science and politics; culture so that it is more open, transparent, the STEM fields in near equal numbers as women who have acted as role models for me welcoming and safe for all people. Perhaps men, specifically at the bachelor’s level, How can schools and universities create an education and careers in Canada? For more information on Minister Duncan and for many other aspiring young women the greatest symbol of the rising importance these numbers drop dramatically as they environment where more women are likely to Today, jobs in almost every field call for people and Canada’s Fundamental Science Review, interested in making a career for themselves in of equity and diversity in politics was when progress through the academic ranks. apply for STEM subjects? who are analytical, creative, curious and critical please visit the following websites: https:// these fields. our Prime Minister appointed a Cabinet All children are born curious—they want thinkers, all qualities that can be nurtured www.canada.ca/en/government/ministers/ that had equal numbers of women and For those women who choose a career in to discover and explore. It’s up to us, their through STEM education. STEM is required kirsty-duncan.html and http://www. I have also faced many challenges because men – the first time in history. Since then, STEM as many as 50% of them will leave parents, teachers, and guides, to foster that to actively participate in finding solutions to sciencereview.ca/eic/site/059.nsf/eng/home of my gender. For example, when I was our government has taken strong action their field entirely, whether due to pay excitement through elementary school, high critical issues including climate change, energy respectively. teaching at a university, a fellow faculty to support women in Canada, be they inequities, the workplace culture, not seeing school, and beyond. sustainability, agriculture and healthcare. member shot a question at me during a innovators, entrepreneurs, teachers, themselves reflected in leadership or a staff meeting: when did I plan on getting mothers, engineers and scientists. lack of role models and unconscious biases In fact, parents have, by far, the greatest As these issues become more important into pregnant? On other occasions, I was asked among their colleagues. influence on their children’s educational the future, having more women in the field how I wanted to be treated: as a woman or You’ve noted Canada lags behind other direction. That’s another reason why the to help address them will lead to diverse and as a scientist. Later, when I asked a university nations when it comes to women in That’s why our government remains #choosescience campaign was created, unique solutions. official why I was being paid in the bottom science. Why do you think that is? How is committed to strengthening science in to support parents who want to encourage Contact Canada and improving the representation their children to study STEM. It starts in schools My message to the young women of Canada: House of Commons of women in STEM disciplines. across the country where students first begin to follow your passion for politics, science or any Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 learn about the wonders of science, but it’s up other field. Know that there may be barriers or Canada When I asked a university official why I took action to support women and girls to those of us who help to raise today’s youth, ‘speed bumps’ along the way. Your challenge I was being paid in the bottom tenth in science by creating the #choosescience outside of the classroom, to keep sharing the is to find a way over them or around them. I E: [email protected] digital advertising campaign. The campaign importance and wonder of science. want you to know that our government will be T: +1 613 995 4702 percentile, I was told it was because encourages young women to consider a cheering you along and that you can count on career in the sciences. It also asks their What ultimately needs to be done to me to be your greatest champion as you strive I was a woman parents and siblings, their relatives, teachers, ensure that women continue to enter STEM to fulfil your dreams.

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