In September 2023, Christine Nakamura, Vice President of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada’s Central Canada Office, had the opportunity to participate in a panel at the “Cultivating STEM/STEAM Thinkers: Linking Policy, Research, and Practice” Symposium at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy. Christine moderated a panel on innovation and entrepreneurship in STEM alongside fellow Canadian Women’s International Network Members, Dr. Allison Sekuler and Takara Small.
Dr. Allison Sekuler is the chief scientist at the Baycrest Academy for Research and Education at Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care and president and chief scientist at the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI). At Baycrest, Allison leads the campus-wide research programs in aging, dementia, and brain health and wellness, and the strategic direction of the CABHI as it pursues its mission to accelerate innovative products, services, and best practices to support brain health and healthy aging. She works closely with partners in the academic, health, government, non-profit, and industry sectors within Canada and globally.
Takara Small is the founder of VentureKids, a not-for-profit organization that provides free coding, design, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, electronic devices, and web development programming to students living in underserved neighbourhoods. Since 2019, she has worked as a technology correspondent for the CBC and BBC News. She is the on-air correspondent for technology for Etalk and Canada Tonight. She has also been the host of the CBC podcast, A Death in Cryptoland.
Throughout the panel, Sekuler and Small shared their experiences navigating the STEM field as women and their advocacy for advancing gender equity in STEM. They chatted about the importance of great role models that inspired them to persevere in the STEM field as women. Both panelists also provided great insight, through their professional experiences, on how art and science intersect and should be used in tandem for greater results. Allison mentioned that her research found that music not only stimulates the brain but assists in delaying dementia.
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