Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST)

Published purpose

Through this 27-month project, the Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST) will scale multiple promising practices which include engaging men to address hierarchical power issues, guided discussions to build empathy and cognitive-behavioural changes to strengthen the GBV sector. To do so, the project will address historical systems within STEM organizations that were inherited, to modify the mind-sets that sustain them, and to create environments where the spectrum of GBV is recognized and not tolerated. This project will address intersectional needs of equity-deserving groups including youth, Indigenous, Black, racialized, newcomers, and 2SLGBTQ+ across Canada. It will scale to STEM companies, professional associations and will enhance STEM professions across Canada by providing workplace training, processes, policies, and knowledge. The project will result in attitudinal and behavioural changes on the individual level, within teams and across organizations at all levels. SCWIST will develop and implement a comprehensive knowledge sharing strategy that leverages SCWIST, partners and other networks to share information on these promising practices so that other organizations can replicate or build upon its success and impact. Amendment No. 1 – 2025-2026 supplement funds will allow SCWIST to expand its national GBV prevention initiative by delivering three in-person regional workshops (Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax) engaging men, boys, and gender-diverse participants as allies in preventing and responding to GBV in STEM. The funding will also support the development of a digital allyship toolkit and a cross-sector recommendations report to extend and replicate impact.