SCWIST Quantum Leaps is a virtual career conference uniquely designed for girls from Grade 8-12 interested in or curious to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). This conference gives girls a glimpse into what women in STEM fields do in their careers.

During these events, girls can meet professionals who have been successful in their STEM fields and meet other like-minded girls who have similar aspirations and interests. This event will help them know more about the STEM fields they are interested in and discover new STEM fields. Quantum Leaps also aims to aid students in the transition between high school and higher education.

This particular Quantum Leaps event will focus on women professionals working in careers related to astronomy, physics and chemistry. They also have expertise in science communication and facilitating learning. Did they have a fixed plan for what they would like to do five years after high school? How do they ease into changing their career focus? Did they know that they wanted to pursue these careers when they were in university? Girls will get the opportunity to interact with these women to get the answers they need at the event.

AGENDA

• 5:00-5:25: Speaker 1 and Q&A session
• 5:25-5:55: Speaker 2 and Q&A session
• 5 :55-6:00 Conclusion

SPEAKERS

Dr. Tong Li

Dr. Tong Li is a material innovator and a scientist entrepreneur. She graduated from University of Victoria as a Ph.D. in Chemistry and received MBA certificate from an entrepreneur training program (i2I) at Beedie School of Business in Simon Fraser University. She co-founded a start up – Poly V Technology Inc. in 2021, where she brings the novel material she co-invented during her PhD to the market. Since 2016, Dr. Tong Li started her journey as a teaching assistant and a mentor. She taught many undergrad students and mentored several young scientists. She served in “Women In Science” organization as a mentor and influenced next generation female scientists. She believes a mentorship for young talented individuals is necessary and valuable. Her experience as a product line manager in new energy industry, a postdoc fellow in University of British Columbia and a new material developer in bio-sensor field make her start thinking that: PhD can do multiple things out of academia. HirePhD is dedicated to help talents with advanced degrees to build their successful career path. Dr. Li found this perfectly aligns with her vision. So she joined HirePhD in 2023 to help the community.

Dr. Sarah Sadavoy

Dr. Sarah Sadavoy is an observational astronomer and professor in the physics department at Queen’s University. She completed a Bachelor of Science degree from York University and then Masters of Science and Doctoral degrees from the University of Victoria. After her doctorate, she worked as a researcher in Germany and in the US before returning to Canada to become a professor at Queen’s. Her research specialization is studying the formation of new stars and planets through observations from telescopes and telescope arrays. As a professor at Queen’s University, she teaches physics and astrophysics courses at the undergraduate and graduate level, supervises students through research projects, and strives to share her passion in physics through various outreach programs to inspire the next generation of astrophysicists and astro-enthusiasts!