In 1982, the WISEST (Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science & Technology) began at the University of Alberta when Dr. Gordin Kaplan, then University of Alberta Vice-President (Research), noted that of the 150 attendees at a seminar on microprocessors, only one of the participants was a woman.

With the help of fellow engineers, educators and academics, Dr. Kaplan formed what is now known as WISEST. And, for more than 40 years, we have continued our commitment to empowering women who are interested or want to seek out opportunities in underrepresented fields, specifically in science, engineering, and technology (STEM).

Women now comprise slightly more than half of all first-year science students at Canadian universities, an increase of nearly 30 percent two decades ago. But, there are still fewer women than men at the post-graduate level and in decision-making positions in academia and industry.

As a way to address this ongoing disparity, WISEST programs aim to strengthen connections between employers, schools, individuals, and communities by ensuring that diverse voices are being heard in the workplace and in all areas of scholarship.