Soapbox - IWS - Immigrant & International Women in Science

Soapbox Science Québec City

Giving a voice to girls and women in science

Soapbox Science is a public outreach platform designed to create Science awareness while promoting women scientists and their science. The one-day event is conducted in an arena for public learning and scientific debate, with speakers engaging in dialogue and disseminating new knowledge and ideas.

The aim of the event is to inspire, encourage and engage, while also emphatically promoting the message of equity, diversity and inclusion in science and society. Canada has hosted several Soapbox science events and the public response has been overwhelming. Come join us and let us show you how fun science can be.

Soapbox Science Québec City is one of the many cities that have hosted the event, and we are proud to be a part of a world-wide initiative. To learn more about previous events, visit our website SoapBox Science Quebec City.

If you want to know more about this amazing initiative visit soapboxscience.org and find out if Soapbox Science will be held near you.

Soapbox Science 2022

IWS Soapbox Science Quebec 2022 Speakers

SoapBox Science Quebec City 2022 speakers!

To learn more about our speakers, click on each picture.

Anne Bernard, Eng.F., PhD

Postdoctoral researcher at Université Laval, Ordre des ingénieurs forestiers du Québec

Anne Bernard, Eng. F., PhD graduated from Université Laval in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Forest Management and Environment. In 2014, she completed a master’s degree in Forestry Sciences, also at Université Laval, which focused on deforestation issues in the Democratic Republic of Congo. From 2014 to 2016, she was a research associate and she participated in the development of a program to enable immigrants to become members of the Ordre des ingénieurs forestiers du Québec. From 2017 to 2021, she completed a PhD in Forest Sciences at Université Laval and is currently a postdoctoral researcher in a pan-Canadian project that attempts to develop forestry practices adapted to the changing climate context.

“Because of my academic and professional background in a predominantly male world I believe that sharing my experience with other girls can be relevant. I am actively working to include equity, diversity, and inclusion issues within my professional body. I also work to increase the visibility of girls and women in my professional environment. Beyond visibility, it is also important to accompany young girls in their career choices and when they start their professional life. In this regard, I am also working on developing a mentoring program within my profession”.

Contact

anne.bernard.1@ulaval.ca

Anne Bernard

Anne Bernard, Eng.F., PhD.

Adèle Beneyton, M.Sc.

PhD student in Oncology at Université Laval

Adèle Beneyton received a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from France (Nantes), after which she started pursuing her doctoral studies in September 2019 in the team of Dr. Jean-Yves Masson at Université Laval (Oncology Axis). Her research work focuses on the study of a protein in DNA repair in breast and ovarian cancers, with the aim of determining, among other things, if this protein can be used as a biomarker to help in more personalized therapeutic choices for patients.

“I think it is extremely important to be able to talk about science and research with as many people as possible, to explain what is at stake, how it works, and what our goals are in research. I think it is also important to show that women from all countries and all backgrounds are present in laboratories and in industrial companies”.

Contact

adelebeneyton@gmail.com

www.jeanyvesmasson.com

Adèle Beneyton, M.Sc.

Alexane Thibodeau, M.Sc.

PhD. student for the research center in experimental organogenesis of Université Laval

Alexane Thibodeau is a PhD student in the Cellular and Molecular Biology program at Université Laval. Her thesis project focuses on peripheral nerve repair and developing a new clinical tool for nerve repair surgeries. She specializes in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In parallel with her research work, Alexane is actively involved in the Quebec cell, tissue and gene therapy network (ThéCell).

“It’s important that women have visibility in science…the research done in Québec is important and has an international impact. It is important that everyone has access to it. I decided to be a speaker at Soapbox Science because I like the presentation context, close to the public, in an environment that encourages questions”.

Contact

alexane.thibodeau.1@ulaval.ca

Alexane Thibodeau, M.Sc.

Dr. rer. nat. Valerie Clavet-Fournier

Research Professional at CERVO

Valerie Clavet-Fournier obtained a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and a master’s degree at Université Laval, studying learning and memory process via glutamatergic transmission and synaptic plasticity in the laboratory of Dr. Paul De Konnick. She pursued her PhD degree in Göttingen (Germany), studying the structural remodeling of synaptic proteins with this new state-of-the-art nanoscopy STED after the activity-driven plasticity of glutamatergic synapses. She is currently working as a research professional in the FLC lab at CERVO – Brain Research Center at Université Laval.

“I am glad to be a speaker of Soapbox Science for sharing my experience and passion for neuroscience with the public and inspire other young women to pursue their dreams in science”.

Contact

valerie.clavet-fournier.1@ulaval.ca

www.flc-lab.com

Dr. rer. nat. Valérie Clavet-Fournier

Dr. rer. nat. Valerie Clavet-Fournier

Wendy-Julie Madore, PhD.

Defence Scientist, Defence Research and Development Canada. Valcartier Research Centre

Dr. Wendy-Julie Madore received her PhD in Engineering Physics from Polytechnique Montreal, and then finished a post-doc in Imaging from CHUM and is now a researcher in the Electro-optical Warfare section at DRDC Valcartier. She works in the protection of the Canadian Armed Forces platforms.

“This will be an opportunity for me to get back into science outreach activities now that I am in Quebec City”.

Contact

madore.julie@gmail.com

Wendy-Julie Madore

Wendy-Julie Madore, PhD.

Linda Lara-Jacobo, PhD.

Scientist at Bureau Veritas and OWSD (Chair)

Linda Lara-Jacobo is a toxicologist developing liaisons between health, environment, gender equality, social inclusion & diversity, indigenous engagement, creativity, and science diplomacy towards a sustainable world. She is currently working as a scientist at Bureau Veritas in Québec. To know more about Linda visit her website www.laralrlj.com

“By participating at the Soapbox Science event, I would like to get young people excited about the subject of poisonous animals as they have a very bad reputation. I would like to show them the interesting side of venomous animals, the ecological importance of these animals, why some animals evolved to have venom, and where they are found on this continent. As well as the biotechnology behind it and their applications.”

Contact

laraqfb@gmail.com

@laralrlj

www.laralrlj.com

Linda Lara-Jacobo, PhD.

Annie Mercier, M.Sc.

Specialist in specific risks-lasers and dangerous optical sources at Université Laval

Annie Mercier holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Physics from Université Laval. Since 2009, she holds the position of specialist in specific risks at Université Laval, for the “lasers and dangerous optical sources” sector. She is a member of the Laser Institute and Optica (formerly known as the Optical Society of America, OSA). She is also actively involved with the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), which is attached to the International Electrotechnical Commission’s TC-76 Committee on Optical Radiation and Laser Safety.

“The concept of bringing together women from all backgrounds to talk about science got me intrigued about Soapbox Science”.

Contact

annie.mercier@ssp.ulaval.ca

Annie Mercier

Annie Mercier, M.Sc.

Manon Leclerc, M.Sc.

PhD student in Pharmaceutical Sciences at Université Laval

Manon Leclerc is originally from France, where she began her academic career with a bachelor’s degree in Biology in Bordeaux. She arrived in Québec in 2017 by starting a master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences in Dr. Calon’s laboratory at CHUL of Québec, where she pursued a doctorate in 2019. She studies the interaction between insulin and the blood-brain barrier in Alzheimer’s disease, trying to understand the pathophysiology, in order to be able to discover new treatments against this terrible disease.

“I will be happy to participate in Soapbox Science to share our recent advances in the field, and allow people to understand and be interested in science in general. Especially in this time of a pandemic when we see that popularizing and making science accessible is very important. I am proud to represent women in science and to lead people to be interested in science”.

Contact

manon.leclerc.4@ulaval.ca

Manon Leclerc

www.crchudequebec.ulaval.ca/recherche/chercheurs/frederic-calon

Manon Leclerc, M.Sc.

Katherine Légaré, M.Sc.

PhD student in Physics, INRS-EMT

Katherine Légaré received her bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Sherbrooke in 2016. Then, she started a master’s degree at the Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications Research Center of the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS). She joined a research group specialized in ultrafast science, which is the study of physical phenomena spanning only a few millionths of a billionth of a second. In particular, she studies how laser pulses can induce ultrafast changes in magnetization in magnetic materials. She is currently continuing this research project as a PhD student in the laboratory of Prof. François Légaré.

“Science is often misunderstood. We tend to think that it is reserved for an elite and that it is too difficult for the majority to understand. For me, it is crucial to reconcile the public with science. For this reason, it is also important to humanize science by showing that there are all kinds of scientists and paths possible. I think that Soapbox Science is an excellent way to bring the public closer. By participating in Soapbox Science, I hope to help demonstrate that physics is not as inaccessible as one might think. Moreover, on a personal level, I consider that this experience of popularization would be very enriching”.

Contact

katherine.legare@inrs.ca

Katherine Légaré

www.ultrafast-imaging.ca/index.html

Katherine Légaré, M.Sc.

Jade Brisson, M.Sc.

PhD. student in Mathematics at Université Laval

Jade Brisson completed a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics at Université Laval. Following a student research experience in the summer of 2017, she decided to pursue a master’s degree in Mathematics at Université Laval. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Mathematics.

“I find it a nice challenge to explain advanced mathematics to the public, since it requires a relatively advanced knowledge to understand some equations and concepts. However, I believe that the big ideas behind them are accessible to everyone, and I think it is important to show that, by popularizing in the right way, mathematics can be accessible to everyone. For these reasons I decided to be a speaker of Soapbox Science”.

Contact

jade.brisson.1@ulaval.ca

Jade Brisson, M.Sc.

Emilie Attiogbe, M.Sc.

PhD student in Biology at Université Laval

Emilie Attiogbe is a PhD student in Biology and her research work is focused on skin reconstruction in the laboratory of experimental organogenesis at Université Laval – LOEX. The ultimate objective of her research project is to use in-lab reconstructed skin for testing pharmaceutical products and clinical treatments.

‘I want to share my passion for science with the public, and I think that the representation of women in science of different ethnicities is very important to generate interest among young girls.’

Contact

emilie.attiogbe.1@ulaval.ca

Emilie Attiogbe

Emilie Attiogbe, M.Sc.

Valérie Watters, M.Sc.

PhD. student in Cellular and Molecular Biology Université Laval

Valérie Watters obtained a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences and a master’s degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology at Université Laval. During her graduate studies, she focused on the study of long non-coding RNAs in brain cancer, and their role during neuronal differentiation. Passionate about this project, she decided to pursue it and she is currently a PhD student in the laboratory of Dr. Hussein’s at the Research Center of the CHU of Quebec – Université Laval.

“Soapbox Science is a great opportunity for presenting our research in a fun, visual and creative way, we have the power to break taboos and raise awareness about the importance of science. I am also motivated by the fact that this activity represents a great opportunity to share our love of science with the young and to transmit our passion. Moreover, I see Soapbox Science as an opportunity to show the public that science is not a strictly “male” domain and that it is accessible to everyone!”

Contact

valerie.watters.1@ulaval.ca

Valérie Watters

Valérie Watters, M.Sc.

SoapBox Science Québec City 2022 team!

Silvia Pozzi
Razan Sheta
Romina Barreto
Alessandra Pecora
Genevieve Gariepy

A big Thank You to SoapBox Science Quebec City 2022 sponsors!

You can connect with us on our social media links or email us at iws.quebeccity@gmail.com

Soapbox Science Québec City

Giving a voice to girls and women in science

Soapbox Science 2022

SoapBox Science Quebec City 2022 speakers!

Anne Bernard, Eng.F., PhD.

Adèle Beneyton, M.Sc.

Alexane Thibodeau, M.Sc.

Dr. rer. nat. Valerie Clavet-Fournier

Wendy-Julie Madore, PhD.

Linda Lara-Jacobo, PhD.

Annie Mercier, M.Sc.

Manon Leclerc, M.Sc.

Katherine Légaré, M.Sc.

Jade Brisson, M.Sc.

Emilie Attiogbe, M.Sc.

Valérie Watters, M.Sc.

SoapBox Science Québec City 2022 team!

A big Thank You to SoapBox Science Quebec City 2022 sponsors!

Help us drive a change!​

Help us drive a change!