Gender Issues Committee

What does the GIC do?

Provides a forum to discuss women's issues, as in the September 2002 Gender Issues Workshop

Offers peer support

Organizes luncheons, coffee times and other social events

Interfaces with the High School Liaison Committee

Contributes to personal safety awareness in the physics building

Advises the departmental administration on gender issues

Our Mandate

The GIC, or Gender Issues Committee, serves as the formal liaison between students, the department administration and the student affairs officer, in issues related to gender. The members are drawn from both the undergraduate and graduate student body, as well as faculty. In the past, the activities of the committee have included detailed discussions of safety concerns, hiring practices, and the organization and analysis of surveys designed to investigate student attitudes. The committee has a strong mandate to solicit student input, to formulate recommendations, and to lobby for necessary measures. The core committee is set at the beginning of the academic year, but all students (female and male) are welcome to participate.

NEW: A Brief History of the Gender Issues Committee!

Proposed a set of "Recommendations for Hiring" which were adopted by the Physics Department.

Initiated a high school outreach program (in collaboration with the High School Liaison Committee) in which female graduate student volunteers gave talks to high school students. In 1999, three external talks and one field trip to the Dept. were organized, involving eight student volunteers.

Initiated a career counselling program, which attracted the interest of SGS and the Career Centre and has evolved into a four-part "Career Management Workshop" (two GIC members now sit on the steering committee).

Participated in a safety audit of the Physics Dept., providing input and reviewing implementation.

Maintain two display boards: one in the mail room and one in the undergraduate wing.

Members of the GIC include

Christina Pencarski - Graduate Student in Atmospheric Physics

Catherine Robain - Graduate Student in Geophysics

Aldona Wiacek - Graduate Student in Atmospheric Physics

Krystyna Biel - Secretary to the Chair of Graduate Studies

Bryan Statt - Faculty Member in Condensed Matter Physics

Kimberly Strong - Faculty Member in Atmospheric Physics

If you wish to contact any GIC members, email addresses and telephone numbers can be obtained here.

Meetings will be advertized in Upcoming Events. An electronic mailing list also exists.

For information or to sign up for the GIC mailing list, contact Aldona Wiacek at 978-2955.