EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION

The Franz-Odendaal lab is strongly committed to achieving excellence through diversity. We are aware of biases, conscious and unconscious, within science and we actively seek to reduce the impact of these biases.  We aim to work to combat prejudice and work towards equity and inclusion.  Dr Franz-Odendaal is a diversity champion and strives to teach, train, mentor, and recruit students from diverse backgrounds, who bring diverse perspectives and approaches into the lab.  We are intolerant of actions and language that limits the potential of lab members.

Women in science

Dr Franz-Odendaal is the current NSERC (Natural Science and Engineering Research Council, Canada) Chair for women in Science and Engineering for Atlantic Canada. As such she is heavily involved in supporting women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Skilled Trades professionally in the workplace and in connecting women with one another. Her program, WISEatlantic, also strives to inspire girls to consider careers in these fields.

You can find out more about these initiatives and also subscribe to the WISEatlantic quarterly newsletter by clicking below:


WISEatlantic

Recent Awards & Accolades:

Professional of Distinction, Discovery Centre, Nova Scotia (2022)

Chair for Women in Science and Engineering (Atlantic)
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada
(2011 – 2023)

Professional of Distinction (finalist), Discovery Centre, Nova Scotia (2021)

Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Award, Mount Saint Vincent University (2020)

Fellow of the American Association of Anatomists

Women Worth Watching in STEM Diversity Journal, Crystal Award
(2017)

Unstoppable Moms for Unstoppable Girls DOVE
(2013)

Science Champion (finalist), Discovery Centre, Nova Scotia
(2013)


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