You’re invited to join Dr. Campbell and Dr. Shirley Mills from the School of Mathematics and Statistics for an interesting discussion about the evolution of women in the field of statistics in Canada.

As another cohort prepares to graduate with degrees in statistical sciences, they are being welcomed into an era that has seen enormous opportunity and growth.

However, the evolution of statistical tools are not the only change when compared to previous decades. The numbers graduating with undergraduate degrees in mathematics and statistics has more than doubled in Canada since 2009, and the profession of Assistant Professors now celebrates a nearly even female-male gender split when pooled across all departments and Canadian universities. The latter is a big change from 1970/1971, the first year with data, when women accounted for barely 10% of Assistant Professors. Substantial change over time gives rise to questions about what has happened over the past decades. In the first part of the talk, Dr. Campbell will present the poster on the evolution of Women in Statistics in Canada.

With support from the Faculty of Science, the Statistical Society of Canada, and the Canadian Statistical Sciences Institute, Carleton alumni Marieta-rita Osezua and Jeeheon Kim gathered and compiled information about the evolution of Women in Statistics in Canada which was then refined using feedback from individuals and the broader professional community. Poster design work was completed by Alina Rizwan.

In the first part of the talk, Dr. Campbell will present the poster on the evolution of Women in Statistics in Canada. In the second part, Dr. Shirley Mills will review the changing landscape in Canada from the 1960s until today for women in the statistical sciences and in academia in general. Encompassing both personal stories as well as professional and national perspectives, it will outline progress made and ongoing efforts to support and increase diversity (i.e. variability) in the profession.