PRESENTING SPONSOR
Perimeter Institute hosts an annual inspirational half day conference, typically held in March. The goal is to bring together like-minded young women with a strong interest in science and expose them to the rewards, challenges, and possibilities of a career in science. High school students of all genders are welcome to register to attend this event.
The 2026 Inspiring Future Women in Science conference will be held on Tuesday, March 3 and registration will open on January 21, 2026. Registration details can be found below.
The webcast recording for the 2025 Inspiring Future Women in Science conference can be viewed here.
School Groups: Teachers may make group bookings for up to 8 students by contacting [email protected].
Individuals: Individual registrants should complete a registration form and return to [email protected]
Register Now:
Individual and Group Registrations will be accepted in the order they are received until the event is full. Your registration status will be confirmed within 48 hours of submission. Once registration is full a waiting list will be created.
The event will also be webcast live at 9:00am ET on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2026 Location: Perimeter Institute
| Time | Activity | Details |
| 8:30 - 8:50am | Registration and Arrival | Arrival before 8:30am is not recommended. Late arrivals may be seated in the simulcast room rather than the theatre. |
| 9:00am | First Speaker and Q&A | Aggie Branczyk, Physicist and founder of Quantum Salon |
| 9:25am | Panel Discussion | The discussion will focus on why the panelists chose STEM careers; what sparked their passion; how they knew it was the right decision; etc. |
| 10:30am | Second Speaker and Q&A | Emily Agard, Immunologist and Director of SciXchange |
| 11:00am | Speed Mentoring | An opportunity for small group discussions with women in STEM fields |
| Noon | Delegates Depart |
Aggie Branczyk, Physicist and Founder of Quantum Salon
Dr. Aggie Branczyk is a physicist and entrepreneur with a PhD from the University of Queensland. She spent over a decade in quantum research and technology, holding academic roles at the Perimeter Institute and industry positions at IBM Quantum. Now, as the founder of Quantum Salon, she develops communication strategies for deep-tech teams, especially those in quantum computing. Aggie is active on LinkedIn sharing insights about her journey and ongoing discoveries. She also writes on Substack, both about her entrepreneurship journey and the quantum tech ecosystem. She is based in Waterloo, Canada.
Emily Agard, Immunologist and Director of SciXchange
Bio coming soon.
Vanessa Vakharia, Founder and Director, The Math Guru
Known as the Lady Gaga of math education, Vanessa is the founder and director of The Math Guru, a boutique math & science tutoring studio in Toronto that's changing stereotypes about what math education looks like. She is also the host of the Math Therapy podcast, author of the NEW bestselling book Math Therapy, and lead singer/keytarist for rock band Goodnight Sunrise. She has her Bachelor of Commerce, Teaching Degree, and Masters of Math Education. Her goal is to totally change math culture so that math is finally as cool as every single Taylor Swift song ever written. She failed Grade 11 math twice, which was the best thing that ever happened to her.
Molly McGuire, Manager of Welfare Science, Toronto Zoo
Dr. Molly McGuire is a psychologist and animal welfare scientist with over a decade of experience working to advance the well-being of zoo housed animals. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from Oakland University, where her research focused on animal cognition; specifically, how factors such as environment and experience influence cognitive bias in animals. Her work reflects a deep interest in how cognitive research can inform and improve animal welfare practices. Molly holds a bachelor's degree in Zoology from Michigan State University and has dedicated her career to the field of zoo animal welfare. She currently serves as the Manager of Welfare Science at the Toronto Zoo, where she leads initiatives to assess and enhance the well-being of the animals in the zoo's care. Her expertise bridges the gap between scientific research and practical application, helping to develop evidence-based strategies that support positive well-being outcomes across diverse species.
Angela Tollis, Quality Engineer, Kepler Communications
Angela Tollis is a Quality Engineer at Kepler Communications and a McMaster Mechanical Engineering & Society graduate. During her undergraduate degree, she launched two CubeSat missions with the Canadian Space Agency and founded CAN-RGX team to conduct lunar microgravity research with SEDS Canada, the NRC, and the CSA. A FIRST robotics alum since 2019 and volunteer since 2015, Angela mentors two FIRST robotics teams while also volunteering as a FIRST robotics judge, referee, and event coordinator. Passionate about space, sustainability, and STEM education, Angela hopes to inspire and mentor future STEM leaders.
Sonhita Chakraborty, Scientific Editor and Science Illustrator, Life Science Editors
Sonhita brings more than a decade of interdisciplinary experience across evolutionary ecology, sustainable agriculture, and molecular and cell biology. After earning a Ph.D. in plant cell biology, she transitioned into scientific editing, serving a range of journals and eventually joining Elsevie. There, she discovered a passion for visual storytelling, merging scientific knowledge with artistic skill.
Today, Sonhita uses her editorial acumen and illustration talent to help researchers craft compelling narratives. As a Scientific Editor and Illustrator for Life Science Editors, she refines manuscripts, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and impact. Through her independent studio, “Art by Sonhita,” she produces high‑quality journal covers, graphical abstracts, detailed figures, and animations that translate complex ideas into accessible visual formats. Her work sits at the intersection of scientific publishing and visual communication, empowering scientists to showcase their discoveries with precision and creativity.
Students will have to opportunity for small group discussions with a number of speed mentors from a variety of STEM fields, including: physics, software engineering, medicine, health & safety, climate change, environmental engineering, computer science, and more.
We would like to thank our presenting sponsor: