University of British Columbia Mechanical Engineering Professor Elizabeth Croft has been named the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Chair for Women in Science and Engineering for the British Columbia and Yukon Region.
The primary focus of the Chair is to increase the participation of women in science and engineering and to provide role models for women active in, and considering, careers in these fields.
“This is a powerful program that has encouraged many young women to pursue the exciting opportunities that the natural sciences and engineering disciplines provide,” said Suzanne Fortier, President of NSERC. “Dr. Croft conducts high-level research in the cutting-edge field of human-robot interaction and this makes her a fantastic role model. I am looking forward to the response she will inspire from young women in high schools and universities.”
Although women comprise more than half of UBC’s undergraduate population, only 18% of engineering undergraduates are women. Women are also under-represented in computer science, physics and mathematics. Within engineering and high-technology careers, attrition rates of females are estimated as high as 40%.
As Chair, Croft will focus on awareness and outreach programs to recruit women and under-represented minorities into engineering and technology-related sciences; develop strategies for educational mentorship and support; and create networks for advancement as professionals.
“There is great demand for highly trained scientists and engineers to sustain economic development, and we need to attract and foster a diverse talent pool with a global perspective,” says Croft. “We cannot truly succeed as a profession—and ultimately a society—if we do not have the opportunity to attract and retain the brightest minds, male or female.”
As a Professor at UBC, Dr. Croft has spearheaded several initiatives to support women in engineering. In 2003, with the help of two graduate students, Dr. Croft launched (and continues to be involved with) UBC Engineering’s Mentoring (formerly Tri-Mentoring) program. The Mentoring program, which connects undergraduate and/or graduate students with engineering professionals from both industry and academia, provides a sense of community and support, and can help reduce feelings of isolation while increasing self confidence.
Dr. Croft has also co-founded UBC’s Women in Engineering (WIE) program. WIE organizes speakers, brown bag socials and a two-day retreat for women in engineering, “Creating Connections,” that has attracted more than 100 participants.
“Gender or ethnicity should not inhibit people from pursuing a career in which they can truly make a difference in our world,” says Faculty of Applied Science Dean Tyseer Aboulnasr. “With NSERC and industry support and Dr. Croft’s leadership, we will continue to build an inclusive and diverse community and work to inspire a new generation of professionals. Our future depends upon engineers and scientists who will develop the technology necessary to address the challenges facing us all. It only makes sense that those engineers and scientists reflect the diversity of our society.”
NSERC has contributed $350,000 in support of the Chair program for five years; industry sponsors have contributed matching funds.
Lead sponsors include BC Hydro, Dr. Ken Spencer, WorleyParsons Canada, Teck Resources Ltd., Stantec, and Mr. Henry Man. Contributing sponsors are Ms. Catherine Roome, Mr. Stan Cowdell, the APEGBC Division for the Advancement of Women in Engineering and Geoscience, Nemetz and Associates, and Glotman Simpson Consulting Engineers. Ms. Karen Savage and Golder Associates Ltd. have also supported the Chair.
Professor Croft is the third UBC professor to hold the NSERC Chair for Women in Science and Engineering since the program’s launch in 1996. Her predecessors include UBC Professors Maria Klawe and Anne Condon from the Department of Computer Science.
NSERC is a federal agency whose vision is to help make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators to the benefit of all Canadians. The agency supports some 28,000 students and postdoctoral fellows in their advanced studies. NSERC promotes discovery by funding more than 11,800 professors every year and fosters innovation by encouraging more than 1,500 Canadian companies to participate and invest in post-secondary research projects.
Chairholder Profile:
Elizabeth Croft, Ph.D., P.Eng., FEC, FASME
Elizabeth A. Croft received a B.A.Sc. degree in mechanical engineering in 1988 from the University of British Columbia, an M.A.Sc. degree from the University of Waterloo in 1992 and a Ph.D. degree from the University of Toronto in 1995.
A professor in UBC’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, she is director of the Collaborative Advanced Robotics and Intelligent Systems Laboratory. Her research interests include industrial robotics, human-robot interaction, and mechatronics.
Dr. Croft’s research is centred around human-robot interaction, and more specifically, how interactions with robots can be designed to naturally adapt to what their non-expert human users want them to do. Her aim is to make industrial robotic systems more adaptive and applicable to the changing manufacturing landscape – involving a significantly higher level of interaction with people. Thus, her research delves into how robotic systems can behave, and be perceived to behave, in a safe, predictable, and reliable manner. Applications of this work range from manufacturing assembly to healthcare and assistive technology. This work is highly interdisciplinary and requires collaboration with people working in computer science, psychology, health and biological sciences.