Since its inception, the contest has recognized 225 women, which has helped give a fresh face to science and technology. This year, 24 future engineers received awards, including 10 Polytechnique students. 

L to R, front row : the Excelle Science laureates from Polytechnique Montréal are: Chloé Archambault, Gaële Valbrun, Caroline Janelle, Valérie Bouchard and Élizabeth Michaud.
L to R, back row : Geneviève Senécal-Léonard, Émilie L'italien Le Blanc, Elyse Hamel, Fanny Lalonde Lévesque and Marie-Lyne Monette.

The Chaire Marianne-Mareschal of Polytechnique Montréal once again this year awarded the "Stage dans un laboratoire universitaire" (internship in a university laboratory) award jointly with the NSERC-Industrial Alliance Chair for Women in Science and Engineering in Québec. Professor Nathalie de Marcellis-Warin of Polytechnique presented the award to Caroline Janelle, electrical engineering student at Polytechnique.

Polytechnique professor Nathalie de Marcellis-Warin (left), and Caroline Janelle, recipient of the "Stage dans un laboratoire universitaire" award.

Winner profiles

Chloé Archambault
Environment Award from the Ministère du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et des Parcs

Catastrophic. That's how Chloé Archambault describes the underrepresentation of women in the sciences. But this future engineering physicist intends to buck the trend. As a volunteer for the Chaire Marianne-Mareschal at Polytechnique Montréal--which promotes women in engineering to women--and as a mentor to a female CÉGEP student, she helps to reassure the too-numerous female students who, out of fear or lack of knowledge about the field, are not daring to pursue engineering. "It's a profession that very much needs a different vision," she says.
 
Curious by nature, Chloé has always been passionate about mathematics and physics. In high school, she built a vehicle that operated using wind energy for the "Défi génie inventif" science competition. And at CÉGEP, she designed machines that were able to lob a ping-pong ball back and forth, which won her team the design prize at the provincial finals of the "Science on tourne!" competition for its revolutionary character and visual harmony. 

After earning a perfect grade of 4 for her BA in engineering physics this spring, Chloé is moving on to a master's degree focusing on the digital simulation of nanostructures. She then plans to go into research and development for quantum materials with a cutting-edge company that has an environmental mission, a cause she holds dear. "We are certainly facing the greatest challenge in the history of humanity today with global warming," she says. "Mother Nature is giving us an ultimatum: it is urgent that we end our self-destructive behaviour." Armed with her education, she plans to carry on the fight.

Valérie Bouchard
Excellence in Science award from the Ministère de l'Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport

An engineer can do ballet, dance and figure skating, and love the colour pink! That's what Valérie Bouchard wants everyone to know. "I want to change the stereotype of the female engineer who doesn't take care of her appearance," she says, "and show that women, as well as men, can be engineers."

An industrial engineering student, Valérie dislikes the unattractive image that television and movies convey of women who study science. "They're often shown as awkward people who wear glasses, who are never part of the popular girls' groups and who don't attract boys," she observes. "And at night, instead of having fun with their friends, they're shown in boring study groups." In short: they're not terribly sexy!

Valérie's life is a little more glamorous than that. A competition-level figure skater, Valérie reached triple-gold level at the age of 17 after years of dedicated work. In CÉGEP, she made a triple axel jump... straight into making school a priority. Still, after earning a college diploma (DEC) in health sciences, it took her a little time to choose her path. A large number of university open-house events helped her settle on industrial engineering. "This is really the place for me, as I can put my logic and my creativity to use."

Valérie hasn't hung up her skates yet, though. As a professional coach with Skate Canada, she knows that she owes a lot to her sport. "It taught me to persevere despite bad results and falls, and it helped me build exceptional mental strength."

Élizabeth Michaud
Excellence in Science award from the Ministère de l'Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport

During her internship at a major cosmetics company, Élizabeth Michaud undertook a mission to find technology aimed at reducing factory waste. Not only did the apprentice chemical engineer succeed in her task, but her solution also helps reduce the establishment's CO2 emissions! Two for the price of one!

It must be said that Élizabeth's environmental sensibilities are not a new thing. In fact, it was quite precisely in Secondary 3 that she developed them, when one of her teachers spoke about the harmful actions of an American multinational. "The company was spraying its banana fields every day with toxic pesticides while the workers picked the fruit!" she says, still appalled today. "To prevent future such horrors from taking place, I decided right then and there to play a front-line role in changing society."

The underrepresentation of women in the science and technology professions is another thing that Élizabeth feels indignant about. "This situation is all the more terrible in highly competitive areas such as production chains and major high-production companies," she noted during her school internships, including the one that she did at the company that produced cosmetics... aimed at a female market! In the eyes of this future engineer, male leaders are not the only ones who need to take action to change mentalities. "Change also needs to be led by women." We can count on Élizabeth to be one of them.

Caroline Janelle
"Stage dans un laboratoire universitaire" (internship in a university laboratory) award from the NSERC-Industrial Alliance Chair for Women in Science and Engineering in Québec and the Chaire Marianne-Mareschal at Polytechnique Montréal

Despite pressure from her friends and family and offers of admission to two faculties of medicine, Caroline Janelle never renounced her first passion: electrical engineering. "I have always been interested in the sciences, in particular mathematics and physics," she says. "Since I also love concrete, manual and fieldwork, engineering is perfect for me."

Vast and varied, electrical engineering can open doors in the fields of electronics, telecommunications, renewable energies and aerospace--all areas that fascinate Caroline. While she hasn't yet set on a future specialization, the internship in a university laboratory that she has won = will help her to make an enlightened choice. "It will give me the chance to experience, in real life, the work of a team of researchers and to better understand the dynamics." The internship will help her build confidence in order to make her way in a field still dominated by men.

It's useless to act like a man in order to establish your place, in Caroline's view. "Rather, you need to be proud of your femininity and make the most of your differences." In her eyes, the underrepresentation of women in science and technology is deplorable, considering the excellent grades many of them earn. "Wouldn't it be logical to have more brilliant, gifted and determined people in these fields?" she asks. With her determination and leadership skills, we'll bet that whatever she chooses, Caroline will be truly electric!

Fanny Lalonde Lévesque
Award from the Ministère du Développement économique, de l'Innovation et de l'Exportation

Fanny Lalonde Lévesque was introduced to information systems security in her first computer classes in high school. Curious by nature, she amused herself by experimenting with various pirating techniques. "I wasn't conscious, at the time, of the legal repercussions of my actions," she says. "On the advice of my service provider, I ceased and desisted!" But the IT bug had bit: after finishing a bachelor's in software engineering, Fanny signed up for the research-based master's program in computer engineering.

Her instant love for computers has never repressed her artistic side or her imagination. Throughout her college studies in pure and applied sciences, Fanny also pursued fine arts training. Combining her two passions--arts and computer sciences--the software design program, with a multimedia concentration, was a natural fit for her.

Her secret for success in a field predominantly occupied by men? Self-respect. "I've remained authentic while having confidence in my abilities." Fanny is involved in both her studies and in the university community, and she is known for a number of her accomplishments. In addition to representing Polytechnique at an international competition in France, she has worked consistently to promote the sciences to young women--whether in day camps or within the Chaire Marianne-Mareschal of Polytechnique Montréal. She also aims to raise awareness about information security... and beat the pirates!
 
Elyse Hamel
Excellence in Science award from the Ministère du Développement économique, de l'Innovation et de l'Exportation

Parents, take note: taking your child to work can have unexpected consequences. Elyse Hamel is proof of that. It was when she wandered around the impressive pulp and paper factory where her father worked that she developed an interest in engineering. "Those simple visits quickly fed my curiosity," she says. The enthusiasm of her chemistry teachers, which she still remembers today, did the rest. "In conveying their passion to me, they had a major influence on my choice: chemical engineering is definitely the perfect program for me."

In addition to loving the discipline itself, Elyse appreciates the creativity required in her future profession. "You always need to find the best possible solutions for optimization and energy savings and prepare for the unexpected," she says. While chemical engineering can open the door to a multitude of interesting areas--from biomedical to plastics processes to petrochemical--Elyse has chosen to specialize in environment and energy.

Her ambition: to work in the field of water and wastewater treatment and sustainable- energy research. "The environment is a current issue of top importance," she observes. "We need to continue to develop more and more eco-friendly products--such as biofuels and bioplastics based on starch rather than on oil." Long live green chemistry!

Émilie L'italien Leblanc
Excellence in Science award from the Ministère du Développement économique, de l'Innovation et de l'Exportation

The role of family support in the desire to pursue studies can never be overstated. Émilie L'italien Leblanc bears witness to this: her parents instilled in her the desire to excel both personally and academically. This solid backing, combined with a gift for and enjoyment of learning, helped her succeed with ease and confidence in high school, college and now university.

Gifted in both science and music, Émilie has been keen to explore her interests while helping others. In addition to teaching piano, she has worked as a science monitor at the Folie technique day camp at Polytechnique Montréal (it aims to demystify science for young people) and given workshops in Montréal elementary schools and high schools.
 
How does mechanical engineering play into all this? Émilie chose the program because it provides a strong focus on her favourite subject--math--and can lead to a multitude of exciting fields. "The areas of work are very varied," she says, "from equipment design and infrastructure construction to the maintenance and design of building components."

While she thinks the underrepresentation of women in science and technology is deplorable, the thoughtful Émilie believes the situation is developing in encouraging directions. In her view, the professions themselves as well as governments, teaching institutions and organizations must all do their part to encourage women to join the fields. She says: "Among other things, we need to think up original solutions to improve family-work balance, in order to solve this potential hindrance to male-female equity."

Geneviève Senécal-Léonard
Excellence in Science award from the Ministère du Développement économique, de l'Innovation et de l'Exportation

Since her first day of class, Geneviève Senécal-Léonard has felt right at home in civil engineering. "Everything was perfectly tailored for me: the discipline, the professors, the students." As the granddaughter of a renowned civil engineer, her family heritage influenced her choice. "My grandfather conveyed his passion in his own way."

But there's no question of her practising her profession old-school style! Attracted by the world of transportation--which in her view offers the most innovative opportunities--Geneviève aims to focus on sustainable development. "I want to embody the new generation of engineers, who are careful not to repeat the mistakes of the past, who are more conciliatory and aware of issues in the Québec of the 21st century." An example? "If I were working on the design of a new Champlain Bridge, I would staunchly defend the installation of a light-rail train system."

To carve out her place in a male-dominated field, Geneviève believes that three qualities are essential: self-confidence, daring and tenacity. She counsels against simply adopting men's work methods, instead focusing on their complementary nature. "Our way of thinking is very different from theirs," she says. "And men appreciate this addition to their way of working."

With a view to integrating the two groups, she's skilled at establishing a pleasant work atmosphere for her team. Her organizational skills have brought her recognition as a leader from her colleagues. On the topic of teamwork, drop your prejudices! "The social dimension and human relations are essential in engineering," says Geneviève. "Even if you never hear it talked about before you study it!"

Gaële Valbrun
Excellence in Science award from the Conférence des recteurs et des principaux des universités du Québec

Where is civil engineering? "It's everywhere!" Gaële Valbrun says without hesitation. "Our transportation, the water we use, the air we breathe, the places we work, the homes we live in... all of these subjects are studied in civil engineering. It's omnipresent in our everyday lives." As a key element of our society, it's also a field in constant evolution--so says a young woman who's very keen about her future profession, which she hopes to practice in the area of transportation.

Captivated since childhood by the technical and concrete sides of things, Gaële more than once exasperated her parents by tearing apart the toys they gave her. "I was always curious to see how they worked!" Since her mom and dad were aware of her interests and aptitudes, they always encouraged her to pursue a career in the sciences, never telling her that a girl had less chance of success than a boy.

Her early days at Polytechnique Montréal were difficult, though. Not only because Gaële, born in Haiti, had only just immigrated to Canada and was adapting to an entirely new environment, but also because the young woman had to face the stress of starting a new program. "In the first months, I felt overwhelmed," she says. "I thought I'd never make it, and I should probably quit." But she didn't. She instead modelled herself after a Polytechnique graduate she met on her first day. "Like her, I devoted myself to my studies, and I always got excellent grades in my classes." We're betting that her success will have its own impact on others!

Marie-Lyne Monette
Award from the Ministère de l'Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport

How do boats float? Why is it that everything that goes up also comes down? How does the universe work? Since she was little, Marie-Lyne Monette has asked questions about the world. "My questions produced a thirst for knowledge," says the future civil engineer, "and they helped develop my appetite for science." 

Marie-Lyne has a vivid memory of Secondary 5, when she was doing a science concentration. The class assignments she did at the time marked her for life, starting with the design of an eco-friendly home. If she wants to become a civil engineer, it's so that she can design buildings from a sustainable-development perspective, like she did that first time in class. "Environmental problems are a major concern for me," she says. "And I want to help save the planet."

Her first experience in the field, as an on-site supervisor in Brossard, validated her ability to integrate into a work setting dominated by men. "Leadership, self-confidence, listening skills, responsibility, honesty and respect are the qualities and values that helped me establish my place."

While school should better promote the science and technological professions to girls, awareness must start at home, Marie-Lyne believes. "Some parents still have a very gendered vision of the professions," she says. "But there's no such thing as men's work and women's work: there's only a more feminine or more masculine way of approaching work." That's a message to convey broadly, both to young girls themselves and to their fathers and mothers!


Polytechnique Montréal would like to congratulate the winners and wish them the best of success in their professional careers.


Pour en savoir plus
http://www.mels.gouv.qc.ca/chapeaulesfilles/index_en.asp
News release (in French)

Photos : François Nadeau