When Nur Zincir-Heywood joined the Faculty of Computer Science in 2000, she was one of only two faculty members who were women. This gender disparity was evident among the student body as well.
Change was afoot in society at the time, though, and the nascent Faculty 鈥� just three years old at the time 鈥� was looking to welcome more women into its midst, too.听
鈥淲e wanted to increase our number of students in general, but in particular, students who identified as women,鈥� Dr. Zincir-Heywood explains. 鈥淎nd to be able to do that, we needed peer support. We needed role models. We needed mentorship. We needed people to feel that they belong so they can tell someone else to join them in a faculty where they will be supported.鈥�
From the beginning, the 10 per cent of female-identifying computer science students knew Dr. Zincir-Heywood鈥檚 office was a safe space. Students approached her about everything from discrimination they were facing to advice for how to interview for a co-op placement. She realized the students needed a group of peers they could rely on for support, comfort and a sense of belonging.
And so, in 2008, the (WiTS) was born.听
This week, WiTS celebrated Zincir-Heywood at its 2025 gala on March 6 with a new award created in her honour. The recognition came just days after she was appointed to the board of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) 鈥� an influential national body that works toward maximizing the strategic impact of Canada鈥檚 investments in scientific and engineering research.
听about Dr. Zincir-Heywood鈥檚 NSERC appointment.
鈥淚t's very easy for anyone who is in the minority, when they are at the receiving end of some kind of situation, to take it personally; to feel that they are alone, unfortunately,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t affects how much people feel they belong, and this sense of belonging is very important for our students, no matter what their gender is.鈥澨�
Dr. Zincir-Heywood, fourth from right, with current members of WiTS at the gala Thurday, March 6. (Submitted photo)
Led by students
For Dr. Zincir-Heywood, the society鈥檚 name speaks to its inclusive nature.听
鈥淚t鈥檚 called the Women in Technology Society and not Women in Computer Science Society because there might be many other people in other fields feeling a similar way, and we want this group to grow.鈥澨�
Dr. Zincir-Heywood became WiTS鈥檚 founding chair and started talking to her students in her classes and research labs to gauge interest. The grassroots approach ensured WiTS could organize programming and guest-speaker appearances that interested its members specifically.
If our students believe this is so