STEM Award
For outstanding advancement to the field of Science, Technology, Engineering & Math.
Award Presented By: Tania Framst and Carleigh Nicholas, Perimeter Institute
STEM NOMINEES
Sabrina Gonzalez Pasterski
Sabrina Gonzalez Pasterski is a Permanent Resident of Canada, with an original permanent residency entry date of December 18, 2004, and a proud first generation Cuban-American born in Chicago who would not be who she is today without the opportunities Canada afforded her at ages 11, 14 and 27.
Eden Hennessey
Dr. Eden Hennessey is a social psychologist and equity scientist at Wilfrid Laurier University, serving as EDI Data Specialist and Research and Programs Director of the Laurier Centre for Women in Science. A leading voice on gender bias in STEM, her landmark Canadian Physics Counts survey, the first of its kind in Canada, has shaped national policy conversations. Her photo-research exhibits have reached audiences across three continents, and she has delivered presentations for the United Nations, the Canadian Association of Physicists, and the High Commission of Canada in London. She holds a PhD in Social Psychology from Wilfrid Laurier University.
Heather Keller
Heather Keller RD, PhD is a faculty member at the University of Waterloo and the Schlegel Research Chair in Nutrition & Aging. Her scientific research focuses on improving nutritional status, food intake and the mealtime experience of older adults.
Through this work, she connects with older adults and students in Waterloo region and beyond, and her work has informed nutrition policy and best practices for older adults across Canada. She is internationally recognized for her programs of research, and for her commitment to apply scientific evidence in practice to the benefit of older adults everywhere.
Cynthia Lennon
Cynthia Lennon is a Clinician-in-Residence in the Department of Systems Design Engineering at the University of Waterloo, bringing 20 years of experience as an occupational therapist practicing in pediatric rehabilitation. In her role as Clinical Innovation Specialist at KidsAbility’s Rocket Discovery Centre, Cynthia is dedicated to translating research into clinical practice and partnering with researchers, clinicians and families to drive meaningful research in the clinical context. Her interests include assistive technology—particularly access technology for communication aids—and innovative models of care that support family engagement, enhance the rehabilitation experience, and improve outcomes for children and youth.
Donna Strickland
Donna Strickland is a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the
University of Waterloo and is one of the recipients of the Nobel Prize in Physics 2018 for
developing chirped pulse amplification with Gérard Mourou, her PhD supervisor at the
time. They published this Nobel-winning research in 1985 when Strickland was a PhD
student at the University of Rochester in New York state.
In 1997, she joined the University of Waterloo, where her ultrafast laser group develops
high-intensity laser systems for nonlinear optics investigations.
Weihua Zhuang
Weihua Zhuang is a Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo and a former Tier I Canada Research Chair in Wireless Communication Networks (2010-2024). Her research focuses on developing fundamental theories and innovative techniques to increase data transmission speed, accuracy and efficiency, while ensuring reliable connectivity in mobile communication networks. She holds nine patents, has co-authored 15 books and over 500 technical publications, earning 15 Best Paper Awards and 30,000 citations. She has supervised 33 PhD and 32 MASc students, and 27 postdoctoral fellows, as well as more than 100 undergraduate co-op students and research assistants. In 2021, she was recognized by the University of Waterloo for exceptional scholarly achievement and international preeminence with the designation of “University Professor.” She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the Canadian Academy of Engineering, the Engineering Institute of Canada, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.