Prof. Tamara Franz-Odendaal
Professor, Faculty of Biology, NSERC Chair Women in Science and Engineering- Atlantic Canada; Principal Investigator - Bone Development Laboratory, Mount Saint Vincent University
Developmental biologist / Anatomist/ Evo-Devo; Advocate for the Advancement of Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math/ Diversity Champion
Media
Tamara Franz-Odendaal: Developmental Biologist
As a scientist, Tamara has travelled a lot and worked on some exciting projects. She loves mentoring students and teaching at MSVU.
Girls Get Wise
Normally when kids think of summer they think of sun, sand and of course, no school. But a summer camp in Halifax focuses on something a little different.
Dr. Tamara Franz Odendaal, NSERC WISE-Atlantic Chair, MSVU
Dr. Tamara Franz Odendaal, NSERC WISE-Atlantic Chair, MSVU
Women in science retreat comes to Halifax
Global News, April 10, 2015Television
Dr. Tamara Franz-Odendaal chats about the Girls Get WISE Science Retreat taking place in Halifax. The event is all about encouraging girls to consider careers in fields like science, engineering, technology and math.
Saint Mary's University, February 20, 2016Radio/Podcast
URL: http://www.news957.com/2016/02/20/feb-20-women-in-science/
Dr. Franz-Odendaal was a guest panelist on Science Files, a program of news radio 95.7 fm, to discuss women in science.
CBC Information Morning, Cape Breton, January 6, 2016Radio/Podcast
URL: http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2681504809
Dr. Franz-Odendaal was interviewed for CBC radio's Information Morning - Cape Breton regarding her thoughts about a local competition that provides funding for start-up companies, and how very few of the contest winners were start-ups run by women.
Want to help women in science? Provide decent child care for starters
The Chronicle Herald, June 19, 2015Online
Dr. Franz-Odendaal wrote an op-ed for The Chronicle Herald that discussed how providing decent child care is one way to help keep women working in the sciences.
Trendsetter: Tamara Franz-Odendaal
Halifax Magazine, April 1, 2014Online
URL: http://halifaxmag.com/cityscape/trendsetter-tamara-franz-odendaal/
Dr. Tamara Franz-Odendaal was interviewed for Halifax Magazine's Trendsetter piece. The article details Tamara's accomplishments as a biologist and as the Chair for Women in Science and Engineering.
STEM and the female student
The Chronicle Herald, January 23, 2014Online
URL: http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1181551-stem-and-the-female-student
Lead researcher Dr. Tamara Franz-Odendaal discusses results from the WISEatlantic research study 'Career Choices and Influencers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math'.
Early engagement key to getting girls into science careers, Canadian study says
The Globe and Mail, January 22, 2014Online
Lead researcher Dr. Tamara Franz-Odendaal discusses results from the WISEatlantic research study 'Career Choices and Influencers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math'.
Challenge — like riding a bomb —brings joy, astronaut tells girls
The Chronicle Herald, May 17, 2014Online
Dr. Tamara Franz-Odendaal provides a quote for a story about one of WISEatlantic's Girls Get WISE Science Retreats for girls that featured a female astronaut as a guest speaker.
Strategies for advancing women in chemistry
Published by Hayden-McNeil Publishers, USA
June 8, 2016
This article discusses the strategies women can use to advance their careers in STEM fields
Over 40 publications in the biological sciences
Published by Various
October 31, 2016
You can view my biological research publications on the database "Pubmed" or on "google scholar"
It is time to change the STEM stereotype
Published by STEM Magazine
July 8, 2015
Article about STEM stereotypes and the impact they have on girls decisions to pursue STEM careers
Gender Equality in Science
Published by International Innovation- North America, Research Media
June 12, 2013
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Experiences and Perceptions of STEM. Subjects and Careers and Engagement in STEM Activities Among Middle School Students.
Published by Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education
June 3, 2016
Study surveying youth in Atlantic Canada on their attitudes towards science and math, what/who influencers their future, and their likelihood of choosing a STEM career.
URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14926156.2016.1166291
Biography
Dr. Tamara Franz-Odendaal graduated from the University of Cape Town, South Africa with a PhD in Zoology and completed her post-doctoral studies at Dalhousie University in Evolutionary-Developmental Biology. Franz-Odendaal joined the Mount in 2006 as a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) University Faculty award recipient (2006-2011) and has since launched an active and productive research program in the field of skeletal biology. In 2011, Franz-Odendaal was awarded the NSERC Atlantic Chair for Women in Science and Engineering for the Atlantic Region (WISEatlantic). She is one of five chair holders across Canada that are working to increase the participation of women in science and engineering and provide role models for women considering careers in these fields. The aim of the WISEatlantic program is to provide girls in junior and senior high school with access to role models active in the sciences and engineering fields through mentorships, webinars, Girls Get WISE Science events, and Science Summer Camps. Through WISEatlantic, she also supports women in STEM careers through professional development opportunities, such as the WinSETT Leadership Program workshops, and academic advancement workshops. By 2017, Franz-Odendaal's program reached over 13,000 students, teachers, academics, professionals etc., and had directly engaged over 3000 youth with over 250 female role models in STEM.
Recognition/Reconnaissance
Young Investigator Award in Morphological Sciences | Professional
Dr Franz-Odendaal was awarded the American Association of Anatomists Young Investigator's Award in Morphological Sciences for her contribution to biomedical research
Research Excellence Award | Professional
Dr Franz-Odendaal was awarded Mount Saint Vincent University's Research Excellence Award
Science Champion | Professional
Dr Franz-Odendaal was awarded a Science Champion award by the Discovery Centre in Nova Scotia, Canada, for her contribution to STEM outreach
Dove's Unstoppable Moms for Unstoppable Girls | Professional
Dr Franz-Odendaal was awarded the Dove's Unstoppable Moms for Unstoppable Girls for her work engaging girls in science.
Chair for Women in Science and Engineering (NSERC) | Professional
Dr. Franz-Odendaal is the current Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Chair for Women in Science and Engineering for Atlantic Canada.
Additional Titles and Affiliations
Vice President Nova Scotia Institute of Science
Past Talks
Supporting Women in Chemistry
Chemical Institute of Canada Conference
Halifax, Nova Scotia, June 7, 2016
Strategies to enable girls to interact with role models and to expand their understanding of STEM careers
Gender Summit Three
Washington, DC, November 13, 2013
Promoting Women in Academia Through Career Development
Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology Conference
Ottawa, Ontario, May 4, 2016
Promoting women in academia through career development workshops.
Canadian Coalition for Women in Engineering Science Trades and Technology
Ottawa, May 11, 2016
Leadership Starts Early: The Impact of Role Models
Gender Summit Three
Washington, DC, November 13, 2013
GIRLS and Science: why it’s important and how you can support them
Nova Scotia Institute of Science
Halifax, NS, October 8, 2012
Engaging Young Girls in STEM Throughout Canada
Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology Conference
Ottawa, Ontario, May 4, 2016
Call to Action: NSERC Chairs
Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology Conference
Regina, Saskatchewan, May 21, 2014
Career intentions, influencers, and STEM career awareness amongst grade 7s.
Canadian Coalition for Women in Engineering Science Trades and Technology
Ottawa, May 10, 2016
All About Bones: Insights from fossils and embryo's
WISE NL Statoil Seminar Series
St. John's, Newfoundland, April 16, 2014
Research Grants
Skeletal development in zebrafish
Organization: Nova Scotia Health Research GrantDate: November 18, 2016
Details:
This study explored the use of zebrafish to study skull defects in humans.
Discovery Grant
Organization: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of CanadaDetails:
Funding to support research in the biological sciences, in particular the evolution and development of the skeleton
Chair for Women in Science and Engineering
Organization: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of CanadaDetails:
Funding to support programming aimed at bridging the gender gap in STEM fields