SWEEET 2026
Equity & Access in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology: Addressing Parenthood, Fieldwork, and Socioeconomic Barriers
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Location: University of Toronto-Bahen Information Technology Building
Time: 1:30-5:00 PM
Location: University of Toronto-Bahen Information Technology Building
Time: 1:30-5:00 PM
Stay tuned for more details!
This page is being continuously updated as we finalize plans for this year's symposium.
Keep checking back for more info!
Questions about this year's symposium? Feel free to contact us!
This page is being continuously updated as we finalize plans for this year's symposium.
Keep checking back for more info!
Questions about this year's symposium? Feel free to contact us!
2026 Theme / Thème 2026
Equity & Access in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology: Addressing Parenthood, Fieldwork, and Socioeconomic Barriers
This year’s SWEEET symposium will build off of our history of addressing inequities in science by increasing awareness, promoting strategies, and inspiring action. This symposium will focus on three interconnected barriers that disproportionately affect equity-deserving researchers: parenthood and caregiving responsibilities, fieldwork-related obstacles, and socioeconomic challenges. Featuring 3 invited speakers, this event will include presentations and guided discussion on topics ranging from navigating the ongoing challenges of caregiving in academia, including parental leave policies and the long-term career considerations of caregiving responsibilities, addressing barriers that limit access to fieldwork and other outdoor experiences, and advocacy for increased pay for early-career scientists. This interactive symposium will explore often-overlooked challenges, how to address such barriers, and pathways forward. With these conversations, we aim to identify practical strategies that promote a more inclusive and supportive research environment for all career stages. Importantly, this symposium is intended for the entire CSEE community. It is meant to create community and support for individuals facing these barriers, and equip community members in positions of privilege with strategies to become allies in addressing these intersectional barriers.
Équité et accès en écologie et en biologie évolutive : aborder les enjeux liés à la parentalité, au travail de terrain et aux barrières socioéconomiques
Le symposium SWEEET de cette année s’appuie sur notre engagement de longue date à lutter contre les inégalités en sciences en renforçant la sensibilisation, en mettant de l’avant des stratégies concrètes et en incitant à l’action. Ce symposium portera sur trois obstacles interconnectés qui touchent de manière disproportionnée les personnes chercheuses issues de groupes en quête d’équité : la parentalité et les responsabilités de soins, les obstacles liés au travail de terrain, et les défis socioéconomiques. Mettant en vedette trois personnes conférencières invitées, l’événement comprendra des présentations et des discussions guidées portant notamment sur la navigation des défis persistants liés aux responsabilités de soins en milieu universitaire — y compris les politiques de congé parental et les répercussions à long terme de ces responsabilités sur les trajectoires professionnelles —, sur les barrières limitant l’accès au travail de terrain et à d’autres expériences en milieu naturel, ainsi que sur les efforts de plaidoyer visant l’amélioration de la rémunération des personnes scientifiques en début de carrière. Ce symposium interactif offrira un espace pour examiner des enjeux souvent négligés, explorer des moyens de surmonter ces obstacles et réfléchir collectivement aux voies à suivre. À travers ces échanges, nous visons à dégager des stratégies pratiques favorisant un environnement de recherche plus inclusif et plus soutenant, à toutes les étapes de carrière. Il est important de souligner que ce symposium s’adresse à l’ensemble de la communauté de la SCÉÉ (CSEE). Il vise à renforcer le sentiment de communauté et le soutien pour les personnes confrontées à ces obstacles, tout en outillant les membres de la communauté en position de privilège afin qu’ils et elles puissent devenir des allié·e·s dans la lutte contre ces barrières intersectionnelles.
This year’s SWEEET symposium will build off of our history of addressing inequities in science by increasing awareness, promoting strategies, and inspiring action. This symposium will focus on three interconnected barriers that disproportionately affect equity-deserving researchers: parenthood and caregiving responsibilities, fieldwork-related obstacles, and socioeconomic challenges. Featuring 3 invited speakers, this event will include presentations and guided discussion on topics ranging from navigating the ongoing challenges of caregiving in academia, including parental leave policies and the long-term career considerations of caregiving responsibilities, addressing barriers that limit access to fieldwork and other outdoor experiences, and advocacy for increased pay for early-career scientists. This interactive symposium will explore often-overlooked challenges, how to address such barriers, and pathways forward. With these conversations, we aim to identify practical strategies that promote a more inclusive and supportive research environment for all career stages. Importantly, this symposium is intended for the entire CSEE community. It is meant to create community and support for individuals facing these barriers, and equip community members in positions of privilege with strategies to become allies in addressing these intersectional barriers.
Équité et accès en écologie et en biologie évolutive : aborder les enjeux liés à la parentalité, au travail de terrain et aux barrières socioéconomiques
Le symposium SWEEET de cette année s’appuie sur notre engagement de longue date à lutter contre les inégalités en sciences en renforçant la sensibilisation, en mettant de l’avant des stratégies concrètes et en incitant à l’action. Ce symposium portera sur trois obstacles interconnectés qui touchent de manière disproportionnée les personnes chercheuses issues de groupes en quête d’équité : la parentalité et les responsabilités de soins, les obstacles liés au travail de terrain, et les défis socioéconomiques. Mettant en vedette trois personnes conférencières invitées, l’événement comprendra des présentations et des discussions guidées portant notamment sur la navigation des défis persistants liés aux responsabilités de soins en milieu universitaire — y compris les politiques de congé parental et les répercussions à long terme de ces responsabilités sur les trajectoires professionnelles —, sur les barrières limitant l’accès au travail de terrain et à d’autres expériences en milieu naturel, ainsi que sur les efforts de plaidoyer visant l’amélioration de la rémunération des personnes scientifiques en début de carrière. Ce symposium interactif offrira un espace pour examiner des enjeux souvent négligés, explorer des moyens de surmonter ces obstacles et réfléchir collectivement aux voies à suivre. À travers ces échanges, nous visons à dégager des stratégies pratiques favorisant un environnement de recherche plus inclusif et plus soutenant, à toutes les étapes de carrière. Il est important de souligner que ce symposium s’adresse à l’ensemble de la communauté de la SCÉÉ (CSEE). Il vise à renforcer le sentiment de communauté et le soutien pour les personnes confrontées à ces obstacles, tout en outillant les membres de la communauté en position de privilège afin qu’ils et elles puissent devenir des allié·e·s dans la lutte contre ces barrières intersectionnelles.
Invited Speakers / Panélistes invités
Dr. Diane Srivastava
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Dr. Diane Srivastava is a community ecologist at the University of British Columbia, where she is a Professor and Distinguished University Scholar in the Department of Zoology. For her leading work on the ecology of species diversity, Diane was named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (2023) and received the NSERC Steacie Memorial Fellowship (2010). She completed her PhD at the Imperial College London researching aquatic insects in tree hollow ecosystems. Diane has been the Director at the Canadian Institute of Ecology and Evolution (CIEE/ICEE) from 2017 to 2026. She is an advocate for structural changes to improve equity in academia, such as flexible work and travel expectations, and better support for early-career researchers transitioning from graduate studies. She was part of a high-profile legal case arguing for parental leave for all parents of multiples. Diane has been vocal on the need for inclusivity, emphasizing the importance of addressing systematic biases and expanding equity discussions to reflect the full diversity of lived experiences. Diane’s work has also demonstrated how working groups in science can help mitigate inequalities faced in our fields.
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Dr. Courtney Robichaud
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Dr. Courtney Robichaud is a community ecologist currently working as an Environmental Review Specialist with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. She completed her PhD at the University of Waterloo, where her research focused on wetland ecology, invasive species management, and ecological restoration. Courtney is a Liber Ero Postdoctoral Fellow working in the Bennett lab at Carleton University, and was a CSEE councillor from 2021-2023. Courtney co-founded and was the Deputy Director of Support Our Science, a national advocacy campaign aimed at addressing inadequate funding for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars across Canada. Support Our Science helped secure over $3 billion in federal research funding for the Tri-Agencies in Budget 2024. Courtney’s work demonstrates how grassroots organizing can drive systematic change, creating more equitable conditions for the next generation of researchers and ensuring that science remains accessible to all.
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Dr. Rachel Kusuma Giles
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Dr. Rachel Giles is a founding member and former co-director of Field Research in Ecology and Evolution Diversified (FREED). She completed her PhD at the University of Toronto studying aquatic ecology and pollution as part of the Rochman Lab. Her research focused on how urbanization impacts rivers and stream ecology, using both field and laboratory approaches. As a founding member and former co-director of FREED, Rachel organized accessible field courses for undergraduate students across Ontario. FREED is a grassroots organization dedicated to increasing access to field research and outdoor experiences for equity deserving groups in ecology and evolution. FREED aims to address systematic barriers that make fieldwork experiences inaccessible to many students due to historical marginalization in STEM and associated financial and other constraints. Rachel is passionate about science communication, engaging with community groups, schools, and organizations to make science accessible to diverse audiences. Rachel is also passionate about the arts, using creative expression and movement to help people connect with themselves, others, and the natural world, teaching dance and pursuing various creative endeavors. Through FREED, Rachel is not just increasing access to field courses—she is redefining what inclusive, equitable field education looks like and setting a transformative new standard for university field experiences.
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SWEEET 2026 Schedule
Time |
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12:00 - 1:30 |
SWEEET Seats: speed-networking event - bring your lunch! |
1:30 - 1:40 |
Introductions & Overview |
1:40 - 2:05 |
Dr. Courtney Robichaud “Practicing Resistance” |
2:05 - 2:30 |
Dr. Rachel Giles "Increasing access to fieldwork for Indigenous, Black, and/or Racialized undergraduate students" |
2:30 - 2:55 |
Dr. Diane Srivastava “Parenthood in academia – making it work (better)” and “Equity gains under threat at Canadian universities” |
3:00 - 3:30 |
Coffee Break |
3:30 - 4:55 |
Roundtable Guided question period |
4:55 - 5:00 |
Concluding remarks |
SWEEET gratefully acknowledges the following 2026 sponsors:
Institutional sponsors:
Community/Industry sponsors:
- University of Alberta, Department of Biological Sciences
- University of British Columbia, Department of Zoology
- Brock University, UNESCO Chair on Community Sustainability and Department of Biological Sciences
- University of Calgary, Department of Biology
- University of Guelph, College of Biological Science and Department of Integrative Biology
- Université du Quebec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Forest Research Institute
- Université de Québec à Montréal, Departement de sciences biologiques
- University of Toronto, Department of Ecology and Evolution
- University of Toronto Mississauga, Department of Biology
- Toronto Metropolitan University, Department of Chemistry and Biology
- Simon Fraser University, Department of Biological Sciences
- University of Victoria, Department of Biology and School of Environmental Studies
- Western Ontario University, Department of Biology
- Wilfrid Laurier University, Department of Biology
Community/Industry sponsors:
- Imogen Coe Consulting (Bronze)
2026 Organizing Committee
- Carling Bieg, University of Guelph (Advisor)
- Jasmine Veitch, University of Calgary (Co-lead)
- Samantha Barrette, University of Calgary (Co-lead)
- Margaret Hughes, University of Calgary (Equity Fund lead)
- Rob Hechler, University of Toronto
- Megan LaRocque, University of Alberta
- Michaela Seal, University of Calgary
