Dr. Ellen Whitman never thought of a career in science.
That was partly because there were few women role models in top scientific positions when she was growing up.
But she did have a role model in her mother, who taught science.
"More of a lack of self-confidence. My mother was pretty educated and she was like a science teacher. I just never thought I could fit into that role or that I would excel at it."
Her specialty is wildfire science. Anyone living in Elliot Lake can appreciate the importance of learning more about forest fires which every year present a danger during the moisture-starved months of late spring and summer when conditions leave our parched forests a kindling ground for fires.
Seven years ago, the United Nations first proclaimed International Day of Women and Girls in Science, to be observed this year on Feb. 11.
As the agency explains, "Despite the oncoming “fourth industrial-technological revolution”, women account for only 28 per cent of graduates in engineering, 40 per cent in computer science and 20 per cent in artificial intelligence, according to the UN’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science."
This year her employer Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has honoured Dr. Whitman and Dr. Shiva Tirdad of Quebec as its two top female science leaders.
Dr. Whitman said she finds wildfire science, in general, to be fulfilling, a very interesting and exciting field.
"In Canada, because we have such a vast country in terms of landscapes with a relatively small population, there's still so much to learn here, which is super exciting," she added.
Based in Edmonton, among other things, Dr. Whitman has been studying the fire risk in the Yukon and in Kulani National Park and Wildlife Reserve.
The area is covered with fire hazards like dead Spruce trees following a Spruce Bark Beetle outbreak that decimated Spruce forest in 2008.
"There used to be more frequent fires in the past, particularly in relation to the First Nations, people who lived on the land there."
She said many people want to repopulate First Nations inhabitants in that area while realizing the incidence of fires is closely linked to human residency.
"I've been looking at fire spread across Canada and that includes Ontario."
She was surprised when she was nominated by her employer Natural Resources Canada to represent Canadian women in science in 2022.
"It can be challenging to see yourself in that role and to find role models of other people who look like you, or have your interest in the same field," she said. "I've had the chance to participate in career days and I've also in the past participated in the senior's program. It's so excellent to get into schools with young kids and just talk about science. They ask such cool questions and they have so much enthusiasm for the topics, so I really enjoy doing that."
Dr. Whitman is regarded as one of the leading fire scientists in the world.
Nor does she see her passion for her work dwindling in years to come.
She does allow that she can see herself transitioning in a few years from someone on the front lines of fire science to a role where she's supervising a larger team of young people who follow the path that she has taken.
She sees herself supporting them in a mentorship role, "But at the moment I'm still super excited about what I get to do every year."