In the late 1990s, engineering programs at Memorial University had a problem.

At the time, women comprised about 21 per cent of the undergraduate engineering population. And only 15 per cent of undergraduate engineering degrees went to women.

So not only was there a problem with recruiting female students into engineering programs but also with retaining them.

These were problems that Dr. Florence Mary Williams set out to address.

In 1997, she was appointed Memorial’s inaugural NSERC/Petro-Canada Chair for Women in Science and Engineering, a role that allowed her to assess the status of women in these fields and identify key challenges.

Dr. Williams set out to develop strategies that would welcome more women into the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

She summarized her findings in the influential book Becoming Leaders: A Practical Handbook for Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, which she co-authored with Carolyn J. Emerson.

The handbook, published in 2002, validated women’s experiences working in STEM fields. It gathered ideas and strategies that many women in the field had developed on their own and shared them with a larger audience.

Becoming Leaders was the culmination of years of work. It remains a groundbreaking resource and is still available in a revised edition today.

Before her time at Memorial, Dr. Williams earned her doctoral degree in applied mechanics from Simon Fraser University and became renowned for her expertise in Arctic technology and ocean engineering.

Her research focused on the effects of ice on ships and offshore structures, which led to extensive fieldwork in the Arctic, Antarctic and around Newfoundland and Labrador.

 

Dr. F. Mary Williams with a student in 2002. Photo from Memorial University Archives.

 

After serving as the Chair for Women in Science and Engineering and as a professor in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science from 1997 to 2002, Dr. Williams accepted a new role as director general of Canada's Institute for Ocean Technology (IOT). And she was named Memorial University’s first honorary professor.

At IOT, she led the strategic direction of research programs and the important task of transferring new technology to industrial partners.

She initiated a new National Research Council program in Arctic technologies to further solidify Canada's leadership in this area. Her contributions extended to serving on numerous national boards and task forces, and she represented Canada internationally in ocean and Arctic affairs.

Dr. Williams was a long-standing volunteer with Women in Science and Engineering Newfoundland and Labrador (WISE NL), serving as both treasurer and life member. It’s a role that allowed her to mentor countless students and professionals, as well as champion events and initiatives aimed at creating a more inclusive STEM community.

Dr. Williams’ interests and contributions expanded beyond STEM, however. She had a lifelong interest in athletics, earning a black belt in karate in 2013.

Together with her husband, Christopher Williams, she established the Emerging Leaders Award for Memorial’s varsity basketball teams.

And her passion for music led to the creation of the Christopher and Mary Williams Double-Reed Award in Music.

Dr. Williams died in November of 2015.

In recognition of her significant research and contributions, the Mary Williams Memorial Award in Ocean Technology was established at the Marine Institute. Funded by Kraken Robotic Systems Inc., the award is presented annually to a student who demonstrates excellence in ocean technology and a commitment to supporting fellow students.

Today, according to Statistics Canada, 34 percent of Canadians with a STEM degree are women. But women only account for 23 per cent of Canadians working in science and technology.

While there has been progress, there is still work to be done to continue Dr. Williams’ efforts to foster a more supportive environment for women in science and engineering.

 

Leaderboard photo of Dr. F. Mary Williams courtesy Randy Dawe.