Educate to Innovate
STEM Conference
Brighter Futures: Girls in STEM Leading the Way in Environmental Justice
Love science? Intrigued by engineering? Want to use STEM to tackle real-world challenges?
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This Earth Day, join us for a full-day STEM Conference focused on environmental justice!
Educate to Innovate is an interactive STEM conference held onsite at Lakeshore Collegiate Institute in partnership with the Jean Augustine Centre for Young Women’s Empowerment.
Explore activities and problem-solving challenges with hands-on, facilitator-led workshops, hear an inspiring keynote speech, and discover how STEM, activism, and advocacy can help create cleaner, healthier spaces for everyone. You’ll receive lunch, snacks, and a swag bag for attending (and learn about our $5,000 STEM scholarship).
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When? Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Where? Lakeshore Collegiate Institute
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Bring your curiosity, and let's lead the way toward a brighter, inclusive future!
Workshops
More workshops to be announced!
Keynote Speaker
Carolina Rodriguez
Carolina Rodriguez (she/her) is a 25-year-old climate justice advocate who believes in the importance of optimism-based activism and the power of community-building. She is strongly committed to advancing equity and sustainability through science-based and people-centered solutions. Carolina
has been involved in provincial politics, running in the 2022 election as a candidate for the Green Party of Ontario.
After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Governance and Political Science from the University of Guelph, she began working in environmental education as a Workshop Facilitator with Relay Education.
Her work focuses on bridging the gap between environmental science, policy, and social justice, with a particular interest in engaging underrepresented communities in the green transition.
Environmental justice in a city-setting like Toronto means ensuring that all communities—regardless of race, income, or background—have equal access to a clean and healthy environment. This often involves addressing:
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Air Pollution: Low-income and racialized communities are more likely to live near highways, factories, or industrial zones with poor air quality, leading to higher rates of asthma and other health issues.
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Water Quality: Aging infrastructure and lack of investment in certain neighbourhoods can lead to unsafe drinking water or waterways.
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Green Spaces: Some areas have plenty of parks and trees, while others have little access to nature, affecting mental and physical health.
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Waste Management: Lower-income neighbourhoods often are closer to waste incinerators or sewage treatment facilities or face inadequate recycling services.
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Housing & Climate Resilience: Inadequate housing and infrastructure can make some communities more vulnerable to extreme heat, flooding, and other climate impacts.
Urban environmental justice fights for policies and actions that ensure clean air, safe water, access to nature, and a healthier environment for all communities—especially those historically left behind.
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Funding Partners
Workshop Partners
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