SciXchange coordinator inspires young Black girls through science mentorship

Krystal Henry-Mathieu is a second-year Environmental Science and Management student on a mission to reduce inequality in STEM and inspire young minds. As SciXchange's Climate Coordinator for Let's Talk Science (external link) , she marries her passion for environmental sciences and accessibility in STEM to develop climate change awareness workshops for youth. Henry-Mathieu has a special place in her heart for mentorship, particularly for young Black women in the sciences. In 2022, she founded BLK Women in STEM (external link)  – an initiative that inspires and provides mentorship opportunities for young Black women in the sciences, including STEM Mag, an online magazine (external link)  highlighting Black female scientists.

Read about Henry-Mathieu's story and how she encourages young Black women to pursue careers in STEM through mentorship and representation.

What is your favourite part of the work you do for SciXchange?

The best part of the work that I do with SciXchange is the ability to illuminate new interests for kids across the GTA. Growing up, I had the privilege to access STEM workshops and education; however, I have always been well aware of the disparities as it relates to the STEM fields and access to science education. Being able to go on-site, work directly with youth, and talk to them about science is such an amazing experience. The excitement they display when understanding a concept or simply learning something new makes the work extremely gratifying. 

Why are diversity and accessibility in STEM important to you?

Diversity and accessibility in STEM are important to me because I know firsthand that it is the difference maker for kids in their formative years when selecting their interests and career paths. Lack of access to STEM education is one of the major barriers to increased diversity in these fields. As global issues like climate change are at the forefront of everyone's agendas, we are missing the contributions of many young people who simply do not have access to the tools they need to excel in these fields. This is why I decided to work with SciXchange to help bridge that gap and assist in the delivery of these tools and the dissemination of STEM knowledge to those who need it most.

What motivated you to start BLK Women in STEM?

Growing up, I have always been a part of eco teams and other initiatives to help the environment. My desire to pursue a career in science was always there, but many of my teachers and superiors tried to steer me away from my dreams as they did not believe that a “girl like me” would be welcome in these spaces. While I worked hard to ignore these voices in order to get where I am today, they were right about one thing – there certainly is not enough Black female representation in these fields, and I would like for that to change. 

Just like myself, many young Black girls have been told that their dreams are too “big” or unrealistic simply because of their race. This sentiment is clear when I have looked around my classrooms throughout my academic career. I graduated from McMaster University as the sole Black graduate in my program that year. This was something that I could not accept.

BLK Women in STEM is a platform that I have created to help inspire young girls to continue their pursuit in STEM but also to give them the guidance and mentorship along the way that I wish I had. 

How does BLK Women in STEM advocate for Black women in sciences?

The purpose of BLK Women in STEM is to not only act as a mentor, a listening ear, or simply a friend to other young Black women on their STEM journeys, but it is also to highlight the disparities that we are faced with along the road. Education is one of the preliminary steps to creating change, and that is what I hope that I can do with this initiative.

In addition to the Instagram account, I have also created STEM Magazine to showcase the amazing work being done by Black women in various STEM fields across the globe. I want to give an opportunity to all Black women to let their voices be heard, share their accomplishments, and tell the stories they have likely suppressed along their journeys. I truly believe that we can change the face of STEM fields together as a community. It won't be easy, but I’m confident that it can be done. 

What do you have planned next for BLK Women in STEM?

With BLK Women in STEM, I hope to continue our magazine features. I have a few features lined up and ready to be posted very soon, but we are always accepting submissions!

I also hope to include some group mentorship workshops for youth. The purpose of the STEM Magazine was not only to highlight the work being done by Black women in STEM but also to help identify potential mentors for youth. It would be great to bring that to life with some leadership workshops, Q&A sessions, resume writing sessions, and other interactive workshops. 

Finally, I want to run a couple of school supply drives for young students in need. It is something that has always been on my mind, knowing that not every student has the school supplies they need and not every school is equipped with enough supplies to disperse evenly amongst their students. These kinds of disparities also lend directly to the equity issues seen in STEM fields and are just another way I hope to help.

Learn more about Krystal Henry-Mathieu’s mission by checking out BLK Women in STEM on Instagram (external link)  and reading STEM Magazine online (external link) .