Educational Media Reviews Online

This program focuses on how scientific thought and practices are changing due to the presence of women in various science disciplines. It presents five women who are currently working in scientific fields in Canada and how they challenge conventional scientific wisdom on an almost daily basis. Their careers are reviewed and the challenges of being female in male-dominated professions are explored. Each felt she was different from other colleagues, in most cases because of her gender, but also in other ways too, such as social beliefs and ways of tackling problems.

"Women have a different approach to science" one physicist notes, and "historically, they have been marginalized." This program is a positive statement on how the influx of women into these fields has benefited all. The questions being asked are frequently very different from those traditionally asked. This is demonstrated in fields that may cater to government or industry. The solutions sought in the past would normally seek to support the aims of big business. An example of this in the film is the forestry industry that seeks to produce the most cost-effective and valuable timber. Mostly, this means genetically studying the various tree species to alter them and produce a superior product. If one doesn't want to further the research in this area, which directly benefits industry, they may find it very difficult to get funding.

The women featured work in the fields of physics, chemical engineering, occupational health, ergonomics, and forest genetics. For them the key to developing better science and technology lies in examining what kinds of questions scientists ask, who asks them, and for whose benefit.

This documentary was very appealing and easy to watch. The visuals are terrific. The variety of fields examined was a plus. Each scientist is shown during her daily workday and each clearly presents her unique view of her profession and future challenges. The video sleeve includes a lengthy description of the contents of the video. It also presents questions for discussion and possible projects that could be used in a classroom setting. This video is appropriate for high schoolers through adult viewers. It would be an excellent contribution to science and technology, history, or women's studies classes.

Recommended for school, public, and academic libraries.