Leigh Paulseth
Toronto, ON
Position: Coordinator
Organization: Toronto Metropolitan University
Leigh has over 10 years of experience managing programs and people to create impactful initiatives, events and interventions that encourage engagement with science and the environment. She has a B.Sc. in conservation biology and Master of Resource and Environmental Management which fuelled her passion to work with communities to protect biodiversity. Leigh worked in the environmental non-profit sector for 6 years where she developed environmental education and community engagement programs and gained skills in volunteer management and science communication. In her current capacity at SciXchange (TMU) she works to support underrepresented voices in STEM sectors to strengthen the science community. She coordinated the first Soapbox Science event in Canada in 2017. Leigh loves to share all kinds of science knowledge and is particularly passionate about supporting the ways in which society intersects with the science community.
Areas of Expertise:
Language(s):
My Work
What I do:
I develop and facilitate programs for the public to participate in science; Whether that’s planting a tree to restore an ecosystem, petitioning the government for policy change, or creating safe spaces for researchers to share their work. I am active in environmental and climate justice movements and empower others to make evidence-based decisions and participate in democracy.
Ask me about:
I manage science communication and outreach programs which engage a wide range of public actors. This work allows me to comment on the state of gender equity at all levels of STEM education. I also have extensive experience in advocacy, activism and policy as it relates to the intersection of society and science.
Why me:
I come to the gender equity space from a very male-dominated sector (environmental non-profit and conservation) at a time when we desperately need solutions to the climate crisis. In order for those solutions to truly work – scientifically, logistically and in communities – we need the very best voices at the table: voices who are representative of our broader communities at every level.
Fun facts:
You can often find Leigh enjoying a Ken Ken puzzle, watching the latest sci fi series or spreading the word about protecting our planet.
About Me
Sector: Non-Profit
English proficiency: Read, Write, Speak
Title: Ms.
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Gender: Cisgender Female
Demographic: European / White