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Soapbox Science Toronto - 2026

Soapbox Science (external link)  is a global public outreach platform for promoting women and non-binary scientists and the science that they do. Our 2026 event will be held at the Word on the Street (WOTS) (external link)  festival in September at David Pecault Square, 215 King St. W., Toronto, on Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27.

Saturday Soapbox Speakers

Sept. 26, 12:00 - 3:00 pm

Our speakers are experts in their fields and will chat informally with you about their research. 

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Gözel Atakgayeva

Toronto Metroppolitan University

Host-pathogen interactions

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Liv Engel

University of Toronto

Neuroscience

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Tai Odeyemi

Toronto Metropolitan University

Cybersecurity and trustworthy digital systems

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Wan Wang

University of Toronto

Evolution and ecology

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Kerenza Cheng

Toronto Metropolitan University

Computational biology

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Spandana Chereddy

University of Guelph

Computational biology, AI

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Dr. Monika Schmidt

University Health Network

Emergency medicine, health equity

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Dr. Chenielle Delahaye

De La Enzie Essentials

Biotechnology

Headsot of Deny Maranga with short, wavy dark hair, glasses, smiling showing teeth, wearing beige shirt with embossed design,

Denny Maranga

ROM, University of Toronto

Vertebrate paleontology

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Ishita Shreshtha

Toronto Metropolitan Unviersity

Cancer diagnostics

Time  Soapbox A  Soapbox B  Soapbox C  Soapbox D
 12-1    Kerenza Cheng  Wan Wang  Tai Odeyemi
 1-2  Gözel Atakgayeva    Dr. Chenielle Delahaye  Liv Engel
 2-3  Spandana Chereddy  Ishita Shreshtha  Dr. Monika Schmidt  Denny Maranga

Sunday Soapbox Speakers

Sept. 27, 12 - 3 pm

Our Sunday session will be in an ask-me-anything format. Bring your burning questions about our wild and wonderful world!

Young woman with dark hair, standing behind sign with her name and speaking topic, with city square in the background

Dr. Reema Kumar

York University

Organic waste fermentation

Young woman with dark hair, lab coat, standing behind sign with her name on it, talking to a woman, with city square and high-rise buildings in the background

Sinthuja Sugathas

University of Guelph

Sustainable agriculture and climate change

Young woman with hair dyed different colours, wearing lab coat, talking to 2 girls and a boy, with greenery in the background

Yubing Chen

University of Waterloo

Sex differences in immunology

Young woman with long dark hair, wearing labcoat, holding green bag, talking to a man, woman and child, with Waterloo science sign and greenery in the background

Nowreen Sarwar

University of Waterloo

Nutrition

Young woman of colour wearing sunglasses and lab coat talking to 3 individuals, with greenery in the background

Dr. Adebola Adeleye

University of Waterloo

Antimicrobial resistance

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Eleanor Cloves

Toronto Metropolitan University

Cancer biology

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Cicely Henderson

Univeristy of Waterloo

Mathematics

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Emily Wedde

University of Waterloo

Nanoscience and materials chemistry

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Dr. Jennifer Williams

Women's cardiovascular health

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Ericka De Oliveira

Toronto Metropolitan University

Environmental and analytical chemistry

Young woman with dark hair, sunglasses, lab coat standing behind sign with her name and speaking topic with city square in the background

Alexx Riemenschneider

University of Toronto

Children's brain tumours

Time Speaker Affiliation Topic Soapbox
12-1 Dr. Reema Kumar York University What really happens to organic waste from our green bins? Box A
12-1 Sinthuja Sugathas University of Guelph How is climate change affecting food production? Box B
12-1 Emily Wedde University of Waterloo How is nanoscience used in our everyday lives? Box C
12-1 Dr. Sarah Aubert Princess Margaret Hospital What does physics have to do with cancer? Box D
1-2 Dr. Adebola Adeleye University of Waterloo If antibiotics stop working, what does that mean for everyday people? Box A
1-2 Eleanor Cloves Toronto Metropolitan University What is a new discovery in breast cancer biology? Box B
1-2 Nowreen Sarwar University of Waterloo Why is there a shift in our diet towards ultra processed foods? Box C
1-2 Cicely Henderson University of Waterloo Why learn math in school? Box D
2-3 Dr. Jennifer Williams Wilfrid Laurier University How do I keep my heart healthy as I get older? Box A
2-3 Ericka De Oliveira Toronto Metropolitan University What do plastics in our lakes mean for our drinking water or the fish we eat? Box B
2-3 Alexx Riemenschneider University of Toronto Why are children's brain tumours so difficult to treat and study? Box C
2-3 Yubing Chen University of Waterloo Is there a difference between male and female immune responses in fish? Box D