A new network for women in robotics

In June 2023, during the year-end U of T Robotics Institute celebration that brought together faculty, students, staff, partners and friends from tri-campus area, Mia Thomas, MASc student at U of T’s Space and Terrestrial Autonomous Systems (STARS) Laboratory, received the 2023 Robotics Leadership Award in Service (Honourable Mention) for helping launch the Women in Robotics (WiR) Ontario Chapter.

MASc student Mia Thomas receives the 2023 Robotics Leadership Award in Service (Honourable Mention) from the Robotics Institute for her work in helping launch the Women in Robotics (WiR) Ontario Chapter. (Photo: Aidan Samuels)

As a founding WiR Ontario member, Thomas has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to elevating youth and underrepresented groups in robotics through resource sharing, mentorship and community building.

With strong support from U of T's Robotics Institute, the WiR Ontario Chapter was launched in November 2022 at U of T's Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. The WiR is helping to build a global community of entrepreneurs, industry professionals and academics and improving the representation across this dynamic field.