A Woman in Engineering

Memoirs of a Trailblazer. An Autobiography by Monique (Aubry) Frize

Monique Frize, Monique Aubry-Frize

• Publisher: University of Ottawa Press
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN:
  9780776628608
• eBook ISBN:
  9780776628622
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Social Science Biographies
• Index: Social Sciences

Her goal: to become a world-renowned biomedical engineer working with scientific societies to improve the role of women in scientific fields and the way scientists and engineers integrate people and society into their work. By 1979, this goal had become a reality.

In her memoirs, acclaimed biomedical engineer Monique Frize recalls the events in her life that taught her to overcome obstacles, become more resilient, recognize the importance of mentors and role models, and remain focused on the future. She also speaks of her appreciation of the critical role played by family and friends in maintaining the strength and determination required to succeed. And, above all, to succeed in a man's world.

Frize fondly remembers her youth in Montreal and in Ottawa, and her marked interest for math and science. Her entry into the world of engineering was both romantic—she met her husband—and tragic. She faced prejudice and stereotypes, which she ultimately overcame. She reconciled family and work life, pursuing a challenging and rewarding international career in a very specialized field at a time when this was still very uncommon for a woman. And she relives the tragic Polytechnique massacre.

These memoirs are sure to inspire young women who have a dream, and more specifically those who wish to enter sciences and engineering.

Published in English.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Glossary of Acronyms
• Foreword
• Preface
• Chapter 1 Magic Moments: Young Years
• Chapter 2 The Road to Engineering
• Chapter 3 Transition from University to the Workplace
• Chapter 4 My First Engineering Job
• Chapter 5 A New Beginning
• Chapter 6 The Road to Recognition
• Chapter 7 Back to the Land
• Chapter 8 Life in the Maritimes
• Chapter 9 Global Clinical Engineering Outreach
• Chapter 10 A Period of Ups and Downs in My Career
• Chapter 11 The Winds of Change
• Chapter 12 Striving for Success
• Chapter 13 A National Chair and a Massacre
• Chapter 14 A Response to the Massacre?
• Chapter 15 Hitting the Ground Running: Adventures in Academia
• Chapter 16 A Unique Chair Program
• Chapter 17 The Road to Feminism: The Message and the Media
• Chapter 18 Accelerating the Pace
• Chapter 19 Clinical Engineering Missions in Developing Countries
• Chapter 20 Incidents of Harassment and Sexism
• Chapter 21 Escape and a Time for Renewal
• Chapter 22 Ottawa-Bound
• Chapter 23 Research and Grants
• Chapter 24 Work with the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
• Chapter 25 Merrickville: An Historical Meeting
• Chapter 26 INWES: Successes and Negative Experiences
• Chapter 27 A Battle for Survival
• Chapter 28 Endings and Beginnings
• Chapter 29 Life after Retirement, or a Permanent Sabbatical?
• Chapter 30 Winding Down … Sort of
• Appendix 1: My Legacy: Books and Articles
• Appendix 2: Chronology
• Appendix 3: Excerpt of a December 6 Speech by the Author
• Backcover