Katie Hart has always been intrigued by the brain. 

Growing up with cystic fibrosis and diabetes, she said the more she learned about what hides within the skull, the more curious a child she became. 

Now a young adult, Hart is a neuroscience major at the University of Alberta. She is also one of 11 NWT recipients of the De Beers Group scholarship recognizing women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Pamela Ellemers is the head of the De Beers Group Canada inclusion and diversity program. She said the scholarship aims to support the communities where the organization works. 

By supporting women in STEM, she said De Beers is working to support gender equality for people who SA国际影视传媒渉opefullySA国际影视传媒� enter their workforce. 

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 good for our company but also good for the North,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e want to make sure we benefit the communities where we operate.SA国际影视传媒�

Since launching in the 2019-2020 academic year De Beers has issued 14 total scholarships with special consideration to Indigenous women, and women from the NWT, Nunavut, and Northern Ontario SA国际影视传媒� places where De Beers operates. 

A three-year partnership focused on inclusion and gender diversity between UN Women, the United Nations organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women, and Scholarships Canada, led to the STEM award's creation.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e really proud to be supporting women in STEM,SA国际影视传媒� Ellemers said. 

The original seven recipients from 2019 are eligible to renew their US $4,800 scholarships through to the 2021-22 school year. In HartSA国际影视传媒檚 2020 cohort, the seven recipients each received US $2,175. De Beers spokesperson Terry Kruger said this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 award is a result of a surplus of funding but is not eligible for renewal in the future.  

Still, Hart said she is SA国际影视传媒渧ery gratefulSA国际影视传媒� for the additional funds helping her pay for her four year program. 

With her degree, she hopes to do research for brain diseases with limited treatment options SA国际影视传媒渁nd hopefully bring that back to the North.SA国际影视传媒�

Since her classes are online, Hart couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 speak specifically to any perceived gender gap in her program, though she said promoting women in science is something sheSA国际影视传媒檇 like to see more of. 

The scholarship helps to SA国际影视传媒渋nspire girls to go into STEM,SA国际影视传媒� she said. 

SA国际影视传媒淒e Beers is really helping to close this gap in science by giving this scholarship and allowing girls to actually go to university and receive degrees in science and eventually go on to careers into what they want.SA国际影视传媒�