The Bold and the Brave investigates how women have striven throughout history to gain access to education and careers in science and engineering. Author Monique Frize, herself an engineer for over 40 years, introduces the reader to key concepts and debates that contextualize the obstacles women have faced and continue to face in the fields of science and engineering. She focuses on the history of women’s education in mathematics and science through the ages, from antiquity to the Enlightenment. While opportunities for women were often purposely limited, she reveals how many women found ways to explore science outside of formal education. The book examines the lives and work of three women –Sophie Germain, Mileva Einstein, and Rosalind Franklin – that provide excellent examples of how women’s contributions to science have been dismissed, ignored or stolen outright. She concludes with an in-depth look at women’s participation in science and engineering throughout the twentieth century and the current status of women in science and engineering, which has experienced a decline in recent years. To encourage more young women to pursue careers in science and engineering she advocates re-gendering the fields by integrating feminine and masculine approaches that would ultimately improve scientific and engineering endeavours.

Monique Frize Ph.D., P. Eng., is Distinguished professor at the Department of Computer and Systems Engineering, Carleton University, and Professor at the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Ottawa. She received countless awards and honors throughout her career. She was made Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering in 1992, Officer of the Order of Canada in 1993, in recognition of being "well-known in the field of biomedical engineering" and for being "a role model and an inspiration for women seeking careers in science.” She received the Gold Medal in 2010 from Professional Engineers Ontario[12] and the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers and became Fellow of Engineers Canada in 2010. In 2013, she was awarded the honour of Fellow of the Canadian Medical and Biological Engineering Society.

Monique Frize's profile page