Meet Chelsea Brecher

Chelsea Brecher, hiking at Limehouse Conservation Area in Halton Hills, ON taken in front of Black Creek.

Chelsea, currently an Environmental Risk Assessor at WSP Canada Inc., holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences (2020) and a Master’s of Environmental Sciences (2012) from the University of Guelph.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Chelsea enjoys sewing, hiking, and spending quality time with her cats and loved ones.

A fun fact about Chelsea's current role as an Environmental Risk Assessor is her task of determining the likelihood of harm to individuals or organisms due to exposure to environmental chemicals. An intriguing aspect of her work is the understanding that all chemicals can have varying effects on health, depending on the route and level of exposure. Chelsea highlights the principle that "the dose makes the poison," emphasizing the importance of considering all situational factors to assess exposure and determine risk.

When did your love of STEM begin?

My love of STEM began in Grade 10 at St. John’s Kilmarnock school. I attended a field ecology course and knew I wanted to pursue environmental sciences.

What is the best part about working in the field of STEM?

The best part about working in STEM is how empowered I feel every day doing a job that I wouldn’t have thought I could.

What advice would you give young women interested in a career in STEM?

I would give young women interested in a career in STEM to know themselves and understand that difficult does not mean impossible. You don’t have to be the best in class/on paper to excel in real-world science.