Assistant Professor Charlene Chu has been named one of Canada’s Top 100 women by the WXN network, a community that aims to showcase the bold influence, impact and thought leadership of women across the country.
Chu received her award as a winner in the BMO STEM category, which recognizes women in STEM roles who are challenging the status quo of knowledge and female empowerment.
“Being named one of Canada’s Top 100 Women is an incredible honor, and it’s a reminder of the importance of designing with people, not just for them. Whether it’s creating technology that truly supports older adults or mentoring women in STEM, I’m passionate about breaking barriers and building a future where everyone’s voice shapes innovation.”
Using digital technology and AI
As a researcher Chu has consistently worked to develop solutions using digital technology and artificial intelligence, to address real-world problems, particularly at the intersection of healthcare and aging. One of her earliest projects involved the co-creation of a gamified assessment tool designed with older adults called the MouvMat. This unique technology funded by the Centre for Aging and Brain Health (CABHI) aimed to help mitigate and assess physical and cognitive decline and was piloted across nursing.
Currently Chu is working on her NSERC funded project to deploy an AI-driven at-home sensor system called MAISON. This system was also co-designed with older adults to support them in their recovery from surgeries, such as hip-replacements, and to help healthy older adults age in place at home.
“Dr. Charlene Chu’s academic and professional contributions demonstrate her innovative thinking and expertise, and embody the spirit of the BMO STEM Award, through her focus on female leadership, innovation, and the advancement of human life involving computer science and artificial intelligence (AI) methods,” says Kelly Metcalfe, associate dean of research and external relations at the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing.
Co-designing technological solutions
As part of her pivotal leadership in STEM related solutions for older adults, Chu focuses on co-designed technological solutions as a key component of her program of research. In 2022, she highlighted “Digital Ageism,” in a paper discussing the impact of digital ageism on older adults, including the biases that occur when AI and technology is designed for older adults without taking their needs into consideration.
“Without co-design in technology the final product can fail in the real world, because it hasn’t accounted for the user experience. If we want to improve the lives of older adults, we need to actively involve them throughout the process,” says Chu.
The WXN Top 100 BMO STEM award also recognizes Chu’s advocacy for women in STEM. Her service includes being a mentor for the interdisciplinary 3-day FIBRE WearableTech Hackathon and presenting to over 1,000 Toronto Catholic District School Board high school students promoting nursing and technology as a rewarding career path. She currently mentors graduate students at the undergraduate, master’s, and PhD level from nursing, rehabilitation sciences, and biomedical engineering, who identify as women and encourages them to pursue STEM focused research. As a leader in digital health care, and throughout her ongoing research, Chu is undoubtedly helping to shape and advance the careers of women in STEM.