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engHERO: Isabel Higgon

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What is one thing you wish you knew about engineering when you were in high school?

I wish I knew how diverse the field of Engineering really is. I had a very specific goal in mind when I applied to Engineering. I still have the same goal, but I learned that it’s important to start the program with an open mind, because there are so many exciting paths you can take, and it’s best to take the time to find the one that meets both your interests and personal strengths.

What made you want to pursue engineering?

I am a really creative person, so the idea of being able to work in a field where my job is to create and design useful things that solve problems is so interesting to me. I was also interested in finding a community of peers with similar interests and aspirations. The engineering community is amazing. I have met so many great friends. We all have a lot of fun and keep each other going through hard times like exams!

What branch of engineering is your major and how did you decide on it?

I am in Software Engineering. I took the programming course that all first year students take when I was in grade 12, and I fell in love with coding. There is something amazing about the feeling I get when I run a working program that I created myself, and when I work hard and finally solve a bug in my code to get it working. I also love how diverse software is. You can work in basically any field. Literally almost everything has some sort of code in it. Even things like your refrigerator!

What do you plan on doing with your engineering degree?

I hope to enter the space industry. I have a huge passion for space and I would love to become an astronaut in the future! I am hoping to enrol in a concurrent degree with astrophysics. I have begun a Japanese minor and I would really love to do a semester in Japan. Upon graduation, I hope to work in the space industry and to continue learning to gain more relevant experience in pursuit of my goal!

What advice would you give to a young female who is considering the field of engineering, but isn’t sure if it’s right for them?

I did a number of outreach programs with my university (Western) while I was in high school, and they really helped me learn what engineering was all about. They gave me the opportunity to talk to current students and mentors which helped a lot! I would recommend seeing if there are any programs or open houses at the post secondary institutions you are considering. I learned so much about engineering and the university, as well as many things about student life that weren’t mentioned in the brochures!

Lifelong Friendships Formed Through Women in Engineering

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Women in Engineering (WiE) is a common society within university engineering faculties, providing female engineering students with networking opportunities and exposure to the workforce. While joining WiE seems like an obvious choice for students hoping to develop their professional skills, the group is also an important resource for female students to build a community for themselves in a field where they may feel isolated.

Meet Stella (right) and Chikodili (left), two Mechatronics Engineering students at Ontario Tech University whose lifelong friendship was formed through their school’s Women in Engineering society.

How did you both discover Women in Engineering?

Stella and Chikodili both credit university advisors for introducing them to the Women in Engineering society on campus. They were told that joining the group would give them a way to get involved on campus, meet other female engineering students and participate in fun meetings and events.

How did you two meet?

The two girls first met in the fall of 2019 at the first WiE meeting of the school year. It was almost like a meet and greet party – there was food, music and plenty of opportunities to meet other WiE members in a light-hearted environment. Once the two girls realized that they were in the same program, their friendship blossomed.

Later, through WiE’s Peer Mentorship program, Stella and Chikodili were coincidentally paired together as mentor and mentee. They both share that they are grateful for the stronger connection they got to form as time went on, which was fostered by WiE’s emphasis on meaningful female connections.

What is your favourite part about being a member of Women in Engineering?

Stella’s favourite part about being a member of WiE is the career exposure and connections to industry professionals that members get through their monthly events. One of her favourite memories has been touring ABC Technologies, a world leader in automotive systems and components manufacturing, and getting exposed to the working life of an engineer. Stella also says that being a part of a community where you feel welcomed and like you belong only makes the experience even more amazing.

Chikodili’s favorite part of being a WiE society member is the engagement events, career workshops and outreach programming. She really enjoys meeting new people, developing professional and interpersonal skills, and the sense of community that is present at each event. She also says that it is hard not to enjoy an event when there is food present, which is a WiE staple.

If you could give advice to any future female engineering students who are nervous about finding friends in university, what would you say?

Don’t be afraid and just put yourself out there! There’s a whole community waiting for the awesomeness that you have to bring. Step outside your comfort zone because baby steps do take you a long way. The Women in Engineering society is a great place to start. Not only do you get to meet amazing people, they are experiencing the same student life that you are and serve as a great wealth of knowledge.

Stella and Chikodili both wish you all the best in your future university journey and want to remind you to shine bright like the star you are!

engHERO: Amanda Marshal

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What is one thing you wish you knew about engineering when you were in high school?

When I was in high school, I wish I had more knowledge on the various disciplines beyond the generic answer that civil builds bridges, mechanical builds cars, mechatronics builds robots, etc. The disciplines are all so much more than that and even have specialties within themselves. I think this is important as regardless of what path you take you will specialize at some point and that will determine your long-term career. Engineering itself is very broad and it is crucial to understand the interworking’s of it.

What made you want to pursue engineering?

What I love about engineering are the vast opportunities and options that it offers. A career in engineering is challenging, everchanging, and fast-paced, I personally find that interesting and intriguing. A career in engineering is also reputable as it is a well-respected field and therefore is a profession to be proud of. Also, I knew I would enjoy learning the application of the material as it can be applied to explain how everyday things operate.

What branch of engineering is your major and how did you decide on it?

I chose to major in Electrical Engineering. The decision came after lots of questions, considering countless pros and cons, and a few coin tosses. That said, what it really came down to was what I could see myself doing. While considering all the majors that my university offers, I couldn’t imagine myself 10 years down the road doing anything else.

What do you plan on doing with your engineering degree?

After I graduate, I hope to apply my skills somewhere that I can be challenged while working on something that I enjoy. I hope to eventually end up in a role where I can lead my own team and motivate them to complete meaningful projects.

What advice would you give to a young female who is considering the field of engineering, but isn’t sure if it’s right for them?

If any young female has an interest in math and a field of science, I encourage them to pursue engineering. The variety of disciplines within engineering allow for specialization in an area of specific interest and it is a highly rewarding career path. Within the engineering community, there are many resources and support systems for females in engineering, I would recommend using these resources to meet other females in engineering and to get involved within the community.

5 Ways to Help Reduce Food Waste

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In the past couple of decades, food waste has been identified by a major issue in many countries. According to a study in 2014, the amount of preventable food waste discarded annually in Canada amounted to over $31 billion in losses, with approximately 47% of food waste produced by consumers. 

Food waste food has many environmental, economic and social impacts. For example, when food ends up in the landfill, a greenhouse gas that is 21x more potent than carbon dioxide is produced and enters the atmosphere and it is estimated that these emissions make up 7% of all of the greenhouse gases produced globally. When you waste food that could have been eaten, you are also wasting the natural and human resources that were used to grow, produce, process and transport that food. Therefore, it is important to practice sustainable eating habits to help reduce the effects of food waste. Although there may be larger scale solutions for engineers to design, below are five solutions you could try to incorporate into your lifestyle to help reduce your food waste at home:

  1. Don’t over buy. Keep track of what you’ve bought and used. Check your fridge and cupboards often to remind you of what’s there so you can use your products before the ‘best-before’ dates. 
  2. Eat produce of all shapes and sizes. There have been new produce brands, such as No Name’s ‘Naturally Imperfect’ that sells items that may not appear perfect but have nothing wrong with the taste at a lower cost. This helps eliminate food waste by consuming the misshapen produce that farmers would typically throw away. You can also use ‘imperfect’ foods in products like drinks, jams, hummus, and spreads! 
  3. Plan ahead. Think about what you’re going to cook and how you’ll use the leftovers. If you don’t think you will be able to go through the food in the week, buy it another time!
  4. Food Donation Programs. Sending food to a food donation program can put your surplus of food to good use by helping address food insecurity rather than going to waste. 
  5. Use your freezer. Freezers are a great way to preserve food to eat at a later date! If you don’t think you can use your food in a timely manner, save it for later by using your freezer. 

References: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-reduce-food-wastehttps://changeforclimate.ca/story/the-problem-of-food-waste

Jeanette Epps

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The First Black Woman to Join an International Space Station Crew

ttps://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/jeanette-j-epps/biography

Astronaut Jeanette Epps is making history by joining NASA’s Boeing Starliner-1 mission, planned to take off in 2021.

This is pretty groundbreaking – she will be the first Black woman to be a part of an International Space Station crew as well as the first to spend a prolonged period of time, working and living in space!

Epp’s resume is definitely an impressive one. Originally from Syracuse, New York, she earned a doctorate in aerospace engineering at the University of Maryland in 2000. She went on to work at the CIA for 7 years before joining NASA’s astronaut corps in 2009!

This will be her first journey into space, where she’ll be living for 6 months aboard the International Space Station.

The ISS is a research laboratory in space. It orbits the Earth, and allows it’s partnering countries to run important experiments and tests.

In 2018, Epps was supposed to go on a different ISS mission and had already been trained when NASA took her off of the job without explanation. Normally, astronauts only get replaced for health or family related issues. Many speculated the reason for this, and some, including Epps’ brother, cited racism as the reasoning behind the decision. In a statement afterwards, a NASA spokesperson said “A number of factors are considered when making flight assignments; these decisions are personnel matters for which NASA doesn’t provide information.”

All in all, Jeanette Epps is making major moves at NASA, and has been her entire career. Her hard work and dedication can serve as inspiration to us all!

References

3 Lessons that 2020 Taught STEM Fields

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source: eSchool News

2020 has been an eye-opening year for many of us, teaching us how to work remotely, attend school virtually and communicate with our loved ones from a distance. STEM fields also learned lot this year as they adapted to the global pandemic. Here are a few of the biggest lessons that the world of STEM learned.

The Interdisciplinary Approach

The pandemic has shown us that when we have people of different perspectives and skills coming together, our work is stronger. Take the COVID-19 vaccine, for example. It wouldn’t have been possible without the work of biomedical engineers, chemical engineers, epidemiologists and researchers (to name few!).

We are Adaptable Beings

To think of ourselves in April, when the seriousness of the pandemic was intensifying, we wouldn’t have been able to imagine adapting to this new normal. Whether you took classes from your bedroom, worked from your living room, or attended meetings online, you adapted to a challenging situation in a very short amount of time. You should be proud of yourself!

Why Wait? Start Now.

If you have ever had an interest in STEM, why wait to explore it? The online resources are more abundant than ever (check out ONWie or VEX Code for inspiration), and the importance of science and technology has never been greater! There is an incredible STEM community waiting for you to join.