We Made a Difference. We Made it Together. WEMADEIT.

STEM

3 Lessons that 2020 Taught STEM Fields

by

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.

Strutting the STEM Runway

by

Photo Credit: Kelly Hofer

We all know that a lot goes into engineering, and there are endless possibilities in the field. But, with all of these options, it’s easy to overlook some of the most exciting ones. Have you ever been interested in fashion, and love STEM just as much? Well, there is a new community and event just for it, that will satisfy your creative hobby with the exciting world of STEM. MakeFashion is an amazing company that showcases the combination of high fashion and the newest tech to create an unforgettable experience. This organization takes engineers, designers, and creators alike and brings them together, to create clothing that is both wearable and decked out with the latest tech as accessories and materials. Let’s take a closer look at this exciting collaboration of professionals!

MakeFashion has an annual gala that takes place in Calgary, Canada and is the largest event this organization holds. Every year at this gala hundreds of creatives gather and are paired with tech whizzes and engineers to create jaw-dropping pieces. Some of these fashion inventions amaze audiences by glowing, and some by moving. All that is guaranteed when taking part in this event is,  you will never see anything else like it. Some of the tech that has walked this runway include; fashion pieces that regulate your body temperature, accessories that monitor your vital signs, and a necklace that begins to glow when the sun goes down.

MakeFashion also runs year wide shows around the world, in North America, and across Europe! Each event takes inspiration from local talent, and local fashion trends to create a unique experience. The best part of these showcases is that technology is involved, however, fashion and aesthetics are weighted equally. Therefore, engineers and designers must work together in perfect harmony to execute pieces that are fit to walk this runway. This sets a great example that other designers and engineers should follow, to collaborate and create together.

MakeFashion doesn’t just hold show-stopping fashion exhibits, but they also run a series of workshops and leadership events meant to inspire the minds of tomorrow. This includes offering in-class lectures for age groups ranging from kindergarten to grade 12! This is an amazing opportunity because it gives the knowledge and power to kids that may not have the opportunity to travel to these fashion shows. The message of STEM and creativity being combined is one that is truly worth spreading to young students. The more collaboration that we encourage, the more discoveries that will be made in the future.

MakeFashion also hosts a series of maker events, that provide kids with hands-on experience creating new and exciting creations that fuse creativity with technology. In these workshops kids are instructed on how to build new tools and creations with every lesson, that will give everyone something wonderful to take home.

Overall MakeFashion’s message is clear through every initiative they have, we need to keep creating and collaborating across every industry. The reasoning behind this is simple, collaboration is beautiful and can lead to amazing products and even fashion pieces. The world of STEM needs more out of the box thinkers, who can create inventions that are suited for the runway and the world!

6 Simple Ways to Get Ahead in STEM

by

  • Eat breakfast everyday: This may seem obvious but a healthy diet and a good breakfast in the morning is essential to starting the day right and having enough fuel to get yourself through those tough math problems!
  • Procrastinate less: The quicker you get your homework done, then the more time you have to recharge! Resting is just as important as working, so by managing your time and getting things done right away you can have fun and still be productive.
  • Keep up with the news: Being obsessed with breaking news isn’t too healthy, but keeping up with your industry, whether that be science, engineering or something else, is a great way to be informed and build those soft skills like writing and communication. Try to read just one article related to your field a day. Or better yet check out some of these podcasts to stay up to date if you’re short on time!
  • Get involved: Joining groups at school is the perfect way to flex your engineering muscles while having fun. Do some math competitions, take debate or even take up a sport to build your focus. Associating hard work with social interaction is a great way to cope with any stress that may come along with engineering.
  • Stay hydrated: Did you know drinking more water can improve your mood, make your skin clearer and make you more productive? So maybe skip the coffee or hot chocolate during your daily Tim Hortons run and opt for a crisp bottle of water instead.
  • Rely on your network: This is essential in the future when looking for a job, but also for your mental health! Having friends or family around that support you and who you can be yourself around is so important for your mental health. Make time for the ones you love and you’ll be so much happier.

Go ENG Girl- Building Confidence in Young Female Engineers

by

Decisions, Decisions.

If you think back to your days in high school, having to figure out your future in your last year can be daunting. Even if you’re somewhat sure of what you want to study, how do you know for sure? How do you go forward feeling confident and ready to take on new challenges? Many females who are attracted to engineering often relate their interest to early maker projects where they had the chance to take-apart and build new creations, and solve creative problems. Many also find support and guidance along the way from a parent or close family member who also has a vested interest or background in engineering.

However, not everyone has access to these opportunities, so solidifying their decision and confidence to pursue an interest in engineering can be challenging. It’s been noted that girls are often more likely than boys to think that engineering is too difficult, and lack confidence in their ability to succeed and persevere- especially so if that support system is non-existent. This is where events like Go ENG Girl come into play.

Keynote speaker Katelyn Poyntz, Manager Project Engineering at St. Michaels Hospital.

The Wonderful World of Engineering

Each year, the University of Waterloo’s Engineering Outreach Department runs an event entitled Go Eng Girl, where over 100 Grade 7-10 girls are engaged in learning all about the wonderful world of engineering and its possibilities. Engineering Outreach’s Women in Engineering branch is lead on the event and passionately believes that every girl should have the opportunity to explore her passion, interest, and options in engineering. Through the event, participants are exposed to a network of peers, families, and role models that help answer questions and demystify concerns and stereotypes.

Panelists and role models answer questions.

From keynote speaker Katelyn Poyntz, Manager Project Engineering at St. Michaels Hospital, who shared her journey through the world of engineering, to a panel of current female engineering students, the event provided participants with a network of role models and an opportunity to ask questions and get inspired. The panelists highlighted their experiences, their successes, struggles, hobbies, and inspirations. It was a great opportunity to show these young girls that the panelists are just like them.

After the panel, participants were engaged in a design challenge which gave them a small glimpse into what engineering is all about. The girls were split up into small teams where they learned about the engineering design process and worked together to solve a problem. Ultimately, the design challenge was a way to empower these young women to experiment, create, and learn the importance of teamwork, failing and perseverance.
While it’s unrealistic to expect that every girl will become an engineer, it is important to show them possibilities they never imagined and help them build the network and support system needed to pursue their passion and get that iron ring.

The Power of Women in STEM: Jin Yan

by

Jin Yan is a postdoctoral scholar in FSU and a product development engineer in General Capacitor Int. LLC. She is also a recipient of the Amelia Earhart Fellowship from Zonta International, a fellowship that gives financial aid to women studying aerospace science. She knows the value of studying science and the importance of women being involved in the STEM field.

WESTERN ENGINEERING – ENGSQUAD

by

Mentors and High school girls pose for a photo during a outing to a rock climbing gym.

Finishing high school and trying to figure out what you want to do with your future can be a scary task.

It may be that you already know what you want to do so the decision is easy, maybe you have a parent who is an engineer and inspires you, or maybe you have had some exposure to a STEM field and found the combination of creativity and innovation in engineering was right for you.

However, for many young women this isn’t always the case. That is why universities around Ontario create programs and events to give young women the opportunity to explore the wonderful world of engineering.

Western Engineering’s “ENGSquad” is one such program. ENGSquad matches female high school students in Grades 9-12 with mentors who are female undergraduate engineering students at Western University.

Over the course of a weekend girls will get to take part in engineering activities to explore how to achieve creative solutions, visit engineering workplaces to see what can be achieved with a career in engineering, and even have a taste of what it is like to attend a university when they stay overnight in a residence.

High school girls work in teams to come up creative solutions to a given challenge.

Both engineering and university can be daunting experiences, but that is why Universities across Ontario are working together to ensure that neither obstacle is too high to overcome.

For more about the ENGSquad mentorship program, visit Western Engineering’s website.