STEM Speaker Series
“What should I study in university?”
“What are my career options if I’m interested in STEM?”
“What is university like?”
If you are a Grade 8-12 student and these questions are on your mind, then perhaps this is the right event for you! The STEM Speaker Series provides high school students with the opportunity to learn about STEM topics and careers through the expertise and perspectives of university students, faculty members, and working professionals in STEM fields. During this event, our guest speakers will present and discuss STEM topics that are relevant to their field, their area of research, or the work they do in their profession. They will also talk about their career path and what made them pursue the field they are in. Finally, there will be a Q&A session for students to ask questions and interact with our guest speakers.
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May 2025: Machine Learning in Undergraduate Astrophysics Research
Date: May 24, 2025 (Saturday)
Time: 1-2 pm
Grade: 8-12
Location: Virtual over Zoom
Cost: Free
About the Speaker
Airene Ahuja recently finished her second year as a Physics and Computer Science student at the University of British Columbia. She is also really passionate about astrophysics, and hopes to pursue this subject (specifically cosmology, the study of the universe and how it evolves) after she finishes her degree, applying the computer science skills she learns along the way. Airene did an undergraduate research project last summer at UBC, and will be doing another this summer at McGill University. Some of you might recognize her as part of the Applied Science Youth Committee that helps organize these talks!
About the Talk
In this presentation, I will discuss my journey as a Physics and Computer Science undergraduate at UBC. I'll talk about my research last summer, applying machine learning to studying glitches in gravitational wave data, and the high school experience that made this possible. Additionally, I'll discuss some of the other applications of machine learning in astronomy and astrophysics, as well as what scientific research is like as an undergraduate.
June 2025: Neurotoxins and Nursing Homes: My journey through research and to medical school
Date: June 21, 2025 (Saturday)
Time: 1-2 pm
Grade: 8-12
Location: Virtual over Zoom
Cost: Free
About the Speaker
Sheridan Hamilton (she/her) is a medical student at Dalhousie University in Saint John, NB. Her research experiences span molecular ecology, healthcare access and supports, and public health. She's passionate about palliative care, healthcare for older adults, disability advocacy, and equity and justice in healthcare. Outside of school, she enjoys volunteering at a nursing home, reading, dancing badly, sharing "fun" science facts, and trying new crafts.
About the Talk
I'll talk about my past research experiences in biology (where I studied toxin-producing cyanobacteria and the viruses that infect them) and nursing (looking at access to a palliative approach to care in long-term care facilities and nursing workload during COVID-19 restrictions), and talk about some upcoming research in public health that I'll be doing this summer. I'll also share a bit about my journey to medical school; a (very very brief) overview of the application process, jobs/extracurriculars, interviews, and what it's like to be a medical student.
Contact
If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact the STEM Speaker Series Team at saadmin6@sfu.ca.