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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Apr 2025: Using Sound Waves to Inspect for Cracks in Train Systems
Date: Apr 26, 2025 (Saturday)
Time: 1-2 pm
Grade 8-12
Location: Virtual over Zoom
Cost: Free
About the Speaker
Zhen (Lisa) Li is a PhD student in the Vehicle-Track Interaction Research Group at SFU, supervised by Dr. Kevin Oldknow. She completed her undergraduate degree in Mechatronic Systems Engineering at SFU before diving into research on railway transportation systems. Her work focuses on using sound waves to inspect surface-level damage, such as shallow cracks, in train wheels and tracks. Besides that, Lisa is also interested in clean energy and machine learning.
About the Talk
In this presentation, I will first share my academic journey, from my undergraduate studies in Mechatronic Systems Engineering (MSE) to my PhD research. For this part, I will explain how my initial interest in transportation led me to pursue engineering, what I learned from MSE, and my current focus on railway transportation. Next, I will talk about two essential concepts of my research—surface damage on railway components caused by wheels rolling on the rails and how sound waves can be used to detect these tiny cracks. Then, I will also describe my current work and outcomes.
May 2025: Understanding ALS: The Genetic Mystery Behind TDP-43
Date: May 24, 2025 (Saturday)
Time: 1-2 pm
Grade: 8-12
Location: Virtual over Zoom
Cost: Free
About the Speaker
Josephine Esposto is currently a PhD student in the Environmental and Life Sciences program at Trent University. Her research is focused on protein therapeutics and misfolding in ALS, with an emphasis on the biochemical mechanisms of TDP-43 proteins. Outside of the lab, Josephine enjoys mountain hiking, swimming, and cooking!
About the Talk
This presentation will explore how certain genes, especially those involving the protein TDP-43, contribute to the development of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). We’ll break down the role of TDP-43 in nerve cells and how its malfunction can lead to the loss of muscle control seen in ALS. We will also talk about how research is conducted at the institutional level and a few pathways others have used to get there!
Contact
If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Applied Sciences Youth Committee at saadmin6@sfu.ca.