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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Jan 2025: Control for Safe Robot Navigation
Date: Jan 25, 2025 (Saturday)
Time: 1-2 pm
Grade: 8-12
Location: Virtual over Zoom
Cost: Free
About the Speaker
Minh Bui is a third year PhD student under the supervision of Dr. Mo Chen and Dr. Arrvindh Shriraman with research interests in control theory, robotics, and machine learning. He obtained his master’s degree from SFU and his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from UBC.
About the Talk
In this talk, I will explore the principles of safe control algorithms within the context of robot navigation. These algorithms ensure that robots can operate autonomously while avoiding obstacles and adhering to safety constraints. I will discuss my past and current work in this area with applications in robotic systems.
Feb 2025: Human-centered design of a self-monitoring tool for learning
Date: Feb 22, 2025 (Saturday)
Time: 1-2 pm
Grade: 8-12
Location: Virtual over Zoom
Cost: Free
About the Speaker
Rimika Chaudhury is a final year PhD student in Computer Science, specializing in Human Computer Interaction. Before her graduate studies, Rimika gained professional experience as a technology educator in an Information Technology company and then as a User Experience designer in a financial technology company during her Masters. Besides research, three other things that she loves are - food, cats, and story-telling.
About the Talk
In this presentation, I will talk a bit about my background as a software developer and educator, and talk about what inspired me to pursue the field of human-computer interaction design. Next, I will talk about how human-centered design principles can support the development of more user-friendly software tools. As an example, I will describe the process I followed in my graduate work while developing a self-monitoring tool for learning.
Mar 2025: My journey as a computing science undergrad
Date: Mar 15, 2025 (Saturday)
Time: 1-2 pm
Grade: 8-12
Location: Virtual over Zoom
Cost: Free
About the Speaker
Jin Song is a fourth year computing science (CS) student at SFU! She has been interested in STEM ever since she was a kid—her mom told her that she used to go around with a “Dr. Song” name tag and perform all sorts of science experiments with the limited supplies found in their house. For as long as she remembered, Jin wanted to be an inventor or chemist, but had not, in fact, become a chemist. She is hoping to finish her CS degree soon and is currently working on many side projects.
About the Talk
This presentation will cover my perspective as a CS undergrad student at SFU. I will talk about why I went into CS, what I’ve been learning in my courses, and some projects I have done. I will talk about how CS is a really broad field with applications in pretty much every industry in modern times since we are living in a “digital era.” I will also showcase my most recent project (web publishing site) and go over my workflow as a full stack solo(ish) developer.
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.