Podcast appearances and mentions of danniele livengood

Folks, we have finally done it. We finally interviewed WWEST Chair Dr. Lesley Shannon on Best of the WWEST! Danniele and Lesley dive into many things, including coping during the pandemic and how it is affecting not only women in STEM, but women everywhere; Lesley’s experience in university studying Computer Engineering, and even some fun things in the Lightning Round. You don’t want to miss this episode and learn all about the person behind everything at WWEST. Dr. Lesley Shannon P.Eng is a Professor and Chair for the Computer Engineering Option in the School of Engineering Science at Simon Fraser University. Dr. Shannon studies computer systems design. She works in a rapidly growing field that combines custom computing hardware and software to design and implement application-specific computer systems for applications in a wide range of areas including robotics, machine learning, aerospace and biomedical systems, multimedia applications, and cloud computing. For a full transcription of this episode, click here. Relevant Links: Geri's Game Knotology Lesley's bio at SFU Lesley's bio at WWEST Lesley's personal website Luddites Dr. Paul Chow University of New Brunswick University of Toronto Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Jennifer Flanagan is an inspirational leader for girls and women in STEM, and in this episode, you are sure to be just that - inspired! She joins WWEST manager and podcast host Danniele to give insights into how it benefits all of us to support women, girls, and Indigenous communities in STEM; how she founded Actua, an organization that inspires future innovators; and she asks and explores the important question "How does a context and environment need to change to be more welcoming and accepting of girls and women?" Jennifer Flanagan is the co-founder, President and CEO of Actua. Actua is a national charitable organization that engages Canadian youth in transformational experiences in STEM and contributes significantly to future innovation in Canada. Jennifer leads this national network of university-based organizations across Canada that deliver interactive STEM programs annually engaging 225,000 youth in 500 communities. (Please excuse any audio hiccups in this remotely recorded interview.) Relevant Links: Actua Concordia University InSTEM: Actua's Indigenous STEM programs Master of Management, McGill University Dr. Monique Frize, Carleton University (first NSERC Chair for Women in Science and Engineering in the Atlantic Region from 1997 to 2004) University of New Brunswick Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Anne Simonen joins Best of the WWEST host and WWEST manager Danniele in this episode and is keeping it real by telling us about her journey from being a student who wasn't strong in math to a civil engineering technologist who is supporting really important projects in wastewater treatment. She explains why civil engineering and water treatment are super relevant right now, how making big mistakes don't have to cost your career and are great learning experiences, and gives us a glimpse into her life outside of work in the lightning round. Anne Simonen is a civil engineering technologist at KWL in Nelson, BC. She mostly works on projects that help get safe drinking water to people’s houses, and the wastewater that goes down drains be safely disposed of, but her favourite part of work is working with contracts and construction. WWEST and Best of the WWEST would like to thank the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC) for connecting us with the individual profiled above. Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC) is leading the Advancing Women in Engineering and Technology Project, a Sector Labour Market Partnership project, funded through the Canada-BC Workforce Development Agreement. The project’s goal is to increase the participation of women in the engineering, geoscience, technology and technician occupations through the implementation of diversity and inclusion strategies to recruit, retain and support career development of women to lead a system level cultural shift within these professions. For more information on ASTTBC, please visit www.asttbc.org (Please excuse any audio hiccups in this remotely recorded interview.) Relevant Links: Anne on LinkedIn BCIT Diploma in Civil Engineering BCIT Women in Engineering Girl Guides of Canada GLOWS (Growing & Learning Opportunities With STEAM) Small Game Hunting at the Local Coward Gun Club (book by Megan Gail Coles) Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Working in technology, construction, and engineering often is portrayed in just one way, but Rebecca Sorbara is here to tell us that there are many rewarding non-conventional careers in these fields. She joins Danniele, WWEST manager and Best of the WWEST host, to get nerdy about building science. Everyone comes into contact with buildings every day, and Rebecca explains why her passion for keeping buildings dry and keeping walls doing what they do best is so important. Plus, she tells us all about sustainability and answers the question “what is a passive house?” Rebecca Sorbara is the Director of Building Science at McCuaig and Associates Engineering. She leads a team of engineering professionals and oversees the development and implementation of organizational quality control processes. Rebecca is an Applied Science Technologist with 18 years of experience in building science and project management. WWEST and Best of the WWEST would like to thank the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC) for connecting us with the individual profiled above. Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC) is leading the Advancing Women in Engineering and Technology Project, a Sector Labour Market Partnership project, funded through the Canada-BC Workforce Development Agreement. The project’s goal is to increase the participation of women in the engineering, geoscience, technology and technician occupations through the implementation of diversity and inclusion strategies to recruit, retain and support career development of women to lead a system level cultural shift within these professions. For more information on ASTTBC, please visit www.asttbc.org (Please excuse any audio hiccups in this remotely recorded interview.) Relevant Links: Construction Management at British Columbia Institute of Technology Energy step codes McCuaig & Associates Passive houses Trickster Drift (book by Eden Robinson) WinSETT (Canadian Centre for Women in Science, Engineering, Trades and Technology) Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

How does Sheryl Cumming, Professional Engineer with the Metro Vancouver Regional District’s Planning and Environment Department “pay it back” into the world with her work? For starters, she is a mentor to other women in STEM and leads by example. In this episode, she tells host Danniele how she transitioned from the Philippines into her schooling in Canada, leading to a career she pursues with passion. She also shares advice with future generations of STEM professionals and gives us a glimpse into the local and regional work she is a part of to make sure those in the Lower Mainland can adapt to climate change successfully. Sheryl Cumming works as a professional engineer at Metro Vancouver Regional District’s Planning and Environment Department in the Air Quality and Climate Change Division. Her experiences combined led her to her current work, trying to save the world (or at the very least, help prepare the region) through her role in the development of Metro Vancouver's regional climate action strategy called Climate 2050. WWEST and Best of the WWEST would like to thank the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC) for connecting us with the individual profiled above. Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC) is leading the Advancing Women in Engineering and Technology Project, a Sector Labour Market Partnership project, funded through the Canada-BC Workforce Development Agreement. The project’s goal is to increase the participation of women in the engineering, geoscience, technology and technician occupations through the implementation of diversity and inclusion strategies to recruit, retain and support career development of women to lead a system level cultural shift within these professions. For more information on ASTTBC, please visit www.asttbc.org (Please excuse any audio hiccups in this remotely recorded interview.) Relevant Links: Advancing Women in Engineering and Technology (AWET) Air Quality & Climate Change, Metro Vancouver Climate 2050, Metro Vancouver Immigrant Employment Council of BC Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

In our first Best of the WWEST episode in partnership with ASTTBC (Applied Science Technologists & Technicians of British Columbia) and the Advancing Women in Engineering and Technology project, Best of the WWEST host Danniele welcomes Erin Karaim to the podcast. Erin tells us all about what it’s like to be a draftsperson - the ins and outs of her education and her career creating technical drawings for engineering projects. You’ll hear why being a technologist/technician is a very rewarding career option in STEM. But don’t worry, it's not all about work - you’ll also learn fun facts about Erin in the lightning round. Erin Karaim is a civil engineering technician at WSP in the sectors of Architecture and Construction, Engineering, and Technology. Erin completed a 1-year drafting certificationin Computer Aided Design and Drafting at Kwantlen College in Surrey, BC. Her work varies from pipe plans and profiles, to road design and ditching and she works with engineers all over the country. WWEST and Best of the WWEST would like to thank the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC) for connecting us with the individual profiled above. Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC) is leading the Advancing Women in Engineering and Technology Project, a Sector Labour Market Partnership project, funded through the Canada-BC Workforce Development Agreement. The project’s goal is to increase the participation of women in the engineering, geoscience, technology and technician occupations through the implementation of diversity and inclusion strategies to recruit, retain and support career development of women to lead a system level cultural shift within these professions. For more information on ASTTBC, please visit www.asttbc.org (Please excuse any audio hiccups in this remotely recorded interview.) Relevant Links: Diploma in Computer-Aided Design and Drafting (Kwantlen Polytechnic University) Drafter (Wikipedia) Quadra Island, BC WSP Global, Inc. Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Yuka Takemon joins Best of the WWEST host Danniele in a socially-distanced interview to talk all about bioinformatics and why research in the field can give quick rewards. Yuka also dives into her identity as a member of the LGBTQIA and STEM communities and the importance of being visible in both. Plus, she reveals how she kicks stress to the curb and other fun facts during the lightning round! Yuka Takemon is a PhD Student in the Genome Science and Technology program at the University of British Columbia. Yuka is also a member of Marra Lab at Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer, where she conducts her research. Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

This time on the podcast, Danniele introduces us to a very special guest - her wife, Claris. Danniele asks Claris about her work as a the Consultancy Director of Silverstring Media, a small video game studio in Vancouver, BC. You'll hear video game recommendations (perfect for social distancing), Claris' view on the importance of storytelling not just in video games but in society at large, and so much more. Plus, you'll get a taste of the music Claris has produced in quarantine! Stay safe everyone, and don't forget to wash your hands! Claris Cyarron is the co-founder of Silverstring Media, a small videogame studio in Vancouver, BC that also offers narrative consulting and expertise for hire. Claris is a storyteller, multi-disciplinary designer, and an ever-aspiring adventurer. Relevant Links:   Cosmo D Cribbage with Grandpas Dark Souls The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Nathalie Lawhead Off-Peak Silverstring Media   Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Mitzi Dean, MLA for Esquimalt-Metchosin and British Columbia Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity, has 3 main priorities: Tackling gender-based violence, getting rid of systemic barriers, and economic and political empowerment of girls and women. In this episode with WWEST manager and podcast host Danniele, PS Dean tells us why women in STEM are important to the BC government (because they very much are), how her favourite part of her job is meeting so many amazing women, and gives us a glimpse into her journey being elected an MLA and appointed Parliamentary Secretary. Mitzi Dean was elected as MLA for Esquimalt-Metchosin in 2017, and was appointed the Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity in February 2018. Parliamentary Secretary Dean grew up in southeast England and has spent the last 30 years helping the most vulnerable people in our community. Relevant Links: Girl, Woman, Other (book by Bernardine Evaristo) Mitzi Dean on Facebook Mitzi Dean at the Legislative Assembly Mitzi Dean on Twitter WWEST blog post on Gender-Based Analysis Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

In this episode, WWEST manager and Best of the WWEST host Danniele speaks to Lieutenant Commander Calley Gray, Marine Systems Engineer Officer in the Royal Canadian Navy. She gives us all a rare glimpse into what it's like to be a woman in the Navy and the amazing and big strides the Armed Forces have taken to create a more diverse and equal landscape. LCdr Gray also gets nerdy about naval architecture in the best way, tells us fascinating stories of the work the Navy does to make the world a better place, and how her time in the Royal Military College of Canada shaped her into the Lieutenant Commander she is today. Lieutenant Commander Calley Gray is a Marine Systems Engineering Officer in the Royal Canadian Navy and she specializes in Naval Architecture. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Royal Military College of Canada and a double Master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture. Relevant Links: Canadian Forces Sports External Review into Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Harassment in the Canadian Armed Forces (Deschamps Report) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Operation HONOUR Royal Military College of Canada Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Which career allows you to marry environmentalism and data science? Being a quality manager at an engineering firm! Louise Wilkinson is our guest on the podcast for this episode, and she shares how she ended up in her dream job after working full time while in university. You’ll also hear how her initial choice of career was drastically different from where she ended up, how her fur baby is her best support; and she gives us hope for a present and future where companies are focusing on the environmental impacts of their work. Louise Wilkinson has 20 years of industry experience predominantly in laboratory operations and quality assurance, and is now working in corporate sustainability as well as quality assurance - focusing on utilizing her research skills, and love of excel to calculate corporate greenhouse gas emissions for a multi-national firm. She has worked in a variety of industries throughout her career; from polymers to pharmaceutical, food and supplements, animal feed and cosmetics, to healthcare and technology and now in built environment systems engineering. Relevant links: Integral Group Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions The Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST)   Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

In this episode of Best of the WWEST, podcast host and WWEST manager Danniele will introduce you to the 7 women who are featured in WWEST's new photography project, "In Plain Sight." This project is a photojournalistic look at the lives and careers of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields, where they are often overlooked. Women are underrepresented in these fields and are rarely seen in the media as STEM professionals. Deanna Flinn, of Free Admission Photography, has captured the aspects of these women's lives that are not often seen as congruent with a career in a STEM field. For this episode, these 7 featured women speak about family, community, advocacy, collaboration, and mentorship. Featured in the exhibition and in this episode are Lianna Mah, P.Eng.; Leigh Joseph (Stayawat), Dr. Sheryl Staub-French, P.Eng.; Edoye Porbeni, Dr. Tammara Soma, Humaira Ahmed, and Christin Wiedemann. Find their bios at WWEST's website. You can visit this exhibition at Science World in Vancouver, BC, from March 4th to April 17th, 2020. Find photographer Deanna Flinn's work at DeannaFlinn.com and FreeAdmission.ca Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Leila Abutaleb joins WWEST manager and podcast host Danniele to get nerdy about digital communication. She shares her journey starting as a contractor to a full time employee managing a communications team and how technology has always been the underpinning in her career. You'll also hear her very relatable story of how stress forced her to refocus and realign with her goals and how this experience changed her career for the better. Leila Abutaleb is a digital communications manager at BC Hydro. Leila studied Communications at Simon Fraser University and is Nielsen Norman UX certified. She works with developers, designers, and engineers to improve user experience on the web, E-mail, and social channels. Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Girls to the Power of Math is a girl-to-girl math mentorship program, and it was all born out of research into whether gender influences confidence in math for elementary students. This program was started by Alexa Bailey, and she's our guest for this episode. She tells host Danniele about what it's like to be a girl with an interest in STEM in high school, what she hopes to accomplish with Girls to the Power of Math, and shares her frustration at the bias she has experienced as a girl even at school. If you want some extra inspiration, you're going to love this episode. Alexa Bailey is a grade 9 student with a love of math, who decided to do some research into whether gender influences confidence in math for elementary students from kindergarten to grade 7. Once she identified this confidence gap, she was determined to help find a solution. Alexa started the Girls to the Power of Math program, which provides girl to girl math mentorship that includes fun, creative, and interactive activities to boost girls’ confidence in math. Relevant Links All the Light We Cannot See (book), Anthony Doerr Engendering Success in STEM (ESS) "Girls to the Power of Math," by Alexa Bailey, Medium Girls to the Power of Math Instagram Girls to the Power of Math YouTube The Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST)   Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Danniele Livengood, Iszi Lawrence and Kathy Campbell gather around the podcasting fire to talk about their origin story, the differences between the US and the UK, and…just listen to it, ok? It’s a good one. Host Kathy Campbell with Danniele Livengood and Iszi Lawrence.

WWEST manager and Best of the WWEST host Danniele talks to Mary-Jane Piggott, Senior Water Resources Engineer, about why she came to Canada from Australia, how the arts can intersect with STEM, and how her job lets her travel to really cool places. Plus, you’ll find out where you can see the evidence of a water resources engineer’s work in everyday life and Mary-Jane offers some really great advice for STEM students and professionals. Mary-Jane Piggott is the North America Regional Manager of the Mining and Environment Group at Klohn Crippen Berger or KCB. Mary-Jane is a Senior Water Resources Engineer who specialises in stormwater management with 20 years’ experience in Australia, Canada, the USA and South America in investigation, design and project management of mining, civil and water resource projects. She manages the North America region of KCB’s Mining Environmental Group and enjoys being part of a team of experienced scientists and engineers. Outside of work she enjoys camping, photography and spending time with family and friends. Relevant Links: Best of the WWEST interview with Lianna Mah Klohn Crippen Berger "Madame Secretary" (TV show) What is an engineer of record? Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

This time, WWEST manager and podcast host Danniele speaks with Dr. Sharona Gordon, a professor at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine who is making waves with her various projects, including Below the Water Line, whose mission is to combat sexual harassment in academia. Dr. Gordon also explains her fascinating research into chronic pain, and her passion for everything she does is palpable in this episode. You don’t want to miss it. Dr. Sharona Gordon is a professor of Physiology & Biophysics at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Dr. Gordon has a deep understanding of the environment and challenges in academic science. She has chaired the Board of Scientific Councilors of the National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute of the National Institute of Health; serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of General Physiology, chaired the program for the Biophysical Society Meeting, an international scientific conference with over 10,000 attendees; and founded Below the Waterline, a grassroots organization working to implement the recommendations of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicines report on Sexual Harassment. Relevant Links: Dr. Anita Zimmerman, Brown University Below the Waterline Gordon Lab, University of Washington "Hit the Ground Running: A professional development program for post-doctoral scholars," 2018, Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training How to be an Anti-Racist (book), Ibram X. Kendi Restorative Justice "Sexual Harassment of Women: Climate, Culture, and Consequences in Academic Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine," The National Acadmies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2018 Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

We've heard it time and time again: Don't read the comments. Except today, WWEST manager Danniele speaks with Dr. Maite Taboada, a professor in linguistics at Simon Fraser University, who actually takes time out of her day to read and study those very comments online. In this episode you'll hear all about her work with Informed Opinions on the Gender Gap Tracker, a tool that tracks in real time the number of women and men quoted in major news platforms, plus Maite's journey that took her to computational linguistics at SFU. Maite Taboada is a Professor in the Department of Linguistics at Simon Fraser University. Her research combines discourse analysis and computational linguistics, with an emphasis on discourse relations and sentiment analysis. Relevant Links: Discourse Processing Lab Gender Gap Tracker Informed Opinions Maite's Publications Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Life sciences is not a widely understood area of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), but Wendy Hurlburt is here to set the record straight. She tells host Danniele about her hopes to establish life sciences as a vital part of the economy and talks all about how LifeSciences BC is a networking hub that advocates for many stakeholders. But Wendy and Danniele don't just talk shop - you'll also find out about Wendy's personal life, including how she manages work/life balance and her favourite activities. Wendy Hurlburt is the President and CEO of LifeSciences BC. She is a career executive with more than 20 years of Global Finance, Operations and Compliance experience in the healthcare and technology sectors. Relevant Links: Lexmark LifeSciences BC Wendy on LinkedIn Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

In this episode, we hear from Vienna Lam, a graduate researcher and the Lab Manager at the SFU Centre for Forensic Research and School of Criminology. She tells host Danniele about her love for learning, which took her from a bachelor degree to a second bachelor degree to a master's degree. You'll hear about her passion for the whole research cycle as well as strategic planning, and you'll even learn what it was like for her to find her first human remains while on an excavation in Fiji, plus much more. Vienna Lam is the Lab Manager and a graduate researcher at Simon Fraser University’s (SFU) Centre for Forensic Research and School of Criminology. Vienna’s forensic anthropology research is on the decompositional effects of lake submerged skeletal material and works with the Canadian Drowning Prevention Coalition to examine aquatic deaths in Canada using geospatial tools. Relevant Links: Best of the WWEST Interview with Dr. Gail Anderson (Criminology) British Columbia Coroner Dr. David V. Burley (Simon Fraser University) Forensic Taphonomy International Student Research Forum KonMari (Marie Kondo) Publications & Research by Vienna Lam World Health Organization Drowning Report 2015 Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Elyssa Manis has built her company NavaWeb from the ground up, and tells WWEST manager Danniele all about it in this episode. She gives advice for those who are interested in being their own bosses, talks about the positive impact she hopes her work has on the world, and gets nerdy about why she loves web design. Plus, you'll find out about all the great ways to learn digital marketing and web design online and Elyssa answers the question - just what is a "funnel?" Elyssa Manis is the founder of NavaWeb, a one stop shop creative design and digital marketing Agency. She has been a freelance web technologies expert for the past 22+ years and has a strong passion for design and tech in her professional life. Relevant Links: Bissli & Brutus (Instagram) Cathy Olson Create Your Laptop Life The Digital Gangsta Geocities Moist Ophelia: A Moist Page The Pomodoro Technique Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

WWEST manager Danniele had the opportunity to speak with two aircraft engineers from the Red Arrows, the aerobatics display team of the British Royal Air Force. Flight Lieutenant Alicia Mason and Corporal Lydia Ford share what it's like being the only two women currently in the Red Arrows circus, where their current tour is taking them, and how they were able to pursue their dream jobs. A junior Engineering Officer, Alicia Mason's Circus duties include being a resource manager, military commander and professional engineer. This is her third season with the Red Arrows. From Cannock, Staffordshire, Lydia Ford joined the Royal Air Force in 2008 and started her career working on the Tornado GR4, before joining the Red Arrows in 2017. Relevant Links: A-Levels British Royal Air Force "Queen's Birthday: Red Arrows fly over Buckingham Palace," Newsflare The Red Arrows Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

This week Andrea and Alicen talk to Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology manager, Danniele Livengood, about mental health in the workplace and how you can support both your employees and yourself.  Theme song by Tyson Kerr. Resource List:  Mental health in the workplace stats

What is it like to release a mobile game from start to finish? How does game design foster collaboration? Is there space for the silly and strange in the video game sphere? This week's guest, Leanne Roed, answers all of these questions with WWEST manager and podcast host Danniele, and also tells us about the windy road that led her to where she is as a game designer and artist today. Leanne Roed is a game designer and artist living in Vancouver, BC, Canada. She has worked for several years in the games industry primarily in the mobile space and as an independent game developer.  Relevant Links: Alt Games Vancouver Anemone Hug Interactive Cribbage with Grandpas Game Curious Heart Projector Itch.io I Was a Teenage Exocolonist (game), Northway Games Justin Smith Lan's website Sword & Sorcery (board game) Vancouver Film School's game design program   Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Lianna Mah has seen big change at Associated Engineering in her 29 years of being part of the organization. She tells us about the changes she has seen around diversity and inclusion not only at Associated, but in engineering in general. You'll learn about how mentors are an extremely important part of increasing diversity in an organization, along with tips about entering the workforce and thriving in university. Lianna also tells us about the achievements she's had in her career as an environmental engineer. Lianna Mah is the Vice President of Business Development at Associated Engineering, where she is responsible for business development, marketing, and communications. Lianna is an Environmental Engineer with more than 30 years of experience. As a design engineer and project manager, she specialized in the planning, assessment, design and construction of water and wastewater treatment and civil infrastructure projects. Her experience includes projects across Canada and in the Caribbean.  Relevant Links: Associated Engineering Association of Consulting Engineering Companies British Columbia (ACEC-BC) "Bright minds recall darkness of Polytechnique massacre," Montreal Gazette, 2018 Commercial Drive, Vancouver Engineers and Geoscientists BC Lianna on LinkedIn Marg Lathum, chair of WinSETT Centre (Canadian Centre for Women in Science, Engineering, Trades and Technology) Women in Engineering and Geoscience Division (formerly DAWEG), Engineering & Geoscientists British Columbia WWEST University of British Columbia Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Deborah Harford calls herself a "science translator," and tells us all about what that means in this episode. She gives background on the organization she co-founded, the Climate Change Adaptation Team (ACT), explains how studying how animals and humans will have to adapt to climate change is extremely important, and also how her communication and English background factors into this organization that intersects with so many research areas. But it's not all serious - she reveals some non-work related details of her life in the Lightning Round as well. Deborah Harford leads research into adaptation to a range of climate change impact areas, spanning water, food, health, biodiversity, energy, infrastructure, and population displacement with the Adaptation to Climate Change Team or ACT. ACT’s focus includes integrated climate solutions that advance low carbon resilience and co-benefits. Relevant Links: An Inconvenient Truth (film) The Climate Change Adaptation Team The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable (book) Dr. Nancy Olewiler The Paris Agreement Pasture to Plate Reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Dr. Richard G. Lipsey Royal Academy of Dramatic Art The SFU Summer Semester in Dialogue Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Tara Robertson, Diversity & Inclusion Lead for Mozilla, is a diversity champion. In this episode, you'll learn about her passion for an open internet, and why jobs in tech are "awesome." Tara candidly admits she still has a lot to learn, but also talks about her proudest moments and accomplishments. You're going to hear about a lot of things an organization is doing right when it comes to diversifying their workplace and supporting their people. Plus, you'll find out how she lifts heavy things - both for fun and for work. Tara Robertson is an intersectional feminist who uses data and research to advocate for equality and inclusion. Currently working as the Diversity & Inclusion Lead for Mozilla, she has more than 10 years experience making open source and tech communities more diverse and welcoming. Relevant Links: Aubrey Blanche Berkeley Lab - Diversity & Inclusion Firefox Firefox Monitor Highland Games "How to Support Your Transgender Employees," Forbes, April 28, 2019 Lizzo Mozilla Pocket (by Mozilla) Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

This time, we look at the trades again and speak with Nemaiah Shaw, who tells us why she loves being an apprentice aircraft maintenance engineer, what it takes to become one, and her excitement for her eventual licensing. She also tells us what it's like navigating a career with low participation of women, her love for learning, and her hopes for the future of her career. Nemaiah Shaw is an apprentice Aircraft Maintenance Engineer with a passion for rotary wing aircraft working at the Langley Airport. As a student Nemaiah had a passion for the subject and it showed in both her academic and practical work. She continues to display this drive and is using her time as an apprentice to gain insight from her colleagues. As an active intersectional feminist and queer person Nemaiah brings a unique perspective to her workplace. She works to create a healthy and welcoming workspace for all. Relevant Links: Bessie Coleman Hozier Langley Regional Airport Northern Lights College Obtaining an aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) licence Queer ASL Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Ella Chan joins host Danniele to talk about all sorts of topics, including starting university and the importance of balancing the A in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics). She tells us about how she became interested in a career in STEAM and even what it's like behind the scenes of her YouTube channel, Sci-Files. Plus, she reveals the nerdy things she does in her spare time and gives great advice for those starting out in university. Fun fact: Ella was also a keynote speaker at Creating Connections 6.0 on May 4, 2019. Ella Chan is an 18-year-old student at the University of British Columbia. Since the age of twelve, Ella has been running her YouTube channel, Sci-Files, where she shares unique science experiments and demonstrations of topics from binary code using Lego blocks to genetics explained with jelly beans. Her videos have been featured on platforms such as "The Kid Should See This" and the Chicago Field Museum's "The Brain Scoop." Relevant Links:  Alix Dainis: Life, Lab, and DNA (YouTube) "B.C. Grade 12 student wins prestigious scholarship, hopes to study brother's illness," CBC, May 27, 2018 The Brain Scoop (YouTube) Ella's Twitter NephCure Kidney International Nephrotic syndrome Sci-Files on Facebook Sci-Files on YouTube Science Venture STEAM Horizon Awards UBC Thunderbirds Quidditch Sports Club The University of British Columbia   Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

For Ellyne Kinney, her curiosity and drive to have a successful career started early, and you'll hear all about it in this interview with Best of the WWEST host Danniele. She relives her time working on big deal astronomy projects (Hubble Space Telescope and Goddard Space Flight Center to name-drop just a couple), tells us about her fascination with space, and gives advice on how to be successful both in post-secondary school and in STEM careers.  Ellyne Kinney is a senior solutions engineer of Earth Observations Systems at MDA. Ellyne joined MDA in May 2018 and develops the technical solutions for software systems and space missions for MDA’s customers in Earth Observation and Space Missions Line of Business.    Relevant Links: Five College Consortium, Massachusetts, USA Goddard Space Flight Center Hubble Space Telescope Intelsat Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die (book) MDA Mount Holyoke College OSIRIS-REx - Asteroid Sample Return Mission Terra Bella What Works For Women at Work (book) Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

In this episode, Rike Moon tells Danniele about her journey from a farm in Germany to her career at Science World in Vancouver. Rike gives great advice for STEM students and professionals, takes us down memory lane to explain how she overcame crippling exam anxiety, and gives us a glimpse into her non-professional life during the Lightning Round. Plus, you will never guess her most memorable moment at Science World - trust us, you just have to hear it.  Rike Moon is the Manager of STEAM Mentor Initiatives at Science World. She has worked in the science museum industry ever since and loves sharing her passion for science with all learners. As a member of the LGBTQ2S+ community she has become an advocate for diversity and inclusion at Science World.  Relevant Links: 50 First Dates (movie) BodyWorks Gallery at Science World Canadian Harambe Education Society Collette (movie) Habitat for Humanity LGBTSTEM Day Queering the Museum Project Rike on LinkedIn Science World British Columbia Universität Kassel   Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

This time, Danniele hears from Ania Kwiatkowski, PhD, a nuclear physicist at TRIUMF who is passionate about her work. She talks about the friendly competitiveness of her field, and why she loves nuclear physics so much. You'll hear about how she is working in her dream job, and the advice she has for students to get them to their dream jobs, too. Ania Kwiatkowski is a research scientist at TRIUMF and adjunct faculty at the University of Victoria in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. She focuses on understanding the ground-state properties of radioactive ions using ion-trapping techniques. Relevant Links:    "A. Kwiatkowski Awarded the Freedman Award," Michigan State University Ania's research while affiliated with TRIUMF High-resolution mass spectrometry Ion trapping Quantum Computing Rapid neutron-capture process (Wikipedia) TITAN at TRIUMF TRIUMF Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Host Danniele is joined by Mily Mumford to talk about scifi, bridging theatre and science, and the study of psychological effects of being in space. Mily tells us why she wants to be the "Black Mirror" of theatre and her passion for mental health awareness and support. She also gives advice for students and women in STEM that you don't want to miss.  Mily Mumford is a writer, filmmaker, theatre creator and scientist based in Vancouver BC. After completing her Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience at the University of Victoria, Mily is now pursuing a Master of Science in Interactive Technology at Simon Fraser University where she does work on virtualized health systems for long term space travel. Her production company, Nebula Company, focuses on immersive theatre, film and new media with a political, science fiction lens. Relevant Links:     Banff Centre "Black Mirror" Global Brigades Mily on the Internet Movie Database Mily on LinkedIn Nebula Company Theatre Southern Reach trilogy (books)   Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

From being the first employee at her current workplace, to growing a startup, to managing a team that is creating a revolutionary "blood pressure cuff for your brain," Pamela Tannouri tells host Danniele all about her journey through her career. She shares her wins, challenges she's had to overcome, and the progress her team has made in the development of their medical device. Pamela also shares some tips about maintaining work/life balance and Danniele and Pamela close the episode off with a lively lightning round. Pamela Tannouri is the Technology Development Manager and cultural champion for HealthTech Connex. She works with her team of biomedical engineers, software developers and researchers in order to commercialize medical devices that impact the way we approach neurology.  Relevant Links:   Brain Power Score Future Science Leaders at Science World HealthTech Connex How to Change Your Mind (book) by Michael Pollan Love Your Brain Yoga NeuroCatch Platform Pamela on LinkedIn The Untethered Soul (book) by Michael A. Singer Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

In this episode, you'll hear from Monika Stachura, PhD, about her career as a research scientist and her important work coordinating the UBC program IsoSiM (Isotopes for Medicine and Science) at the University of British Columbia. She also fills us in on how to have a successful interdisciplinary career and how STEM research is heading in a more interdisciplinary direction. Plus, she tells us about her active life outside of work, what she would do if she weren't in her current field, and how to use your network to make connections and thrive. Please note a small correction: Monika has obtained a double-PhD in Bioinorganic Chemistry and Biophysics. Dr. Monika Stachura is a research scientist in the life sciences division at TRIUMF. Dr. Stachura has 2 Master of Science degrees, one in biophysics from the University of Copenhagen Denmark and the second in physics from the AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow, Poland. She also obtained 2 PhD degrees from the University of Copenhagen in bioinorganic chemistry and in biophysics. From 2012 to 2015, she was permanently placed at the European Organization of Nuclear Research, also known as CERN, in Geneva, Switzerland, where she was working with nuclear probes applied to biology, chemistry, and medicine. In 2015, she moved to TRIUMF to be a postdoc fellow at the Centre for Molecular and Material Sciences or CMMS, where she took a leadership role on implementing her research that she started at CERN. Relevant Links:   European Organization of Nuclear Research (CERN) IsoSiM at UBC NSERC CREATE (Collaborative Research and Training Experience Program) Role of Copper in the Onset of Alzheimer's Disease TRIUMF: Canada's particle accelerator centre "Universal stardust helps explain why we get sick: nuclear physicist," The Vancouver Star, May, 2018 Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.    

Danniele sits down with Jennifer Jakobi, PhD, newly appointed WWEST Associate Chair at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. They cover subjects such as how to give students the opportunity to empower themselves, what Jennifer does as the WWEST Associate Chair, why she's so fascinated by her neuromuscular research, and what can help STEM professionals move forward in their careers successfully. Dr. Jennifer Jakobi is an associate professor at the School of Health and Exercise Sciences and Associate Dean of Academic Programs for the Faculty of Health and Social Development at the University of British Columbia's Okanagan Campus. She is also our recently announced WWEST Associate Chair at UBC Okanagan. Relevant Links: Healthy Exercise and Aging Lab (Dr. Jakobi, Dr. Jones, UBC Okanagan) iSTAND on Facebook iSTAND on Instagram iSTAND on Twitter Motor units (Wikipedia) Neuromuscular junction (Wikipedia) The Crown WWEST Associate Chair at UBCO Press Release WWEST Associate Chair at UBCO Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

In this episode, we hear from Leigh Joseph about collaborative work at a community level, observing people out on the land and learning their stories that connect them to their place. Leigh talks about how having a more Indigenous presence in ethnobotany is key to community collaboration, and how researching traditional Indigenous plant medicine can help Indigenous communities return to their cultural practices and build a foundation for healing and self-care at a community and cultural level. Leigh Joseph (Styawat) is an ethnobotanist, researcher and community activist. She is from the Squamish First Nation and she works to contribute to cultural knowledge renewal in connection to traditional plant foods and medicines. Her research takes a community-based approach and is influenced by her experience as an Indigenous woman reconnecting to her cultural roots. Wherever possible she draws on ancestral teachings that are connected to traditional plants and the land in her research. Relevant Links: As We Have Always Done (book), Leanne Betasamosake Simpson Dr. Nancy Turner, University of Victoria Finding our roots: ethnoecological restoration of lhasem (Fritillaria camschatcensis (L.) Ker-Gawl), an iconic plant food in the Squamish River Estuary, British Columbia by Leigh Joseph, University of Victoria, 8/28/2012 "Indigenous stories lead scientist to discover plants can hear" - CBC, Quirks & Quarks, August 4, 2017 Northern rice root The Residential School System Snuneymuxw First Nation (Nanaimo) Squamish Nation (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw) Tahltan Band Council (Dease Lake) Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation (Dawson City) Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Marcia MacDonald, PhD, chats with host Danniele this week about working at the World Anti-Doping Agency. You'll hear about how her work helps to implement more efficient processes in the Athlete Biological Passport Program or ABP. But you'll also hear about Marcia's life as a woman in STEM - how relocating from Vancouver to Montreal for her career has been, and what she is most passionate about outside of work (hint: it involves activism in a big, worldwide issue that we are all familiar with - but you'll have to listen to find out more!).  Marcia MacDonald is a Deputy Director in the Science and Medicine department at the World Anti-Doping Agency. Marcia oversees a team responsible for the global development of the Athlete Biological Passport program, which monitors biological variables over time to indirectly reveal the effects of doping in sport, rather than attempting to detect the doping substance or method itself.  Please note some of the abbreviations and jargon used in this episode: ADO = Anti-Doping Organization ABP = Athlete Biological Passport (an individual electronic record for professional athletes, in which profiles of biological markers of doping and results of doping tests are collated over a period of time) EPO = erythropoietin (a hormone, secreted by the kidneys, that increases the rate of formation of red blood cells, often used to treat anemia or as a performance-enhancing drug) Please also note one small correction: Xenon Pharmaceuticals was incorrectly referred to as "Xenon Biopharma." Relevant Links: Athlete Biological Passport Congenital Indifference to Pain Genome BC The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) special report Make Possible (SCWIST) Marcia on LinkedIn Omic markers Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST) Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

In this episode, Bella Kazwell, Web Engineering Lead at Asana, a leading web-based work management system, tells host Danniele about her work at Asana. She describes how she got her dream job and gives advice for all STEM professionals. You'll also learn about the struggles she has faced - and overcome - as a woman in tech. Bella Kazwell is the Web Engineering Lead at Asana, with more than 15 years of experience in engineering roles. She has spent the past seven years on the engineering team of Asana, building products to empower teams to thrive.  Relevant Links: Asana Asana Blog: "Building a Diverse and Inclusive Workplace: Q&A with Dustin Moskovitz" Carnegie Mellon School of Computing Science The Eisenhower Matrix ImpostorSyndrome.com (Website of Dr. Valerie Young, expert on Impostor Syndrome) Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Here at Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, we don’t just focus on increasing the presence of women in STEM. We focus on increasing diversity in STEM overall, and this week’s episode looks at one piece of the diversity puzzle: how to support trans and non-binary people in the workplace. Danniele is joined by Kai Scott, Principal Partner at TransFocus Consulting, to discuss how organizations can be the best employers they can for trans and non-binary folks. Kai tells us how expanding the binary within a workplace is beneficial for everyone, and how taking steps towards examining one’s deep beliefs and assumptions can shift the paradigm of the workplace. Kai Scott is a principal partner at TransFocus Consulting. Kai is a senior social scientist educated in the field of International Development. He has over 10 years’ experience undertaking complex multi-stakeholder processes across various major sectors. He uses a blend of systems thinking and reflective approaches to solve problems related to gender diversity, yielding innovative and practical solutions. Relevant Links:  Kai on LinkedIn Trans, Gender Diverse, and Two-Spirit Community: Vancouver Park Board TransFocus Twitter WWEST Blog Post: Transgender Day of Visibility in STEM Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

In this episode, WWEST manager Danniele speaks with Aerin Jacob all about the importance of diversity in STEM, but especially in ecology and conservation. Aerin tells us about her hopes to include new ideas and other ways of knowing in conservation, how and why she wakes up feeling inspired every day, and how her work is positively affecting the world at large. Aerin joined us remotely from Canmore, Alberta; please forgive the occasional audio hiccup from our remote recording. Aerin's E-mail address (remove spaces): aerin @ y2y . net   Aerin Jacob is a Conservation Scientist at the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y). At Y2Y, Aerin’s research informs practical, collaborative conservation across the 3200-km long Yellowstone to Yukon region.  Relevant Links:  Aerin's website Canmore, Alberta Highway Wildlife Crossings in Banff National Park Liber Ero Postdoctoral Fellowship The Wilburforce Fellowship in Conservation Science Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

In this episode, Jessica takes us along on her past journeys to Ireland, China, and Rome through her memories and the life lessons she learned. We learn about what it's like to study science in university, why she loves working at Genome BC, and her passion for science communication. Jessica also gives some simple, yet poignant advice to students new to university: “Try new things.” Jessica Lu is a Corporate Analyst at Genome BC. In her role, Jessica supports relationships with key stakeholders by providing measuring outcomes and impacts of funded programs. Relevant Links:   Best of the WWEST Episode with Holly Burton GenomeBC Genomic differentiation among Northern Goshawks of coastal BC Illuminating Hereditary Cancers Imposter Syndrome and Dr. Valerie Young Ologies Podcast by Alie Ward Trinity College, Dublin   Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

What's Rachel Nelson's favourite part of her job? The otters, of course! Join host Danniele as she chats with Rachel about landing her dream job at the Vancouver Aquarium, how you can help combat pollution in the ocean, and building relationships with animals. Plus, you’ll find out how pole dance fitness classes actually pair nicely with her work as a marine mammal trainer. Rachel Nelson is a Marine Mammal Trainer at the Vancouver Aquarium. She is currently a sea otter trainer but loves working with animals of all kinds. Relevant Links: Marine Biology at the University of British Columbia Marine Mammal Rescue Centre The Seafood Watch App Vancouver Aquarium Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Best of the WWEST producer Vanessa interviews WWEST Program Manager Danniele about what got her into STEM, why she loves the work she does at WWEST, and what it takes to run such a program. She also gives insight into working with various non-profit entities and how their activities can work in tandem with WWEST's goals. Plus, you'll learn fun facts such as what her favourite activity was at summer camp and how she defines success.  Danniele Livengood is the Program Manager of Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology (WWEST) at Simon Fraser University, operating under the NSERC Chair for Women in Science and Engineering (BC/Yukon Region). At WWEST Danniele works to further the participation of women and other under-represented groups in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.  Relevant Links: WWEST Episode #19 with Angie Byron WWEST Episode #1 with Cole Brown Connecting Environmental Professionals Vancouver Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Chairs for Women in Science and Engineering The Society for Candian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST) Society of Women Engineers Wonder Women Networking Event “Wymanizing” first year course at UBC Hosted by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

How does someone who hates math and science with no role models of women in STEM end up as a Metals and Materials Engineer? Colleen Legzdins will tell you all about it in this interview with WWEST Manager Danniele. Rest assured - if you are interested in STEM but not much interest in science and math, you can still have a successful and rewarding STEM career, as Colleen demonstrates with her story. You'll learn how she pursued her education while starting a family, the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, and making a real difference for the environment with her work. Dr. Colleen Legzdins has a background in metals and materials engineering and is a senior professional engineer with over 15 years of experience in industrial wastewater treatment and fuel cells. Be sure to check out this blog post about Colleen by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, Petroleum! Relevant Links:   BC Tech Association Engineers & Geoscientists Awards & Recognition Global Cleantech 100 Awards Indira Samarasekera, former president of the University of Alberta Lady Godiva Ride at UBC Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott Holmes Produced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

On July 5th, WWEST Manager Danniele and Best of the WWEST Producer Vanessa visited the Telus World of Science for the First International Day of LGBTQ+ People in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math! (Short name: LGBT STEM Day.) Vanessa chats with other organizations who took part in this event to help raise awareness and increase support for LGBTQ+ people in STEM and finds out what brought them there and why they find it important. You'll hear from a variety of great organizations directly and indirectly related to STEM fields, and you can visit their websites by clicking the links below. Relevant Links:   ASTTBC International LGBT STEM Day PFLAG Canada & PFLAG Vancouver Telus World of Science Trans, Gender Diverse, and Two-Spirit support at The Vancouver Park Board TRIUMF Vancouver Pride Society Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) and Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott Holmes Produced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

If you're looking for some insight into Microsoft's employee engagement, look no further. In this episode, Stacey Mulcahy tells us all about working at The Garage at Microsoft - why she loves it, what she does, and how maker spaces like The Garage can bring community together. She also describes what it's like being "a prototype" and how she defines success for herself.  Stacey Mulcahy is the Principal Program Manager of the Garage at Microsoft Vancouver. She’s an international speaker and teacher and spent many years working in the digital agency space as a developer. She enjoys making things that some consider useless but that bring them joy all the same. Relevant Links: Microsoft Garage Shawn Hunt, BC-based Heiltsuk artist Transformation Mask Trello   Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott Holmes Produced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.  

In this episode, Danniele speaks with Dr. Lori Brotto about her career in psychology and gynaecology and how they can intersect. She gives a glimpse into her research and her newly published book, Better Sex Through Mindfulness. In addition, you'll hear about how she survived her early years in university, why it is so important for women to be informed about their sexual health, and how collaboration and networking can be extremely helpful in a career. Dr. Lori Brotto is a professor in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of British Columbia. She conducts research on women’s sexual health and difficulties, develops and tests psychoeducational interventions for women with sexual desire and arousal complaints, and studies many aspects of sexual health including: culture and sexuality, hormones and sexual desire, cancer and sexuality, concerns about HPV and sexuality, asexuality, and more. Relevant Links: Dr. Julia Heiman, Indiana University Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Savage Lovecast UBC Sexual Health Lab Women’s Health Research Institute Publications: Better Sex Through Mindfulness: How Women Can Cultivate Desire by Dr. Lori Brotto UBC Sexual Health Lab publications list Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott Holmes Produced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

On BIV Today... Two guests from the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada walk through how Canadians are feeling about Asia in 2018, as captured by the organization’s National Opinion Poll. Dr. Eva Busza (0:41), vice-president of research and programs, and Yushu Zhu, program manager for surveys and polling, discuss why sentiment about the world’s fastest growing region is strengthening, just as feelings about Canada’s largest trade partner worsen. The B.C. based Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology has launched a new partnership with Quebec startup Mylo Financial Technologies to help the not-for-profit raise micro-donations. SCWIST board member Danniele Livengood (17:08) and Mylo CEO Phil Barrar talk fundraising and tech. Kirk LaPointe, Hayley Woodin and Tyler Orton host, see more of their stories at https://biv.com.

Come along with Dr. Angelica Lim and Best of the WWEST host Danniele on a windy journey through Angelica's discovery of computing science and her passion for robots! Angelica talks about her studies taking her all over the globe and how she settled in at Simon Fraser University. You'll also find out how robots can connect people in a "human-like and grounded way."  Angelica is an Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in Computing Science at Simon Fraser University, who has studied and worked in robotics for over 10 years in Canada, France and Japan. She has been featured on the BBC, given talks at SXSW and TEDx, hosted a TV documentary on robotics, and was recently featured in Forbes 20 Leading Women in AI. Relevant Links:   Angelica's Twitter (@petitegeek) Grace Hopper Celebration Invent the Future AI Scholars Program Jane the Virgin (TV show) Tessa Lau Women in Computing Science at SFU Publications: Collection at angelicalim.com Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott Holmes Produced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

In this episode, WWEST manager Danniele chats with Dr. Gail Anderson about bugs and other animals, a career in forensics that makes a real difference in the world, and the benefits of university if one chooses to attend. Gail also reveals how she achieves work/life balance, her journey from a young forensic entomologist to professorship, and the importance of being a mentor to young people in STEM. Gail holds a Burnaby Mountain Endowed Professorship at Simon Fraser University. She is a forensic entomology consultant to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Municipal Police across Canada as well as the SPCA and Wildlife Enforcement.  She has been analyzing forensic entomology cases since 1988, and has testified as an expert witness in court many times. Relevant Links:  Canadian Police College Criminology at Simon Fraser University Funding and Award Opportunities - large list of grants and awards, sponsored by Research Services, SFU "The Hypersensitivity of Horses to Culicoides Bites in British Columbia" (Anderson et al) Sweet itch Thelma Finlayson The Walking Dead Z Nation Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott Holmes Produced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Our guest of this episode, Halimat Alabi, has been many places and done many things. Listen as she brings us along on her journey through video game design, film and television, and research and teaching, with lots of laughs and poignant moments. She also gives advice for achieving work-life balance, including balancing family and career, and gives us insight into cutting edge visual analytics research. Formally trained as an engineer, Halimat describes herself as an interactive visualization designer. She is currently an instructor for the Art Institute and doing visual learning analytics research at Simon Fraser University. She received a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council grant for her research, and has published a book chapter called “A Language and a Space: Visualizing Learning Online” in the learning analytics textbook, “Developing Effective Educational Experiences through Learning Analytics.” She has worked in console game development for Sony and THQ and has worked on PSP, PS2, PS3 and Wii games. Relevant Links:  3-2-1 Contact Accessibility, Innovation, and Mobility project Amazon Alexa Halimat on LinkedIn Halimat's website Pozole Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott Holmes Produced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

What was it like to rub elbows with the first Canadian women pioneering for other women's place in STEM? From the early days of the Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST) to witnessing the early days of the NSERC Chairs for Women in Science and Engineering, Dr. Judy Myers has seen a lot in her long career in Zoology. She covers topics such as raising a family while working full time in STEM, how to elevate women's status in STEM, and time saving tips for achieving work-life balance.  Links:  Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution Charles Kreb, Professor Emeritus, Department of Zoology, UBC Department of Zoology at the University of British Columbia History of Earth Day "Monique Frize had to change the world of engineering," CIM Magazine Myers Lab, including publications by Dr. Myers Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST) Symposium for Women Entering Ecology and Evolution Today   Dr. Judy Myers is currently Professor Emerita in the Department of Zoology at the University of British Columbia. She joined the faculty in 1972 and her research takes an interdisciplinary, collaborative, inclusive approach to the management of environmental pest problems. Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott Holmes Produced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Hear all about improving processes at the City of Vancouver, industrial engineering, and mentoring immigrant women in STEM in this interview with Zhila Pirmoradi, PhD. She'll also share why she gladly lets her professional life be present in her spare time and how she dealt with being a new immigrant to Canada, as well as how she happened to find herself studying Mechatronic Systems Engineering at Simon Fraser University. Links:  American Society for Quality City of Vancouver Dr. Gary Wang (Zhila's PhD supervisor) Immigrating Women in Science (IWIS) ms infinity at SCWIST Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology Zhila's profile at SFU's Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website  Zhila Pirmoradi is an Industrial Engineer who has her PhD in Mechatronic Systems Engineering from Simon Fraser University. Passionate to utilize her research in industry, as a Business Process Analyst, Zhila helps the City of Vancouver’s business units identify potential areas for improving effectiveness and efficiency of their processes and value streams.  Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott Holmes Produced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Holly Burton joins WWEST manager Danniele with her "awkward turns of phrase" (her words!) and fills us in on leadership coaching, her passion for elevating women in male-dominated fields, and everything from how she copes with stress to her thoughts on the mining industry. She also lets us in on a not-so-secret tidbit: Very few people know what they want to be when they grow up.  Links: "Female Leaders Say Unconscious Workplace Bias is Still a Problem," 2017, The Voice (Langara College) Holly's website Holly's talk at DevOpsDays Vancouver 2017: "Gaslighting and Gender at the Workplace" Upcoming Events with Holly Vancouver Women in Male-Dominated Industries (Meetup Group) Holly Burton is a leadership coach for women in male-dominated industries. She works one-on-one with ambitious women to help them get promoted and create the careers they actually want in industries they love. Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott Holmes Produced by:  Vanessa Reich-Shackelford

Rahael Jalan, PhD, joins Danniele to discuss her journey from India to Canada, where she settled to help Aboriginal youth excel in mathematics. She speaks about traveling the world to do her work, how she entered mathematics as a student in India, and her passion for sharing the gift of education with those less fortunate. Links: Eagles of Tomorrow Hidden Figures (film) Indian Institute of Technology The Man Who Knew Infinity by Robert Kanigel Onam Festival First Nations University of Canada (Formerly Saskatchewan Indian Federated College) Rahael Koshy Jalan is the founder/director of "Eagles of Tomorrow Education Society." Eagles of Tomorrow’s mission is to provide a comprehensive program in mathematics fundamentals for success in STEM and other areas of learning which require a solid foundation in mathematics. Guest: Rahael Jalan, PhD (website) Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott Holmes Produced by:  Vanessa Reich-Shackelford Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

 Join WWEST manager Danniele for a lively interview with Angie Byron. Topics include the vast world of open source programming, how Drupal and open source can change the world for the better, and Angie's mission to push some of that change forward. You'll also find out little tidbits about Angie in her life outside of Drupal. Angie Byron is the Senior Director of Product and Community Development at Acquia. She is also a Drupal core committer, recipient of the Google-O'Reilly Open Source Award for Best Contributor, co-author of the O'Reilly book Using Drupal, and an open source evangelist who lives and breathes Drupal. Links: Acquia Adventure Time Drupal Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth for Nintendo 3DS ScratchJr - coding for young children VIC-20 - one of the first inexpensive home computers Guest: Angie Byron (@webchick) Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott Holmes Produced by:  Vanessa Reich-Shackelford For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

In this interview, Negar Roghanian tells us all about her life as a PhD student in Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia. You'll hear about Negar's work producing a coating material that extends the life span of concrete pipes, her journey from her home country of Iran to Canada, and her passion for creating sustainable, eco-friendly materials that will support infrastructure for decades to come. Negar Roghanian is a research assistant and PhD candidate at the SIERA (sustainable infrastructure research) group at UBC as part of the department of Civil engineering. Her research focuses on developing sustainable coating for rehabilitation of corroded pipes. Links: Hoor-Ava Persian Choir Nanyang Technological University, Singapore "New coating material protects concrete pipes from corrosion," Journal of Commerce Shiraz University, Iran "SIERA's PhD Candidate Negar Roghanian selected for UBC Killam Graduate Teaching Assistant Award," SIERA at UBC Sustinable Infrastructure Research (SIERA) group at UBC The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho Guest: Negar Roghanian Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott Holmes Produced by:  Vanessa Reich-Shackelford For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Jo Miller chats with WWEST manager Danniele about sponsorship versus mentorship. What does it mean to have a sponsor? How is a mentor different? And how can this propel women in technology so they can lead and thrive as women of influence? This President's Dream Colloquium minisode is chock full of advice and inspiration for any woman who is striving to be more of a leader in their field. Jo founded Be Leaderly after meeting too many women with leadership potential that outshone their current positions. In her day job, Jo is CEO of Women’s Leadership Coaching, Inc., and creator of the Women’s Leadership Coaching® system, a roadmap for women who want to break into leadership. Links: Be Leaderly Grace Hopper Celebration Harvard Business Review, "Why Men Still Get More Promotions Than Women" Jo Miller at the President's Dream Colloquium Playing Big by Tara Sophia Mohr Society of Women Engineers The Willpower Instinct by Kelly McGonigal  Guest: Jo Miller (@beleaderly) Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott Holmes Produced by:  Vanessa Reich-Shackelford For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

As part of the President's Dream Colloquium, Danniele speaks with Dr. Danielle Gaucher all about gendered language in job advertisements - how does gendered language influence women's participation in STEM? How does social science research help to implement best practices in creating job advertisements? And how is visual attention a part of gendered language? Listen to find out!  Danielle Gaucher (PhD, University of Waterloo) is an Associate Professor of Psychology and Director of the Intergroup Relations and Social Justice Laboratory at the University of Winnipeg, MB, Canada. She studies how social inequality is maintained at individual and institutional levels with the goal of providing insight into social change, redress, and the re-engagement of member of vulnerable groups into the system. Links:   1984 by George Orwell Dr. Gaucher - publications Dr. Gaucher's talk at the President's Dream Colloquium Sandra Bem (psychologist known for her work in gender studies) Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Insight Development Grants   Guest: Dr. Danielle Gaucher (website) Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott Holmes Produced by:  Vanessa Reich-Shackelford For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

This week, we are joined by Leigh Wall, Apprentice Truck and Transport Mechanic, Student Recruiter, and Public Speaker. Hear all about Leigh's passion for engaging women and girls in Trades, her advice for women and girls who are considering those Trades, and fun facts like her favourite word (which goes a little skin deep!). Plus, Leigh relays her experiences in her apprenticeship program as the only woman out of 15 participants. Leigh Wall is a Student Recruitment Specialist at Vancouver Community College, as well as an Apprentice Truck and Transport Mechanic. As a natural progression and out of a love for where she trained, Leigh became a student recruitment specialist with Vancouver Community College, where she shares her enthusiasm with others every day. A female ambassador for the trades, Leigh also speaks regularly on the importance of diversity in the workplace. Links: Media appearances by Leigh Minerva BC's Women Leading the Way™ program Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Red Seal certification Truck and Transport Mechanic Apprentice program at Vancouver Community College Guest: Leigh Wall (website) Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott Holmes Produced by:  Vanessa Reich-Shackelford For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

It's time for another mini episode as part of the President's Dream Colloquium, this time with Dr. Steven Spencer, Psychology Professor and Robert K. and Dale J. Weary Chair in Social Psychology at The Ohio State University. Danniele chats with Dr. Spencer about the exciting work he and others at the Engendering Success in STEM Consortium are undertaking to create environments in which women and girls can reach their true, actual potential in STEM. Dr. Spencer is the Robert K. and Dale J. Weary Chair in Social Psychology at The Ohio State University. Dr. Spencer does research on motivation and the self, particularly on how these factors affect stereotyping and prejudice. In examining motivation and the self, he also examines how implicit processes that are outside of people’s awareness affect people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.  Links: Engendering Success in STEM Claude Steele Dr. Steven Spencer at the President's Dream Colloquium Dr. Steven Spencer at Ohio State University Dr. Toni Schmader, Engendering Success in STEM Director Guest: Dr. Steven Spencer Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott Holmes Produced by:  Vanessa Reich-Shackelford For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.  

Fire Safety Engineering, big families, and coming to Canada from Kenya to study and work - these are all topics covered in this interview between WWEST manager Danniele and Jane Gachuche, consultant and Fire Safety Engineer in Training. Plus, get Jane's advice for students and young STEM professionals (sneak peek: she loves co-op programs!) and hear how she has navigated being a woman in STEM - both in university and beyond. Jane is a project consultant in building and fire safety engineering at Jensen Hughes Consulting in Richmond, BC. Jane earned her degree in Civil Engineering from Carleton Uniersity in Ottawa. After graduating, she moved to Burnaby, BC for her first job and has been in BC for four years. Links: Carleton University Fire Safety Engineering Fire Underwriters Survey Jensen Hughes Consulting Post-Secondary Co-Op/Internship Program Guest: Jane Gachuche  Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott Holmes Produced by:  Vanessa Reich-Shackelford For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

As part of the President's Dream Colloquium, WWEST manager Danniele chats with Shari Graydon of Informed Opinions for this minisode. Shari, an award-winning author, advocate, and speaker on the topic of women in media and advertising, shines light on the statistics of expert women participation in the media and lets us in on the exciting future initiatives of Informed Opinions. You can see Shari's talk at the Colloquium here. An award-winning author, advocate and speaker with 25 years of experience on both sides of the microphone, Shari Graydon founded and currently leads Informed Opinions, a non-profit project of Media Action working to amplify women’s voices. Links: Elizabeth Sheehy at Informed Opinions Informed Opinions Shari Graydon at the President's Dream Colloquium Guest: Shari Graydon (@sharigraydon) Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott Holmes Produced by:  Vanessa Reich-Shackelford For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Best of the WWEST welcomes Dr. Maria Klawe, president of Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California. Danniele chats with Maria in this minisode about how she ended up in a STEM field, her most memorable moments as a former chairholder of WWEST at UBC from 1997-2003, and how one can successfully balance a demanding career and family obligations. Dr. Maria Klawe joined Harvey Mudd from Princeton University after serving 14 years at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Klawe is a renowned lecturer and has given talks at international conferences, national symposia, and colleges across the U.S. and Canada about diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines and industries, gender and gaming, and lessons from her own career in STEM industry and education.  Links: Grace Hopper Celebration President's Dream Colloquium on Women in Technology Dr. Maria Klawe at the President's Dream Colloquium Guest: Dr. Maria Klawe (@mariaklawe) Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott Holmes Produced by:  Vanessa Reich-Shackelford For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Best of the WWEST chats with Cybele Negris, CEO of Webnames.ca. What have been her most memorable moments in her career? What does she do to achieve work-life balance? And what is her dirty little secret? Find out in this episode! You'll also learn about board governance, what her university experience was like, and her advice for students and young people who are heading into university and the workforce. Cybele Negris is CEO & Co-Founder of Webnames.ca, Canada’s original .CA Registrar and accredited registrar for hundreds of domain extensions as well as provider of webhosting, email and web development and many other services. Cybele is a four-time winner and Hall of Fame Inductee of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women, was named BC Business Top 50 Most Influential Women, honoured with Business In Vancouver’s Influential Women in Business Award as well as Top 40 Under 40 winner and nine-time winner of PROFIT W100. Links: Canary Foundation and the Canary Derby Cybele at TEDx The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Webnames Cancer Prevention Fund Webnames.ca Guest: Cybele Negris (@cybelenegris) Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott Holmes Produced by:  Vanessa Reich-Shackelford For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Danniele interviews Janet Fraser, PhD, BC Green Party MLA candidate. Janet lets us into her world of serving as a Trustee with the Vancouver School Board, studying chemistry and working as a project leader and manager of clinical trials; and juggling career and family. Janet dispenses advice to young STEM professionals and students, and gives us a rare glimpse into STEM in Vancouver schools. Janet Fraser, PhD, was born in the UK and earned Chemistry B.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Bristol. Since then she has been an academic researcher, a drug development project manager, an at home parent, a non-profit administrator, and a politician. Links: BC Green Party Field Hockey at the University of Bristol Indigenous Writes by Chelsea Vowel Janet's bio at the BC Green Party Julie Payette Kate Atkinson (author) Vancouver School Board budget vote Guest: Janet Fraser, PhD (@janetrfraser) Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott Holmes Produced by:  Vanessa Reich-Shackelford For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

This episode we're talking to Victoria Camp, an Engineer in Training working in geological engineering at BGC Engineering Inc. She talks to us about getting to explore many different facets of geological engineering, what her time at university was like, and the places she loves to travel (for work and fun!). Listen for her advice to young STEM professionals and students, and a fun fact about herself that up to this point, not many people have known! Links: Air Cadets BGC Engineering Inc. Dream Big: Engineering Our World movie impostersyndrome.com Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (please note: this is a correction from the title mentioned in the episode) WWEST's Imposter Syndrome White Paper Guest: Victoria Camp Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott Holmes Produced by:  Vanessa Reich-Shackelford For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Danniele speaks with Gordana Pejic, a software engineer originally from Serbia, who immigrated to Canada to receive a masters degree in Software Systems. She fills us in on her volunteer work with the Society for Canadian Women in Science and Engineering (SCWIST), her future plans, and her exciting work developing software for autonomous vehicles. Make sure to listen for the lightning round, where she reveals what she wishes her superpower could be, and the one food she would eat for the rest of her life! Gordana Pejic received her B.Sc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Novi Sad, Serbia and her Master of Software Systems from the University of British Columbia. She works as a Software Engineer for Wenco International Mining Systems designing fleet management software for Hitachi's autonomous trucks. Links: Argentine Tango in Vancouver Ballard Power Systems fSONA Communications Make Possible Océ Display Graphics Systems Press release on Hitachi's Autonomous Haulage System SCWIST Immigrating Women in Science Wenco International Mining Systems Guest: Gordana Pejic Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott Holmes Produced by:  Vanessa Reich-Shackelford For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Best of the WWEST host Danniele interviews Christiana Cheng, PhD, Research Associate at the Rick Hansen Institute. Christiana talks about her undergarduate and graduate degrees in biology at Simon Fraser University and fellowship in Japan, lets us in on the favourite parts of her field (hint: it involves a strong network between provinces and hospitals), offers advice for students of science (take your time!), parents of scientists (give your kids equal opportunities), and future scientists alike; and reveals her tips for dealing with stress. Christiana is a Research Associate at the Rick Hansen Institute where she works to improve the health of people with spinal cord injury by understanding the current status of care services for spinal cord injury, and using evidence to optimize timing and access to care. Links: Chinese New Year Coursera Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Journal of Neurotrauma The Rick Hansen Institute Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST) Toastmasters Guest: Christiana Cheng, PhD Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott Holmes Produced by:  Vanessa Reich-Shackelford For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.  

This week, we speak with Justine Munich, a PhD student in physics at Simon Fraser University who also works with the ALPHA Collaboration at CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research). Justine fills us in on the truth about life in academia from the perspective of a woman in STEM. She candidly tells us about her struggles, but also about her successes and proudest moments. Find out what furry friend she hangs out with in her spare time, what her favourite book is, and how her career is relating to the world at large. Justine is a PhD student in the physics department at SFU. She works with the Antihydrogen Laser Physics Apparatus (ALPHA) Collaboration, a group of about 40 scientists that is based at CERN. Links:   The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) The Antihydrogen Laser Physics Apparatus (ALPHA) Collaboration David Griffiths Firebringer by David Clement-Davies (please note: this is a correction from the book mentioned in the episode) D-Wave Systems General Fusion   Guest: Justine Munich Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott Holmes Produced by:  Vanessa Reich-Shackelford For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca. 

On the very first episode of Best of the WWEST, host Danniele talks to Cole Brown, lead front-end web developer at iamota, about how she got into web development, some of the challenges she faced breaking into the tech industry, and her secret superpowers (which include sewing, cat training, and swimming)! Cole is the lead front-end web developer at iamota, a full service digital agency recognized as one of BC’s fastest growing companies. She has worked in the industry for over 15 years, and is passionate about empowering technology users while they browse the web.  Links: Raised Eyebrow edX Udemy A List Apart and A Book Apart Smashing Magazine The Asexual Visibility & Education Network Chris Coyier Guest: Cole Brown (@nmebrown) Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott Holmes Produced by: Natalie Lim, Vanessa Reich-Shackelford For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.