A group of 25 St. Andrew’s students recently attended a STEM conference aimed at raising awareness of opportunities in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math.
The group was among 200 Toronto-area high-school student representatives from the Coalition of Single Sex Schools of Toronto (COSSOT). The day-long event was held at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Engineering, February 23.
Attendees had the opportunity to listen to some of the brightest minds in the STEM fields, as they shared details about their research, business ventures, and daily lives. This included a keynote address by Professor Molly Shoichet, Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Tissue Engineering, who spoke about her lab’s new techniques for non-invasive brain surgery.
In the closing presentation, Professor Cindi Morshead, U of T Chair, Department of Anatomy, talked about her research in the field of stem cells.
Throughout the day, students took part in four different workshops. Topics included applied brain research; artificial intelligence; applied physics research; and learning about engineering education.
The COSSOT STEM Council is now in its third year. Its mandate is to promote STEM education, learning, and careers for students in the single-gendered school community. The Council is comprised of grade 12 students from seven schools including St. Andrew’s. This year the St. Andrew’s group was led by Council Co-Chair William Deo ’17, with organizers Trew Morris ’17, Melvin Maroon ’17, Erik Jentsch ’17, and Tony Sul ’17.
As a Council, the group is involved in hosting an annual conference on an important issue of the Council’s choice. This year, the group was committed to inspiring all high school students to pursue STEM learning and careers. This included exploring existing issues in the field; promoting inclusivity in the STEM fields; and changing perceptions of the field.
The SAC Council is looking forward to its fourth year, and asks any interested SAC students presently in grade 10 or 11 to inquire about Council membership through William Deo.
Story by William Deo ’17
