Youth Council Members

Location: Sherwood Park

What motivated you to apply?
I accepted the position as the Co-Lead for the WISEST Youth Council because I was excited to work with the youth and continue developing my leadership skills! I have been so fortunate to have been involved with so many components of the WISEST program, both as a participant and as a volunteer, and have learned so much from these opportunities so I wanted to continue giving back to WISEST. I was also super excited to continue working with my Co-Lead, Clara, who I met when working with WISEST in 2022 and we became quick friends! I love the community that WISEST builds and am so excited to continue to be a part of that.

What are you most excited for as a member of the WISEST Youth Council?
Working with the council members! Each council member brings such unique experiences and I always value learning from other people.

Location: Grande Prairie

What are you most excited for as a member of the WISEST Youth Council?
I am always looking for ways to stay involved with WISEST through their abundance of programs. There comes a sense of accomplishment and awe seeing the work each Youth Council completes at the end of the term. I want to support our members in attaining their goals and guide them with their projects.

What are you most excited for as a member of the WISEST Youth Council?
I look forward to seeing each council member grow both individually, and collectively as a group. I am constantly amazed by the work completed by our council, as well as their drive to succeed.

Location: Medicine Hat 

What motivated you to apply for the WISEST Youth Council?
Science is a hugely important part of my life, it's allowed me to find my voice and embrace my curiosity. I've found a community where I feel like I belong and want to help others find a community and their voice through STEM. I hope that as part of the council, I can help to bring more people into the community and give back.

Location: St. Paul

What are you most excited for as a member of the WISEST Youth Council?
As a member of the council, I'm very excited to meet the other members and learn why they are passionate about STEM. I'm excited to be a part of a welcoming community of individuals and hear about their accomplishments and successes.

Location: Nisku

What perspective do you think you bring to the group?
The council is full with such strong, youthful voices, and we all have the same goal to remove the obstacles that stand in the way of individuals pursuing careers in STEM fields and to advocate on behalf of young people. I want to be exposed to and learn something from everyone on the council's voice, story, and perspective. I believe it will allow me to expand my perspective on the various facets of STEM and the kinds of individuals that are interested in it.

Location: Edmonton

What are you most excited for as a member of the WISEST Youth Council?
I hope to connect with and learn from my fellow WISEST Youth Council Members who share a similar passion for STEM but have different perspectives. I look forward to hearing everyone's stories, experiences, and building a community. It’s crucial to network with other women and gender-diverse individuals in STEM so we can support each other, teach each other, and set up future generations to succeed. I'm also excited to start creating projects to help individuals who want to or are currently pursuing STEM, whether this be a platform to share their stories, resources to assist in pursuing post-secondary, or simply providing information on how to get involved in STEM.

Location: Edmonton

What are you most excited for as a member of the WISEST Youth Council?
As a returning member of the WISEST Youth Council, I am most excited about continuing some of the projects the council worked on last year. During the last term, I felt that the WYC’s projects had a considerable impact on and provided unique opportunities for youth from diverse backgrounds. Seeing the impact of the WYC’s work was the most rewarding part of being a member, and I look forward to continuing our work to see these impacts again this term.

Location: Edmonton

What do you hope to gain from this experience?
I hope to be able to connect with other like minded youth students who are determined to reach the same goal; the goal of diversity and inclusion in the sciences. I’m hoping that I will be able to connect, network and possibly receive mentorship from other trail-blazing people. And truly, I want to be able to gain more knowledge about how to inspire diversity in my own life.

Location: Edmonton

What do you hope to gain from this experience?
I hope to further my understanding of the experience of marginalized groups in STEM and discover and overcome my own possible biases. I want to build my connection to the STEM community and form relationships that last beyond serving on the council. I hope to strengthen my passion and appreciation for STEM, and further support my ability to work in a group, ultimately diversifying my perspective. I want to face challenges and emerge with solidified problem-solving skills while overcoming any adversity I may face. My main desire is to make a tangible impact on the STEM community and set other women and gender-diverse students on the path to success in both academic and non-academic settings.

Location: Cold Lake

What perspective do you think you bring to the group?
As a young Pakistani Muslim living in a rural community, I know I bring a new perspective. Being a part of a project that allows me to connect with girls and gender-diverse students provides me with a platform to share my voice with them. Representation is important especially in STEM because of the major impact it can have for individuals just like me.

Location: Calgary

What perspective do you think you bring to the group?
I think that as a gender-diverse immigrant, I am able to offer up the perspective and represent the voices of people who have been historically alienated, especially in STEM. I want to let more people like myself know that they can and should pursue STEM if they have the passion for it, as well as help them navigate the process of doing so!

Location: Edmonton

What are you most excited for as a member of the WISEST Youth Council?
I look forward to working with other like-minded individuals of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences, and establishing an inclusive and supportive community for students to succeed in STEM areas. I anticipate helping challenge outdated gender perceptions by educating young minds on impactful career options, participating in providing an inclusive environment of support through mentorship, and helping lead projects to engage students in developing their educational and career ambitions. By the end of the council year, I hope to have the opportunity to see the impact of my contribution on students who have participated in a program that I have helped plan and organize and the profound effects it has on their educational journey and career goals.

Location: Silver Valley

What motivated you to apply for the WISEST Youth Council?
When I first found out about WISEST, I became immersed in the wonderful STEM filled world the organization created. I applied to the Youth Council to make an impact on gender diversity in STEM so that other passionate students like myself could share in this experience.

Location: Cold Lake

What are you most excited for as a member of the WISEST Youth Council?
I am excited to engage with like-minded peers and support both their project's journey as well as their personal milestones too. The sense of community that WISEST manifests not only makes me feel belonged, but also valued. I am eager to share my voice, be open-minded to other perspectives, and gain memorable friendships along the way.

Location: Vermilion

What perspective do you think you bring to the group?
I strongly believe that it is important disabled individuals are given opportunities in STEM careers. I want to become a voice for people who experience barriers due to a variety of limitations, and ensure they are given access to resources aimed at supporting their success. Coming from a small rural community and facing the challenges of a disabled student in high school has reiterated the importance of promoting the inclusion of marginalized individuals in the future of STEM.

Location: Edmonton 

What motivated you to apply for the WISEST Youth Council?
There were many reasons why I wanted to apply to the WISEST Youth Council however the key element that motivated me was the idea of working with like-minded individuals. I was inspired by many of the Faces of WISEST, such as Dr. Veena Netrakanti and Dr. Sonia Kang as their pathways heading into the field of STEM are similar to my own. I aspire to pursue the field of STEM and further contribute to inspiring other women to reach out as well.

Location: Edmonton 

What are you most excited for as a member of the WISEST Youth Council?
I am so excited to become more connected with like-minded peers and to create projects for the community. I am a transgender and queer student leader, and this youth council sounds amazing to me. It is full of people who are supportive, intersectional, and also love STEM. I am so excited to get started.