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| Due North | |||||||||||||||||||
Ever since she was a kid, Naoko has been concerned about issues of waste. Her mother, a professor of chemistry, inspired her to learn about waste management techniques in chemistry, chemical engineering and environmental engineering. Now, as a faculty at UBC, Naoko conducts research into alternative energies. One of the unique projects she is involved in is the production of a natural fuel called biodiesel from none other than used cooking oil. The project started when two of her students brought forth a brilliant idea for converting used French fry grease from campus food outlets into a useful energy source. She is on the leading edge of research that could help address the number one concern of Canadians today: climate change. Biodiesel produces less carbon dioxide than gasoline based on the life cycle analysis. But it also has lots of other benefits, both environmental (such as the fact it is non-toxic and biodegradable, so spills would not be harmful to wildlife) and political (such as the fact that it can be produced locally). It also eliminates waste – what could be better! Now, the team has developed a way to convert the waste oil from UBC Food Services (which serves food to thousands of students each day) into biodiesel. The UBC Plant Operations team has already started to use this biodiesel in their lawncare equipment, etc. To read more about this initiative and about how “French Fries Fuel the Future”, you can go to the following link: www.eya.ca/files/attachments/10_French_Fries_Future.pdf In her free time, Naoko was key in instituting a creative program called North of 60°. Through North of 60°, she hopes to bring the principles of sustainability to high school students in northern British Columbia and the Yukon. “We wanted to reach students who have less exposure and accessibility to things that were perhaps more available in the lower mainland,” says Naoko. She and her teams of volunteers visit areas in northern Canada. Here, they conduct multifaceted workshops with students in grades 8 through 12. Students learn “How can science and engineering make a difference” through the example of Naoko’s biodiesel initiative. As a case study of how scientific innovations can make a difference, students learn and discuss how the biodiesel initiative was started and how it can be implemented in other communities. Then the volunteers present a unit on water quality in developing nations. This is accompanied by a hands-on project on water filtration techniques. Students also participate in a brainstorming session about how science and engineering can relate to their lives. The volunteers also have a chance to tell students about their own personal interest in sustainability, science and engineering and how the students can go on to pursue their own interests. Naoko hopes to help girls in the region build confidence in their engineering and science skills, and support them in their aspirations to go on in those fields. Females tend to be particularly interested in environmental and international development issues, and Naoko feels she can empower young women in the north to tackle these issues. What’s next for the North of 60° program? Naoko hopes that next year they will be able to visit the Northwest Territories. Her advice for someone who is interested in getting involved in a career like hers is, to “be curious!” “Explore your interest and possibilities. Reach out, approach and ask questions to role models that you may come across. Engage yourself in many different things and situations and find out what excites you.” Excitement seems like the natural fuel that drives Naoko to improve the world.
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| Building Communities Connects Women in Engineering in British Columbia | |||||||||||||||||||
Creating an atmosphere that makes women feel more included is crucial to maximizing their productivity, success and happiness. The event featured a number of keynotes speakers. On the first day, Anne Condon, NSERC/GM Chair for Women in Science and Engineering opened the event with a magical discussion on the Art of Networking and Ms. Janet Benjamin, recently elected president of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC, closed the day with a directed and empowering talk on marketing and engineering. On day two, Ann English, Director of the 2010 Olympic Initiative at BC Hydro, gave a very compelling personal account of her career path and management experience within several engineering companies and Elizabeth Croft, Associate professor of Mechanical Engineering, UBC challenged the attendees to Believe, Calculate and Succeed. Participants also took part in a wide variety of breakout workshops and panel discussion designed to meet the needs of women engineering professionals at all stages of the career. The closing session of the symposium provided a directed opportunity for further networking. New and established groups were formed and expanded around various communities including DAWEG, Women in Engineering UBC, Women in Academe, Internationally Trained Engineers, GEERing Up, etc. This activity provided a venue for these to vision and plan a community activity, with access to supporting funding from BCS. Building Communities was a resounding success, due to the hard work of the organizing committee, as well as large number of volunteers. In our post event survey, 98% of respondents felt that the event should be repeated, over 90% of respondents agreed that they had strengthened their engineering network, and almost 80 % were more confident in their ability to succeed. A follow-up event is scheduled for January 2008 and the planning for the next BCS is ongoing. The support of our sponsors, partially listed below, is gratefully acknowledged for helping to make this event a reality for women in engineering in British Columbia. A complete list of sponsors can be found at www.mech.ubc.ca/~wesymposium/Sponsors.htm.
Diamond
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What fuels Dr. Naoko Ellis? Apparently, French fry oil and the development of more sustainable and environmentally responsible energy sources! In waste cooking oil, Naoko sees the source of a cleaner fuel for the future. 
On September 15 and 16, 2007 approximately 120 women engineers, engineering students and faculty gathered at the Loon Lake in Maple Ridge to participate in the Building Communities Symposium (BCS). The vision for this event was the development of a network of women in engineering in BC, where students, new immigrant engineers, women returning to work and established industry professionals alike have the opportunity to build a supportive and inclusive community for each other. 
This event was designed to provide the catalyst for building networks of women across engineering workplaces, industries, and university faculties. The programming focused on developing leadership skills, facilitating outreach and advocacy, creating mentoring relationships, and developing support networks that to allow more women to reach senior positions in their industries.
