Thomson is developing an implantable, artificial pancreas to help control insulin release in individuals with diabetes. At this time, the technology is available as treatment, but these systems still require external intervention to replenish insulin levels and are therefore limited.

With Thomson’s research in developing an implantable, artificial organ, her goal is to use science and technology to address the limitations of existing treatments and in turn improve patient outcomes as well as the quality of life for people who depend on such technology. 

“It’s valuable to know that I’m working on research that can have a meaningful impact in the future,” says Thomson. “It’s motivating to know that I can apply my diverse skill set to solve a problem that doesn’t have a good solution at the moment.”

As a Schulich scholar, she had the opportunity to connect with and be inspired by many people who were also working on interesting and innovative projects in the Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) fields of study. The Schulich Leader Scholarship enabled her to focus on research programs, experiences and priorities that would make the best of her education.

Even after graduating with her undergraduate degree at UM and going on to graduate studies, Thomson still participated in panels and other virtual events and networking sessions within the Schulich Foundation. Doing so has helped her stay connected to the organization.

The Schulich scholarship was only the beginning of her success story. Since being a Schulich scholar, her excellence has been recognized by multiple institutions and scholarship committees across the country. In 2017, Thomson became the third recipient of the Order of the White Rose scholarship. This $30,000 scholarship is awarded annually to a Canadian, female engineering student at the master’s or doctoral level, highlighting women making significant contributions to engineering and celebrating the achievements of women in a primarily male-dominated field.

Thomson encourages all students, especially those early in their post-secondary education, to get involved as much as possible. “Take advantage of as many opportunities and programs as you can. Try to expand your horizons beyond your degree,” she says.

To simply participate and be present is instrumental to getting involved and making an impact on campus, just as Ella Thomson has. 

About Schulich Leader Scholarships:

The University of Manitoba is proud to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Schulich Leader Scholarships. The scholarship was established in 2012 to encourage the next generation of brilliant students to pursue careers in STEM. The $100+ million scholarship fund allows students to fulfill their ambitions and leave an impact on the world.

Read more about this year’s Schulich Leaders and the scholarship.

For more information visit: schulichleaders10.com. If you’re a company looking to hire Canada’s top STEM talent, let us know here.

Emily Prenovault, a science undergraduate student focusing on micro/biology has been a WISE Kid-Netic instructor since Spring 2018 and has led over 330 workshops in 97 different schools. She has visited Thompson, Dauphin, The Pas, Steinbach, as well as many First Nations communities during her time as an instructor.

Emily has made a lot of memories during her time with WISE, but for her, the greatest reward was returning to a class that she had previously visited a year earlier when she first started as an instructor.

“Last year I was in Wanipigow and I had the opportunity to work with the same kids this year. Coming back a year later and seeing the changes in them and seeing how much they had grown and the fact that they remembered me was very rewarding. It’s always bittersweet when you leave a school or town because you don’t know if you’ll ever see them again but getting to reconnect with this class was really great. It was a really special week.”

Her time with WISE has not only allowed her to share her love for science with school-aged youth in the Province but has also helped her to grow on a personal and professional level.

“Working with WISE has given me a unique opportunity to share my love of science with children, inspire young girls to pursue careers in STEM, all while traveling around Manitoba. I have made amazing friends, traveled to places I would never have gone to otherwise and the skills I have developed from this job will definitely be relevant and beneficial for my future career in health care.”

As Emily prepares to say goodbye to WISE and move on to further studies, she will forever remember her time as an instructor and introducing youth to STEM whom otherwise may not have been exposed to such opportunities. The rewards of being an instructor are not just seeing kids interact with STEM, but rather the collective growth in both the youth and the instructors.

WISE is currently accepting applications for Fall/Winter Workshop Instructors. For more information or to apply, please visit: http://www.wisekidneticenergy.ca/employment/

The deadline to apply is October 14, 2019.

While the girls worked in the atrium, Dr. Marcia Friesen (P.Eng) hosted a parent information session along with 5th year bio-systems (co-op) student, Rhianna-Lynn Holter-Ferguson; Dawn Nedohin-Macek (P.Eng) from Manitoba Hydro; Carolyn Geddert (P.Eng) for the Faculty of Engineering; and Lesley McFarlane (P.Eng) from the Government of Manitoba. Parents learned about why engineers are vital to our society and the steps their daughters would need to take to join the faculty.

Go ENG Girl is an event hosted by WISE Kid-Netic Energy, which is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) out-reach not-for-profit. This year WISE- Kid-Netic will engage over 35,000 youth in the province of Manitoba through workshops, clubs, camps, and events. Their next event for girls in grades 7-9 is Go Code Girl on February 9, 2019, at Maples Collegiate. For more information, or to register, please visit: www.wisekidneticenergy.ca/go-code-girl

You can follow WISE Kid-Netic Energy on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

WISE Kid-Netic Energy is a community outreach program specializing in science and engineering content. As the largest outreach program at the University of Manitoba, they reach 25,000-35,000 youth annually through workshops, campus, clubs, and special events – Make Your Move being one shining example.

The Make Your Move event brought together female grade 8 students, with female engineers as team mentors. Students were nominated by their school divisions as girls who had shown qualities of leadership and interest in science topics, but who had not necessarily placed engineering on their radar. Team mentors, many of them University of Manitoba Faculty of Engineering and WISE Kid-Netic Energy alumni, were women industry leaders with expertise spanning many engineering disciplines.  The team of mentors and students then embarked on an engineering design challenge.

Make Your Move was also a place for students to learn practical information about the engineering profession and to gain exposure to real world engineering problems. This year’s challenge was to build an assistive device to aid in extending a person’s reach and ability to grip, carry, and release objects.  “I learned the types of engineering, and what engineers do. I also learned that engineers help people a lot more than I thought.”, noted one of the students who attended the event. Her thoughts were echoed by one of the mentors, who said “I loved how the design activity showed a different side of engineering (it’s not just about trains, planes, bridges, and automobiles)!”

The event was energetic, with a race to a communal supply ‘buffet’, a surging time limit, and prizes adding impulse to the challenge – all set to the beats of an in-house DJ and running commentary from MC Nesta Matthews. The competitive element, though, came secondary to the atmosphere of teamwork and reciprocity that the event encouraged. Participants said they appreciated being in a space where they felt comfortable voicing their ideas, and working together with their group on a problem. “I liked how everyone was so empowering and positive, and how we supported each other. It was also so cool to see such a diverse group of individuals work together… Our mentors were fun and encouraging and very creative.” remarked one of the student participants.

Teams were sponsored by leading engineering industry members in Manitoba: Price Industries, Standard Aero, Boeing, New Flyer, MacDon, Magellan, Stantec, Emergent Biosolutions, Hatch, Manitoba Hydro, RTDS, KGS Group, FWS Group, Dillon Consulting, NSERC Chair for Women in Science and Engineering, Engineering Access Program, Red River College, and the University of Manitoba Faculty of Engineering all contributed to the students’ learning about engineering in the real world.

In a field where less than 20% of newly registered engineers in Manitoba each year are women, events like these aim to create momentum towards a future where a greater diversity of individuals are valued and can thrive in engineering.

After Make Your Move’s fifth year in 2018, participants from the first iteration of the event are now of the age where they may be starting to enter university. As the Faculty of Engineering continues its growth in diversity, WISE Kid-Netic energy is proud to be one contributing piece of this change.