Congratulations to the 2022/23 Margaret Stephens Professional Development Bursary Recipients!
Let’s Talk Science is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2022/23 Margaret Stephens Professional Development Bursary:
- Sophia Anne Millikin, University of British Columbia-Okanagan Campus
- Rachael Derbyshire, Trent University; University of Guelph
- Ose Okonowele, University of Ottawa
- Chloe Diamond, Memorial University of Newfoundland
- Dayna Weststrate, University of British Columbia-Okanagan Campus
- Raksha Shriraam, University of Ottawa
- Emma Creed, University of British Columbia-Okanagan Campus
- Audrey Sauler, University of Manitoba
- Narjis Alhusseini, University of British Columbia
- Kayvan Yavari, University of Waterloo
Named after Margaret Stephens, a lifelong learner who pursued an education in science at a time when it wasn’t traditional to do so for women, these $1,000 bursaries reward and support volunteers who pursue professional development opportunities within Let’s Talk Science. Made possible by a generous donation from the Margaret and Andrew Stephens Family Foundation, this program will continue to support volunteers over the next five years.
“Let’s Talk Science exemplifies the type of organization and people that Margaret would have loved to have been associated with. Their emphasis on bringing science to life for everyone and helping build people’s STEM capabilities, especially for young women, align well with her passions and life experiences,” says her husband, Andrew Stephens. “She appreciated good friends, different perspectives, and strong communities. As a naturally giving person, she shared her love of life with family, friends, and everyone she interacted with.”
The Margaret Stephens Professional Development Bursary spotlights the professional development opportunities for Let’s Talk Science volunteers and showcases the valuable skills and experiences students can gain through the program. As well as the practical knowledge volunteers gain through organizing STEM programming for children and youth, Let’s Talk Science is proud to offer numerous virtual and in-person professional development opportunities to help prepare them for their futures beyond post-secondary. This year’s recipients demonstrated a profound dedication to personal and professional growth through the completion of numerous professional development and training courses on topics such as climate action, career connections, leadership, resume writing, data management, and EDIA (equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility).
One bursary recipient, Emma Creed, from the University of British Columbia - Okanagan, says that Let’s Talk Science has allowed her to obtain valuable skills she can utilize both as a volunteer and in her personal life. “One of the largest challenges I have faced while working with youth has been understanding how to discuss difficult topics appropriately,” says Creed. “Completing the eco-anxiety activity and viewing a climate action webinar prepared me for my first climate outreach. I was able to address students’ concerns about climate change by first validating their worries to maintain honesty, then followed by discussing how we, as individuals, could do our part in taking climate action.” Creed is grateful for the bursary as it will help allow her to focus more of her energy on volunteering: “a bursary grants me financial aid, allowing me to dedicate more time to volunteering and less worry about securing financial means as a student.”
Another recipient, Raksha Shriraam, from the University of Ottawa, credits Let’s Talk Science professional development opportunities, specifically the Supporting Youth: Outreach and Eco-Anxiety course and the Approaching Tough Topics: Empowering Youth for Climate Action webinar, with helping her grow her emotional intelligence. “Through introspection on my personal feelings about climate change and understanding eco-anxiety, I became more adept at addressing this challenging subject,” Shriraam says. “This enabled me to empathize with others by anticipating their needs.” Shriraam’s experiences with Let’s Talk Science have sparked her passion for educational empowerment and environmental advocacy, as well as introduced and connected her to Indigenous youth and communities. Following the completion of her Master’s in Neuroscience, Shriraam’s professional goal is to pursue medicine while focusing on Indigenous health. “One program I will utilize the bursary for is the San'yas anti-racism Indigenous cultural safety training,” says Shriraam. “This Indigenous-led intervention addresses systemic racism experienced by Indigenous people in health and other sectors.”
Chloe Diamond, from Memorial University of Newfoundland, has gained confidence in her leadership skills since volunteering with Let’s Talk Science. “ Before completing the training, I had little self-confidence in taking on a session alone,” says Diamond, adding that since participating in leadership development workshops, she has led many successful sessions on her own. Her newfound confidence and experience working with kids has solidified her desire to be a STEM teacher. “Doing outreach has inspired me in that I want to do it every day and make a difference in the lives of as many children as I can,” says Diamond. “This bursary will help me fulfill my dream of teaching and help get me through my next degree and into the field of science communication/education—which is what Let’s Talk Science is all about!”
Other recipients plan to continue volunteering with Let’s Talk Science while continuing their education towards goals as varied as teaching (Sauler) to medicine (Weststrate; Yavari) to wildlife ecology and conservation biology (Derbyshire). The Margaret Stephens Professional Development Bursary is a powerful tool for supporting students' financial needs and can be used to cover expenses such as tuition, workshops, textbooks, and other educational costs.
The members of the Let’s Talk Science selection committee in charge of awarding these bursaries were consistently amazed by the passion and dedication of the applicants. “Volunteers are the heartbeat of any organization,” says Tammy Webster, Let’s Talk Science Equity Director. “They embody the essence of dedication and compassion, igniting a ripple effect of positive change.” Isabel Deslauriers, the Youth and Volunteer Experience Director, found the student’s stories to be inspiring and powerful: “It was amazing to read first-hand how the professional development we offer has had an impact on the volunteers’ skills. Reading the applications confirmed for us that we are on the right track with creating and supporting learning opportunities that will impact volunteers well into their professional lives.”
Let’s Talk Science is grateful to The Margaret and Andrew Stephens Family Foundation for their generous gift and for enabling us to help volunteers prepare for their futures.