Best of the WWEST

"Start now." - "Slow success breeds confidence." These are some key pieces of advice that Michele Romanow gives our listeners in this episode. Best of the WWEST producer Vanessa interviews Michele at Creating Connections 6.0 where Michele was a keynote speaker on May 4, 2019. She shares what her busy everyday life is like, who inspires her, and how iteration breeds innovation, as well as what she does to take breaks from her role as a public figure.

Tech titan Michele Romanow is an engineer and a serial entrepreneur who started five companies before her 33rd birthday. A "Dragon" on CBC's hit show Dragons' Den, Michele is the co-founder of Clearbanc, which in 2018 gave entrepreneurs more than $100 million in funding; SnapSave, which was acquired by Groupon; and Buytopia.ca, ranked #3 on the Profit Hot 50 list of fastest growing companies. Named in WXN's "100 Most Powerful in Canada" and listed as the only Canadian on Forbes' "Millennial on a Mission" list, Michele brings her incredible entrepreneurial savvy to every stage.

For a full transcription of this episode, click here.

Relevant Links:

• CBC's Dragons' Den
• Clearbanc
• "Dragons' Den star Romanow's seven tips for maximum productivity," The Globe and Mail, October 5, 2018
• "Enter the Dragon: Michele Romanow Tells Young Entrepreneurs to 'Start Now'," Forbes, February 28, 2018
• Freshii
• The League of Innovators
• SHAD (summer enrichment program for high schoolers in STEM)
• Smith School of Business - Queen's University
• The Tea Room at Queen's University
• Vail Resorts

Hosted by: Vanessa Hennessey Theme Music: "Positive and Fun" by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey

Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Ella Chan joins host Danniele to talk about all sorts of topics, including starting university and the importance of balancing the A in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics). She tells us about how she became interested in a career in STEAM and even what it's like behind the scenes of her YouTube channel, Sci-Files. Plus, she reveals the nerdy things she does in her spare time and gives great advice for those starting out in university. Fun fact: Ella was also a keynote speaker at Creating Connections 6.0 on May 4, 2019.

Ella Chan is an 18-year-old student at the University of British Columbia. Since the age of twelve, Ella has been running her YouTube channel, Sci-Files, where she shares unique science experiments and demonstrations of topics from binary code using Lego blocks to genetics explained with jelly beans. Her videos have been featured on platforms such as "The Kid Should See This" and the Chicago Field Museum's "The Brain Scoop."

For a full transcription of this episode, click here.

Relevant Links:

• Alix Dainis: Life, Lab, and DNA (YouTube)
• "B.C. Grade 12 student wins prestigious scholarship, hopes to study brother's illness," CBC, May 27, 2018
• The Brain Scoop (YouTube)
• Ella's Twitter
• NephCure Kidney International
• Nephrotic syndrome
• Sci-Files on Facebook
• Sci-Files on YouTube
• Science Venture
• STEAM Horizon Awards
• UBC Thunderbirds Quidditch Sports Club
• The University of British Columbia

Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: "Positive and Fun" by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford

Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

For Ellyne Kinney, her curiosity and drive to have a successful career started early, and you'll hear all about it in this interview with Best of the WWEST host Danniele. She relives her time working on big deal astronomy projects (Hubble Space Telescope and Goddard Space Flight Center to name-drop just a couple), tells us about her fascination with space, and gives advice on how to be successful both in post-secondary school and in STEM careers.

Ellyne Kinney is a senior solutions engineer of Earth Observations Systems at MDA. Ellyne joined MDA in May 2018 and develops the technical solutions for software systems and space missions for MDA's customers in Earth Observation and Space Missions Line of Business.

For a full transcription of this episode, click here.

Relevant Links:

• Five College Consortium, Massachusetts, USA
• Goddard Space Flight Center
• Hubble Space Telescope
• Intelsat
• Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die (book)
• MDA
• Mount Holyoke College
• OSIRIS-REx - Asteroid Sample Return Mission
• Terra Bella
• What Works For Women at Work (book)

Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: "Positive and Fun" by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford

Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

In this episode, Rike Moon tells Danniele about her journey from a farm in Germany to her career at Science World in Vancouver. Rike gives great advice for STEM students and professionals, takes us down memory lane to explain how she overcame crippling exam anxiety, and gives us a glimpse into her non-professional life during the Lightning Round. Plus, you will never guess her most memorable moment at Science World - trust us, you just have to hear it.

Rike Moon is the Manager of STEAM Mentor Initiatives at Science World. She has worked in the science museum industry ever since and loves sharing her passion for science with all learners. As a member of the LGBTQ2S+ community she has become an advocate for diversity and inclusion at Science World.

For a full transcription of this episode, click here.

Relevant Links:

• 50 First Dates (movie)
• BodyWorks Gallery at Science World
• Canadian Harambe Education Society
• Collette (movie)
• Habitat for Humanity
• LGBTSTEM Day
• Queering the Museum Project
• Rike on LinkedIn
• Science World British Columbia
• Universität Kassel

Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: "Positive and Fun" by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford

Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

This time, Danniele hears from Ania Kwiatkowski, PhD, a nuclear physicist at TRIUMF who is passionate about her work. She talks about the friendly competitiveness of her field, and why she loves nuclear physics so much. You'll hear about how she is working in her dream job, and the advice she has for students to get them to their dream jobs, too.

Ania Kwiatkowski is a research scientist at TRIUMF and adjunct faculty at the University of Victoria in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. She focuses on understanding the ground-state properties of radioactive ions using ion-trapping techniques.

For a full transcription of this episode, click here.

Relevant Links:

• "A. Kwiatkowski Awarded the Freedman Award," Michigan State University
• Ania's research while affiliated with TRIUMF
• High-resolution mass spectrometry
• Ion trapping
• Quantum Computing
• Rapid neutron-capture process (Wikipedia)
• TITAN at TRIUMF
• TRIUMF

Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: "Positive and Fun" by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford

Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Host Danniele is joined by Mily Mumford to talk about scifi, bridging theatre and science, and the study of psychological effects of being in space. Mily tells us why she wants to be the "Black Mirror" of theatre and her passion for mental health awareness and support. She also gives advice for students and women in STEM that you don't want to miss.

Mily Mumford is a writer, filmmaker, theatre creator and scientist based in Vancouver BC.

After completing her Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience at the University of Victoria, Mily is now pursuing a Master of Science in Interactive Technology at Simon Fraser University where she does work on virtualized health systems for long term space travel.

Her production company, Nebula Company, focuses on immersive theatre, film and new media with a political, science fiction lens.

For a full transcription of this episode, click here.

Relevant Links:

• Banff Centre
• "Black Mirror"
• Global Brigades
• Mily on the Internet Movie Database
• Mily on LinkedIn
• Nebula Company Theatre
• Southern Reach trilogy (books)

Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: "Positive and Fun" by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford

Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Alison Anderson and the Yukon Edition of Best of the WWEST are back! This time, you'll hear from Dana Mills, who spends a lot of time with children and youth - and loves it! You'll hear why it's so important to support youth in their passions and the fascinating research Dana undertook about youth transitioning out of foster care. Plus, find out what she would bring to a deserted island and who inspires her.

Dana Mills recently moved to Whitehorse from Ontario and has assumed the role of Youth STEM Outreach Coordinator at Yukon College. She is excited to expand on the STEM programming that has been done in previous years by introducing more year round programming and having more STEM outreach to Yukon's communities.

For a full transcription of this episode, click here.

Relevant Links:

• Camp Trillium
• Child Welfare Political Action Team
• Global Health program at McMaster University
• Heart Lake First Nation
• Mount Allison University
• Ultimate Frisbee
• Yukon College Kid's Programs

Hosted by: Alison Anderson (@AlisonVAnderson) Theme Music: "Positive and Fun" by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford

Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

From being the first employee at her current workplace, to growing a startup, to managing a team that is creating a revolutionary "blood pressure cuff for your brain," Pamela Tannouri tells host Danniele all about her journey through her career. She shares her wins, challenges she's had to overcome, and the progress her team has made in the development of their medical device. Pamela also shares some tips about maintaining work/life balance and Danniele and Pamela close the episode off with a lively lightning round.

Pamela Tannouri is the Technology Development Manager and cultural champion for HealthTech Connex. She works with her team of biomedical engineers, software developers and researchers in order to commercialize medical devices that impact the way we approach neurology.

For a full transcription of this episode, click here.

Relevant Links:

• Brain Power Score
• Future Science Leaders at Science World
• HealthTech Connex
• How to Change Your Mind (book) by Michael Pollan
• Love Your Brain Yoga
• NeuroCatch Platform
• Pamela on LinkedIn
• The Untethered Soul (book) by Michael A. Singer

Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: "Positive and Fun" by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford

Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

In this episode, you'll hear from Monika Stachura, PhD, about her career as a research scientist and her important work coordinating the UBC program IsoSiM (Isotopes for Medicine and Science) at the University of British Columbia. She also fills us in on how to have a successful interdisciplinary career and how STEM research is heading in a more interdisciplinary direction. Plus, she tells us about her active life outside of work, what she would do if she weren't in her current field, and how to use your network to make connections and thrive.

Please note a small correction: Monika has obtained a double-PhD in Bioinorganic Chemistry and Biophysics.

Dr. Monika Stachura is a research scientist in the life sciences division at TRIUMF. Dr. Stachura has 2 Master of Science degrees, one in biophysics from the University of Copenhagen Denmark and the second in physics from the AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow, Poland. She also obtained 2 PhD degrees from the University of Copenhagen in bioinorganic chemistry and in biophysics. From 2012 to 2015, she was permanently placed at the European Organization of Nuclear Research, also known as CERN, in Geneva, Switzerland, where she was working with nuclear probes applied to biology, chemistry, and medicine. In 2015, she moved to TRIUMF to be a postdoc fellow at the Centre for Molecular and Material Sciences or CMMS, where she took a leadership role on implementing her research that she started at CERN.

For a full transcription of this episode, click here.

Relevant Links:

• European Organization of Nuclear Research (CERN)
• IsoSiM at UBC
• NSERC CREATE (Collaborative Research and Training Experience Program)
• Role of Copper in the Onset of Alzheimer's Disease
• TRIUMF: Canada's particle accelerator centre
• "Universal stardust helps explain why we get sick: nuclear physicist," The Vancouver Star, May, 2018

Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: "Positive and Fun" by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford

Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.

Danniele sits down with Jennifer Jakobi, PhD, newly appointed WWEST Associate Chair at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. They cover subjects such as how to give students the opportunity to empower themselves, what Jennifer does as the WWEST Associate Chair, why she's so fascinated by her neuromuscular research, and what can help STEM professionals move forward in their careers successfully.

Dr. Jennifer Jakobi is an associate professor at the School of Health and Exercise Sciences and Associate Dean of Academic Programs for the Faculty of Health and Social Development at the University of British Columbia's Okanagan Campus. She is also our recently announced WWEST Associate Chair at UBC Okanagan.

For a full transcription of this episode, click here.

Relevant Links:

• Healthy Exercise and Aging Lab (Dr. Jakobi, Dr. Jones, UBC Okanagan)
• iSTAND on Facebook
• iSTAND on Instagram
• iSTAND on Twitter
• Motor units (Wikipedia)
• Neuromuscular junction (Wikipedia)
• The Crown
• WWEST Associate Chair at UBCO Press Release
• WWEST Associate Chair at UBCO

Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: "Positive and Fun" by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Reich-Shackelford

Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.