Best of the WWEST

In this episode, we hear from Leigh Joseph about collaborative work at a community level, observing people out on the land and learning their stories that connect them to their place. Leigh talks about how having a more Indigenous presence in ethnobotany is key to community collaboration, and how researching traditional Indigenous plant medicine can help Indigenous communities return to their cultural practices and build a foundation for healing and self-care at a community and cultural level.

Leigh Joseph (Styawat) is an ethnobotanist, researcher and community activist. She is from the Squamish First Nation and she works to contribute to cultural knowledge renewal in connection to traditional plant foods and medicines.

Her research takes a community-based approach and is influenced by her experience as an Indigenous woman reconnecting to her cultural roots. Wherever possible she draws on ancestral teachings that are connected to traditional plants and the land in her research.

For a full transcription of this episode, click here.

Relevant Links:

• As We Have Always Done (book), Leanne Betasamosake Simpson
• Dr. Nancy Turner, University of Victoria
• Finding our roots: ethnoecological restoration of lhasem (Fritillaria camschatcensis (L.) Ker-Gawl), an iconic plant food in the Squamish River Estuary, British Columbia by Leigh Joseph, University of Victoria, 8/28/2012
• "Indigenous stories lead scientist to discover plants can hear" - CBC, Quirks & Quarks, August 4, 2017
• Northern rice root
• The Residential School System
• Snuneymuxw First Nation (Nanaimo)
• Squamish Nation (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw)
• Tahltan Band Council (Dease Lake)
• Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in First Nation (Dawson City)

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.

Marcia MacDonald, PhD, chats with host Danniele this week about working at the World Anti-Doping Agency. You'll hear about how her work helps to implement more efficient processes in the Athlete Biological Passport Program or ABP. But you'll also hear about Marcia's life as a woman in STEM - how relocating from Vancouver to Montreal for her career has been, and what she is most passionate about outside of work (hint: it involves activism in a big, worldwide issue that we are all familiar with - but you'll have to listen to find out more!).

Marcia MacDonald is a Deputy Director in the Science and Medicine department at the World Anti-Doping Agency. Marcia oversees a team responsible for the global development of the Athlete Biological Passport program, which monitors biological variables over time to indirectly reveal the effects of doping in sport, rather than attempting to detect the doping substance or method itself.

Please note some of the abbreviations and jargon used in this episode:

ADO = Anti-Doping Organization ABP = Athlete Biological Passport (an individual electronic record for professional athletes, in which profiles of biological markers of doping and results of doping tests are collated over a period of time) EPO = erythropoietin (a hormone, secreted by the kidneys, that increases the rate of formation of red blood cells, often used to treat anemia or as a performance-enhancing drug)

Please also note one small correction: Xenon Pharmaceuticals was incorrectly referred to as "Xenon Biopharma."

For a full transcription of this episode, click here.

Relevant Links:

• Athlete Biological Passport
• Congenital Indifference to Pain
• Genome BC
• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) special report
• Make Possible (SCWIST)
• Marcia on LinkedIn
• Omic markers
• Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST)

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.

It's time for another Yukon-focused Best of the WWEST episode! Host Alison Anderson talks with Leslie Leong about whether or not new technology really simplifies our lives, whether or not we should separate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) from the arts, and what needs to be done to advance women in STEM. Plus, you'll hear about some really cool art projects that Leslie has completed and is currently working on.

Leslie Leong is a Civil Engineer and visual artist living and working in Whitehorse, Yukon. She makes art in many forms, often with a technical focus and an emphasis on 3-dimensional work. Leslie's engineering degree and experience has enabled her to do all of the wonderful and unusual things she has done, and continues to do.

For a full transcription of this episode, click here.

Relevant Links:

• The Arctic Circle Residency
• Arts Underground
• Fort Smith, Northwest Territories
• "How climate change can cause depression, anxiety: 'We will all be affected'" - Global News
• Kintsukuroi
• Leslie's website
• Engineering and Geoscientists BC
• Ted Harrison Retreat
• Transport Canada
• Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories
• Women in Engineering and Geoscience Division (Formerly the Division for Advancement of Women in Engineering and Geosciences)
• Yukon Artists @ Work

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.

In this episode, Bella Kazwell, Web Engineering Lead at Asana, a leading web-based work management system, tells host Danniele about her work at Asana. She describes how she got her dream job and gives advice for all STEM professionals. You'll also learn about the struggles she has faced - and overcome - as a woman in tech.

Bella Kazwell is the Web Engineering Lead at Asana, with more than 15 years of experience in engineering roles. She has spent the past seven years on the engineering team of Asana, building products to empower teams to thrive.

For a full transcription of this episode, click here.

Relevant Links:

• Asana
• Asana Blog: "Building a Diverse and Inclusive Workplace: Q&A with Dustin Moskovitz"
• Carnegie Mellon School of Computing Science
• The Eisenhower Matrix
• ImpostorSyndrome.com (Website of Dr. Valerie Young, expert on Impostor Syndrome)

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.

Here at Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, we don't just focus on increasing the presence of women in STEM. We focus on increasing diversity in STEM overall, and this week's episode looks at one piece of the diversity puzzle: how to support trans and non-binary people in the workplace. Danniele is joined by Kai Scott, Principal Partner at TransFocus Consulting, to discuss how organizations can be the best employers they can for trans and non-binary folks. Kai tells us how expanding the binary within a workplace is beneficial for everyone, and how taking steps towards examining one's deep beliefs and assumptions can shift the paradigm of the workplace.

Kai Scott is a principal partner at TransFocus Consulting. Kai is a senior social scientist educated in the field of International Development. He has over 10 years' experience undertaking complex multi-stakeholder processes across various major sectors. He uses a blend of systems thinking and reflective approaches to solve problems related to gender diversity, yielding innovative and practical solutions.

For a full transcription of this episode, click here.

Relevant Links:

• Kai on LinkedIn
• Trans, Gender Diverse, and Two-Spirit Community: Vancouver Park Board
• TransFocus Twitter
• WWEST Blog Post: Transgender Day of Visibility in STEM

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, WWEST manager Danniele speaks with Aerin Jacob all about the importance of diversity in STEM, but especially in ecology and conservation. Aerin tells us about her hopes to include new ideas and other ways of knowing in conservation, how and why she wakes up feeling inspired every day, and how her work is positively affecting the world at large.

Aerin joined us remotely from Canmore, Alberta; please forgive the occasional audio hiccup from our remote recording.

Aerin's E-mail address (remove spaces): aerin @ y2y . net

Aerin Jacob is a Conservation Scientist at the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y). At Y2Y, Aerin's research informs practical, collaborative conservation across the 3200-km long Yellowstone to Yukon region.

For a full transcription of this episode, click here.

Relevant Links:

• Aerin's website
• Canmore, Alberta
• Highway Wildlife Crossings in Banff National Park
• Liber Ero Postdoctoral Fellowship
• The Wilburforce Fellowship in Conservation Science
• Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative

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 yet another Yukon-focused episode, Alison Anderson speaks with Carmen Wong all about ecology. You'll find out that it's about more than just trees and bears! Plus, you'll hear Carmen's views on what role scientists should play in communities, her experiences working closely with First Nations elders, and her advice for anyone hoping to enter STEM and ecology.

Carmen Wong is the Ecologist Team Leader at Kluane National Park and Reserve. She has a PhD in Forest Ecology from the University of British Columbia. At Kluane, she oversees the park's monitoring, which includes Dall's sheep, mountain goats, moose, Kokanee salmon, bats and frogs, among other things. For fun, she loves to ski and mountain bike with Bert, the family dog.

For a full transcription of this episode, click here.

Relevant Links:

• Bioblitz Canada
• Kluane National Park and Reserve
• Mountain Legacy Project

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.

In this episode, Jessica takes us along on her past journeys to Ireland, China, and Rome through her memories and the life lessons she learned. We learn about what it's like to study science in university, why she loves working at Genome BC, and her passion for science communication. Jessica also gives some simple, yet poignant advice to students new to university: "Try new things."

Jessica Lu is a Corporate Analyst at Genome BC. In her role, Jessica supports relationships with key stakeholders by providing measuring outcomes and impacts of funded programs.

For a full transcription of this episode, click here.

Relevant Links:

• Best of the WWEST Episode with Holly Burton
• GenomeBC
• Genomic differentiation among Northern Goshawks of coastal BC
• Illuminating Hereditary Cancers
• Imposter Syndrome and Dr. Valerie Young
• Ologies Podcast by Alie Ward
• Trinity College, Dublin

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.

What's Rachel Nelson's favourite part of her job? The otters, of course! Join host Danniele as she chats with Rachel about landing her dream job at the Vancouver Aquarium, how you can help combat pollution in the ocean, and building relationships with animals. Plus, you'll find out how pole dance fitness classes actually pair nicely with her work as a marine mammal trainer.

Rachel Nelson is a Marine Mammal Trainer at the Vancouver Aquarium. She is currently a sea otter trainer but loves working with animals of all kinds.

For a full transcription of this episode, click here.

Relevant Links:

• Marine Biology at the University of British Columbia
• Marine Mammal Rescue Centre
• The Seafood Watch App
• Vancouver Aquarium

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 of Best of the WWEST: Yukon Edition, Alison Anderson chats with Jocelyn Joe-Strack about going back to the land. Jocelyn tells us how she thinks about the First Nations way in her work strengthening the land planning process in the Yukon. She talks about finding the best solutions for all parties involved as First Nations rebuild and heal from the experiences of colonialism and residential schools. You'll also find out little tidbits about Jocelyn, such as her nickname for her husband and what she would bring with her if she were stranded on a deserted island!

Jocelyn Joe-Strack is a PhD student in the field of Land Use Planning and First Nations Studies at the University of Saskatchewan School of Environment and Sustainability. She is also a winner of the 2017 Vanier Scholarship, which recognizes top tier PhD students who demonstrate excellence in academia, research impact, and leadership at Canadian universities.

For a full transcription of this episode, click here.

Relevant Links:

• Aishihik Lake, Yukon
• Champagne and Aishihik First Nations
• Darielle Talarico
• Dr. Douglas A. Clark, Associate Professor, School of Environment and Sustainability
• Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
• Jane Glassco Fellowship and Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation
• Lawrence Joe
• Pacific Forestry Centre
• Peel Watershed, Yukon
• Rick Janowitz
• Umbrella Final Agreement in Yukon

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.