Diversity in STEM

Date: May 26th, 2022. 9 am - 2 pm
Location: SD36 Welcome Centre -- 7525 King George Blvd.
​Fee: Free! 
Diversity in STEM workshop featured a speaker series with graduate students, medical students, and professionals in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematic academic disciplines. Our speakers themselves are immigrants/refugees and prepared to share how they were able to overcome the barriers that newcomers often have to face to succeed in reaching their career goals.

Speakers
Fatima Ahmed
Fatima is a scientist and investor who seeks to understand the relationship between individuals and systems and how this can harnessed to bring about positive, impactful change within healthcare. She has over 12 overs 12 yers of experience spanning multiple countries and blending academia, biotech industry, and NGOs, and has built an interdisciplinary career in support of improving human health. She is passionate about building equity in healthcare through technology, supporting marginalized communities, and seeks out ways to be an instrument of change.

Mohammad Mashayekhi
Mohammad received his BSc degree in physics from Sharif University of Technology in Iran in 2006. He immigrated to Canada to continue his graduate studies at the University of British Columbia. He received his MSc. and PhD in theoretical physics from UBC in 2009 and 2014, respectively. He did a post-doctorate in applied Physics in which worked on the optimization of a model for a non-invasive measurement of oxygenation in hemoglobins. He started medical school at UBC in 2019 and has just finished his third year. Also, he co-founded the first national student interest group in Neurosurgery in 2020. In his free time, he enjoys the beautiful nature of BC as well as hanging out with friends and watching movies.

Souren Khetcho
after dodging bullets, running from snipers, and losing his home, Souren and his family flew the war in Syria in 2014 and became UN refugees in Lebanon with only a smartphone and a bag of clothes. He was fortunate to have a weak internet connection from their neighbor that helped him connect with the world and enabled him to teach himself how to write programs, different aspects of cybersecurity, and cryptography.

Usman Khan
​Usman Arbas Khan is a reent Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering graduate fro the University of British Columbia. He came to Canada from Pakistan in 2016. He has experience working in the construction industry as an engineer and is hoping to build a career in construction and project management. 
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This workshop was sponsored by the Connect to Community Grant and SD36 Welcome Centre.