From building bird houses to learning the science behind slime, hundreds of local girls had a blast exploring careers in science, tech and skilled trades at Durham College (DC).

Hosted on April 25 and 26 at DC’s Oshawa and Whitby campuses, the Young Women in Science, Technology and Trades Conference (YWSTT) included inspiration from both keynote speaker Promise Lafrance and hands-on exploration in a series of workshops for Grade 7 and 8 girls.

At the Whitby campus, the girls were welcomed by Rebecca Milburn, Executive Dean for the Faculties of Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship and Hospitality and Horticultural Science and the interim Executive Dean for the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Information Technology.

“There are so many opportunities available to you in science, technology and skilled trades and we are here to help you explore them,” she said. “Whether it is learning about a new field or career path, trying your hand at something new or even picturing yourself in a career you may never have even thought of before, today’s event is designed to show you the possibilities for your future.”

Leah Mollon, a Grade 8 student from Lindsay, Ontario, enjoyed workshops like Candy Chromatography where students used saltwater to separate colours on Skittles candy in DC’s biotechnology lab.

She also built circuits in a workshop presented by Ontario Power Generation (OPG) employees. OPG was one of a dozen sponsors supporting the event.

“I’m considering the trades quite a bit,” said Leah. “I’m still quite young and trying to figure out what I want to do, but the trades, I want to test them out.”

Sarah Kraemer, also a Grade 8 student from Lindsay, enjoyed trying on gear that OPG workers use to protect themselves from radiation.

She said she’s interested in a career related to neuroscience and said she loved exploring at the YWSTT Conference.

“I feel it’s really good at erasing the stigma around women in science and the trades,” said Sarah, adding that she’s attended two other similar events. “It’s really helpful in introducing people to new opportunities that you never knew existed.”

That’s a key message for Angie Dickinson, a control tech at OPG and an electrician by trade. She is also a DC alum who graduated in 2006.

Dickinson explained that she’s been a pioneer through her 25-year career and wants share the message that there are excellent careers in the skilled trades for women.

“At OPG we are trying to talk to the young women about the trades, so we’re trying to introduce to them that this a viable way to make a living, that it’s a very good way to make money in a non-traditional way.”

The girls heard directly from women in the trades in the OPG workshops and learned about building circuits and testing torque on nuts and bolts.

If the girls successfully completed their circuit kits, they lit up or played sounds like a few bars of “Happy Birthday”.

DC laboratory technician Andrea Colagiacomo ran a popular workshop on making slime and taught the chemistry behind it.

“So the Elmer’s glue contains long chains of polymers when it reacts with the contact lens solution and the baking soda, it creates crosslinking which turns the liquid glue into a non-Newtonian liquid,” she quickly explained.

In other words, the chemical reaction creates something that is neither a solid or liquid but it’s a lot of fun to mash up and play with.

In the workshop, the girls experimented with the consistency of their slime, as well as the appearance by adding glitter and food colouring.

Colagiacomo said her main goal was making sure the girls who attended her workshop had fun and learned something.

“I think conferences like this help to give some clarity to young girls as to which path they want to take and we’re all big science nerds and we’re all encouraging them,” she said.

Lily Streten, a Grade 7 student from Ajax, said she liked learning the science behind slime.

“I think it’s pretty cool because now I understand how it’s made and I can go home and impress my family with it,” she said, adding she also enjoyed the sessions on robotics and learning how to dismantle a furnace.

And her future plans?

“I think I want to be a gym teacher, I’ll see what I get into when I’m older, but the welding sounded really fun too.”

Considering a career in science, tech or the trades? Start exploring at DC!

• Programs in Science, Engineering, Technology and Information Technology
• Programs in Skilled Trades and Apprenticeships
• Programs in Hospitality and Horticultural Sciences

Durham College (DC) is a double winner in this year’s Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) Awards of Excellence after the organization recognized faculty member Laura Maybury and DC’s sustainability efforts both with bronze awards in their selected categories.

Laura Maybury, Leadership Excellence Award for Faculty

During her 10-year tenure at DC, Maybury, Program Coordinator for DC’s Occupational Therapist Assistant (OTA) and Physiotherapist Assistant (PTA) program has benefitted both students and the community by supporting health care training and bridging the gap between post-secondary education and industry.

“I am proud that Laura’s dedication and exemplary leadership is being recognized at the national level,” said Dr. Jean Choi, Vice President, Academic at Durham College. “She is passionate about helping her students succeed and she serves as an inspiration as an approachable, supportive and thought-provoking educator.”

Maybury said she feels honoured to be selected to receive the award.

“I have been so fortunate to work in the rehab field for almost 20 years and at Durham College for the past 10 years, working daily with an inspiring and dedicated team of faculty, leadership and community partners,” she said. “The work that rehabilitation professionals do to promote recovery, reduce the impact of health conditions and enable participation is so very important and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to share that passion with our students, and support them in becoming exceptional OTA and PTAs who contribute meaningfully to the lives of those in their communities.”

Durham College, Excellence in Sustainable Development Award

At DC sustainability is a way of life. We are supporting the advancement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by taking meaningful action within our own institution and drawing on our strengths in collaboration and innovation to help transform our local and global community.

Initiatives like The Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture, the Vanhaverbeke Family EV Training Centre, the Energy Innovation Centre and the Social Impact Hub all drive applied research and hands-on learning aimed at improving health, creating education opportunities, reducing inequality and spurring economic growth all while tackling climate change.

“Sustainability is embedded in everything we do at Durham College,” said DC President Dr. Elaine Popp. “We believe it is our duty as an educational institution to foster stewardship of the resources and land on which we live. We want to lead by example, demonstrating environmental responsibility for our students so they can run the organizations of tomorrow with conservation front of mind. I am proud to be recognized for the work we do across our organization to prioritize sustainability and proud to lead by example in our community.”

Earlier this month, Project Management graduate certificate students gained practical experience by organizing the program’s annual Student Symposium.

With support from DC’s Faculty of Business, Durham College Student Association (DCSA) and the Durham Highlands chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI), the students organized the event as part of their curriculum. Guest speakers from DC and PMI shared their experience and knowledge with the soon-to-be graduates, who took advantage of the extensive networking opportunities available to them.

“It’s a great way for them to experience project management outside of a classroom setting,” explained Professor Mark Lewis, who is also a graduate of the program. “All the students that I work with always speak very highly about it because it does give them that hands-on opportunity.”

Karen Kwok was one such student, and she confirmed that the Symposium was an excellent way to wrap up the winter semester.

“It was a good opportunity for me to network and connect with fellow project managers, and I learned so much more about the PMI community,” she said. “I was able to be a part of a successful student-led project and now I am looking forward to what I can achieve in my next semester’s Applications of Project Management class.”

Her classmate Gaurav Dudani also made the most of the opportunity to connect with seasoned project managers.

“It was an educational and engaging experience,” he said. “The speakers shared invaluable insights, and learning about PMI’s member program and services was particularly enlightening.”

In their studies in and out of the classroom, Project Management students hone the in-demand skills needed by every company and organization that wants to use their resources more effectively and efficiently.

“It’s such a good program for any industry, because the skills you learn can be applied to anything,” said Professor Elaine Catell. “The interesting thing about our program is we’re not just teaching engineers. We have such a variety of educational disciplines and interests.”

Each semester, the program completes projects from both domestic and international clients, offering student teams a diverse range of challenges. These projects encompass numerous sectors, ensuring that DC students engage with a broad spectrum of real-world scenarios, enriching their learning experiences and preparing them for the complexities of their future careers. Businesses, community organizations and faculty are invited to contact Elaine Catell with potential projects.

A quick hallway chat between two Durham College (DC) faculty members sparked an annual partnership, benefiting students from both the Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant (OTA/PTA) program and the Journalism – Mass Media program.

The partnership produces the Rehab Matters Newsletter – which just published its sixth edition – where the OTA/PTA students focus on writing about a rehab matter in the Canadian context while the journalism students mentor them on writing and provided editorial support and leadership.

“The newsletter project was a nice opportunity to work on both student’s program requirements at the final stage of their of their academic careers and to achieve a number of different learning outcomes,” said Faculty member Teresa Avvampato. While the initial project was just a pilot, “we just kept going because we had such good feedback from the students involved,” she said.

Shun Naito, an OTA/PTA student really valued the opportunity to have experts help improve the quality of his work and was grateful for the support. “It’s a great opportunity as the role of an OTA/PTA needs to be advocated and the journalism students are the best at writing,” he said.

“An extra set of eyes was great to have for my project,” said Naito, who worked with Journalism student, Simran Deb, on his article. “She helped with structure and how I should persuade and inform the audience. The flow of paragraphs was way better after she gave me hints and ideas. Both parties were respectful about time and communicated effectively.”

Naito gained a significant confidence boost and did things he never imagined he would be able to do with the help of the Journalism students.

Clayton DeMaine, a Journalism student, said the opportunity to edit content he had limited knowledge of was beneficial.

“I might want to be an editor one day, so, it’s cool to be able to edit someone else’s work that we don’t know anything about,” said DeMaine. “It just gave us a really well-rounded experience overall to have editing to add to our portfolio.”

Durham College (DC) will be able to continue supporting Ontario’s small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through its commercialization services thanks to a recent grant from Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON). By extending the initial funding received in 2023, the $300,000 in new funding will help expand DC’s capacity for another year to support local SMEs as they scale with intellectual property (IP) services and DC’s newly developed consultation and IP investment program.

“Durham College is proud to be at the forefront of driving innovation and economic growth in Ontario,” said Dr. Joshua Cohen, Commercialization Specialist at DC. “Through the IPON initiative, we are empowering SMEs to protect and commercialize their intellectual property, ultimately contributing to the prosperity of our province.”

Dr. Cohen is leading the college’s consultation and IP investment program and shared it has already demonstrated remarkable achievements in its pilot year. After already investing over $100,000, DC’s IP program has benefited over 50 SMEs, which have resulted in eight patent applications, two trademark applications, and several patent licensing and non-disclosure agreements.

With 25 dedicated team members from DC’s Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE), the program has been instrumental in facilitating and fostering partnerships between the college and SMEs. The success stories emerging from DC’s IPON funding exemplify its impact on local businesses and the broader innovation ecosystem. EcoSafeSense, a start-up specializing in air quality sensors, and Inventing Future Technology Inc. (IFTech), a technology company focusing on virtual and augmented reality solutions, are among the beneficiaries of the program.

“EcoSafeSense and IFTech are prime examples of the transformative power of strategic IP support,” said Dr. Cohen. “By providing tailored consultations, funding opportunities, and proactive IP protection strategies, we are enabling these companies to thrive and innovate in competitive markets.”

DC’s IP program emphasizes education and strategy development to equip SMEs with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the complexities of IP management effectively. This is something that Michael Stanfield, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of IFTech, says is critical to business growth.

“We were able to work with Durham College and actually file our latest patent right through the program, so it was fantastic, and now we’re signed on as clients to IPON,” Stanfield shared. “I can’t speak highly enough of the filing process and of Josh and his help in this, it was really a great experience.”

IFTech’s latest innovation, ARAIG, the world’s first multi-sensory, multi-directional, force feedback suit provides real-world sensory simulation to the wearer and is poised to help save lives for those in combat.

“We feel pretty good about our patent because it means we’re protected, that we can do business without worrying about other companies putting a stop to us – or even competing similarly,” said Stanfield. “It’s exciting for us that this patent is already helping us move forward.”

Debbie McKee Demczyk, Dean of ORSIE, emphasized the collaborative efforts that have fueled the success of the IPON initiative. “The dedication and expertise of our team, coupled with strong partnerships with industry and academic stakeholders, have been integral to advancing innovation and commercialization efforts,” she said.

Moving forward, DC remains committed to expanding the reach and impact of the IPON funding, with a focus on fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship within the province.

DC is among 10 post-secondary institutions participating in IPON’s pilot funding program and sharing $1.7 million in funding. The investment is in support of the Government of Ontario’s Commercialization Mandate Policy Framework, which aims to help publicly assisted post-secondary institutions better commercialize ideas and products generated through Ontario research and innovation.

“This is a great initiative for Ontario when it comes to small technology companies who are looking to patent certain things – because that’s one of the difficulties, is the funding for that – so it’s a really great idea,” added Stanfield.

For more information about DC’s commercialization efforts, please contact Joshua Cohen, or visit us online to learn more about ORSIE and the college’s applied research services and projects.

Early Childhood Educators looking to take on leadership roles can now gain the necessary skills through a series of new micro-credentials offered by Durham College (DC) in partnership with the Region of Durham.

The Supervision and Leadership in Early Childhood Education micro-credentials are fully online and are offered by DC’s Professional and Part-time Learning department. Registered Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) with good academic standing with the College of Early Childhood Educators are eligible and invited to apply.

These micro-credentials focus on developing financial management and the leadership skills that are critical for the role of a supervisor. Students will use simulation, case studies and mentorship to develop skills to effectively recruit and supervise staff, manage budgetary requirements and maintain accurate records and standards within an early childhood education centre.

“We are proud to offer these micro-credentials which allow ECEs to enhance their careers while supporting critical needs in early childhood education centres,” said Nora Simpson, Executive Dean, Faculty of Liberal Studies and Professional and Part-Time Learning at DC. “With this flexible delivery model, we are supporting students while also supporting families who rely on child care programs across the region and province.”

The opportunity is offered in partnership with the Region of Durham, the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada as part of the Canada-Ontario Early Childhood Workforce Agreement, which provided one-time federal funding to support retention and recruitment of a high-quality child care and early years workforce.

“This is an exciting time to work in early learning and child care, because the system is growing and it needs a skilled workforce,” said Julie Gaskin, Director of Children’s Services for The Regional Municipality of Durham. “The Supervision and Leadership in Early Childhood Education micro-credentials will support ECEs in developing their skills and building their career in this very rewarding sector, making a positive difference for families in our community.”

Financial support is available to eligible applicants in the form of an education grant, travel grant and training allowance. Learn more about these government grants at www.ecegrants.on.ca.

Students can apply now to start in May.