SEED program offers high school students a chance to get hands-on learning experience
UBC Okanagan engineering student Gurnoor Chawla knew she’d chosen the right path after an inspiring summer learning experience at the university while she was still in high school.
Fast forward a few years later, now a third-year Electrical Engineering student at UBCO, Chawla is encouraging the next cohort of engineering students to follow in her footsteps.
UBCO’s School of Engineering (SoE) hosts the Stewards in Engineering Education (SEED) Program each July to promote engineering research interest and involvement among high school students. Students going into grades 9-12 have the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge research projects with world-class researchers and graduate students in state-of-the-art laboratory facilities.
The program is free and designed to be a spring board to helping students make decisions and plan ahead.
UBCO School of Engineering student Gurnoor Chawla
Inspired by her experience within the School of Engineering, Gurnoor Chawla is a now a student ambassador for the SoE and speaks highly of the SEED Program.
“I just found it online and it seemed like something I would be interested in, as I had been looking into engineering as a potential career choice at the time,” explains Chawla. “I really enjoyed how realistic and hands on it was. Being able to connect so closely with professors and PhD students so early on really helped me refine my skill set and understand what research in the field looked like.
She recalls stepping into the radioactive materials lab for the first time as being one of the most memorable parts of her SEED experience, and one that helped to validate her decision to study engineering.
“For me, the most memorable part was definitely getting to see the electron microscope and interact with the radioactive materials lab. I enjoyed how intensive and collaborative it was.”
Chawla adds: “Overall, the SEED program provides a very realistic and intensive understanding of what work in university research labs looks like, so it ensures that you are partaking and putting effort into the work instead of simply watching from the sidelines. Anyone interested in SEED should come in with an open mind and a will to explore, because this is such an amazing opportunity and a great way to create a strong network at UBCO!”
Dr. Jonathan Holzman, an electrical engineering professor and faculty lead for SEED, concurs that the program offers a unique, hands-on opportunity for students. “Many incoming students will have never seen—let alone actively experienced—a research lab before. SEED can help them better understand the research environment, and the many pathways in engineering as they are making their post-secondary choices.”
This year’s SEED program runs from July 22 – 26, 2024. Applications are open until May 17 and can be completed online. More information about the program is available on the SoE’s website under Engineering Summer Programs.