Diana Urbanczyk remembers the first time she ever saw the term STEAM, which stands for science, technology, engineering, art & design, and math.
She was at Science World as a participant in our first-ever Girls and STEAM Summit in 2018.
When she heard this newer twist on the more familiar "STEM," she recalls feeling skeptical.
"I was like, 'That's weird...how are you going to bring art into science?"
However, after listening to the keynote speaker Andini Makosinski, Diana changed her mind.
Andini had asked the audience how one could create an object—from something as small as a flashlight to as large as a building—without considering aesthetics and design principles.
Diana says, "For the first time, I realized, hey, you know what? There is art in science. There's beauty in everything we do, especially engineering, and civil architecture, and even robotics. Everything has an element of creativity."
"Totally!" says Joomin, a professional engineer with BC Hydro for the last ten years. "Art and creativity are crucial in these fields. They help us to solve problems, to push boundaries, and eventually, they help us foster innovation."
Joomin talks about the innovative spirit built into the fabric of BC Hydro. "We were doing clean energy before it was cool," she laughs. "We have hydroelectric dams, but we also make use of solar, and wind and soon, hopefully, even giant batteries."
"It's so important to hear about these different specializations," says Diana. She mentions a funny video circulating online recently that featured a befuddled student pleading, "Okay, is anyone gonna tell me what engineers do? Are we just pretending to know what engineers do?"
"That's why I'm here today," says Diana. "To learn as much as I can. I'm a go-getter that way."
Innovation Takes Flight
Diana the student and Joomin the mentor have met on a sunny summer day at Science World to partake in a lively conversation in Ken Spencer Science Park.
Diana has just completed science-enrichment program for teens Future Science Leaders, presented by Acuitas Therapeutics, and is about to enter her first year of university. She wants to tap into the knowledge that Joomin has gained as a professional engineer over her twenty-year career.
They discuss Diana's Future Science Leaders project where she explored clean energy through an aerospace lens.
By building a model plane and experimenting with solar panels and wind turbines, Diana hopes her work can help pave the way for development of renewable energy systems in the aviation industry.
Joomin is thoroughly impressed to hear that by the time Diana was in Grade 12, she already had her private pilot's licence and has completed several solo flights around Vancouver Island and the Mainland, her longest being 2.5 hours.
"It's so cool that you're taking your passion for flying and trying to it more sustainable."
"I was inspired by the first fully electric float plane," says Diana. "I wanted to look for more solutions for the world."
Joomin concurs that this call to seek solutions brought her into the engineering field as well.
A short pivot from engineering to art school and industrial design helped confirm Joomin's initial choice to pursue engineering as a career: "I missed the technical aspect, and the critical thinking. I realized engineering can look like a wide variety of things. It gives you the tools to problem solve, and so many jobs require problem solving."
Today, she works as an electrical engineer in BC Hydro's long-term planning department with a group developing sustainable strategies to support the future energy demand of the province.
"We live in such a beautiful place here in British Columbia," Joomin says. "And, I want to make sure that I do my part to keep this place beautiful for generations to come. Clean energy is a crucial part in addressing climate change. Which is becoming more and more painfully apparent."
"It's really reassuring to hear that you tried different paths and found your way," says Diana. "I'm always worried about the direction of my career, and the right steps to take."
Joomin replies, "The good news is, you don't have to figure it all out right now. I think the most important thing is to just keep being curious."
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Thanks to supporters like BC Hydro, we reach students, teachers, and families across BC and help them prepare for a lifetime of wonder-seeking and problem-solving in a world powered by STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art & design, and math). Learn more.