How is an experiential learning program like INSPIRE designed? 

Jenna and Parker sit down with INSPIRE’s Apprentice Garage Coordinators Nowshin Nawar Arony and Ali Hamdy. They take a broad view of the program and oversee the learning and work that INSPIRE’s student teams take on. 

Points of Interest:

• Building experiential learning programs

• Adapting to student needs

• What modern learning can look like

Links: 

• https://inspireuvic.org/testimonials
  

What does it mean to mentor… mentors? 

Jenna and Parker chat with Kezia Devasathan and Jena Wheeldon, who mentor INSPIRE’s ClimAct and Carbon Impact of Web Browsing projects respectively. Together, they coordinate INSPIRE’s ambassador team. Kezia and Jena are both incredibly active members of the UVic community. Find out how their experience as INSPIRE’s ambassador coordinators has gone. 

Points of Interest:

• Working with the WECS club (Women in Engineering & Computers Science)

• Mentoring students at varying levels of expertise

• Team motivation and building bonds

Links:

• https://inspireuvic.org/ambassadors
  

How can we approach societal problems that are beyond the scope of one team?

Jenna and Parker are joined by Bachan Ghimire and Payton Chernoff to talk about their project collaboration with the Alliance to End Homelessness in the Capital Region (formerly the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness). 

This is a project exemplary of the kinds of solutions INSPIRE students create and the experience they have in the program. Thinking of applying for a role with us? Check these folks out. 

This week: 

• Understanding a problem

• Adjusting to team roles

Links:

• https://victoriahomelessness.ca
• https://inspireuvic.org/gvceh 
• https://inspireuvic.org/apply

How can you implement EDI in your workplace?

Parker is joined by Mami Shouten, UVic’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Research Officer, to find out how we can support staff, peers, and students by turning EDI principles into action.

This week:

• EDI principles
• How to take action
• Reporting back to communities

Links:

https://www.uvic.ca/equity/index.php

https://www.engineeringedihub.ca/

How can we design with users, not just for them? 

Jenna and Parker sit down with Marcus Rinzsch and Sydney Macdonald, two members of the INSPIRE team collaborating with the Victoria Brain Injury Society to build an accessible and inclusive app. 

This week: 

• What is VBIS?

• Designing for accessibility

Links:

• https://vbis.ca/

• https://inspireuvic.org/vbis-1 

  
  

  Music by Scott Buckley – released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

Who are the people pushing the Victoria tech industry forward?

Parker and Jenna are joined by Redbrick’s CMO Marco Pimentel and Projects Manager Mahum Azeem.

This week: 

• What does it take to lead a successful and innovative tech company?

• Moving from student to industry professional 

Links:

• Learn more about Redbrick - https://rdbrck.com/
• Redbrick x INSPIRE = Carbon Impact of Web Browsing - https://inspireuvic.org/ciwb

What does it take to lead an INSPIRE project?

Parker and Jenna are joined by two INSPIRE ambassadors: Aikaterini “Katia” Tavri and Peyton Chernoff to talk about their teams, RUSH and GVCEH. 

This week: 

• What is the job of an INSPIRE Ambassador?

• Open-source software for the win

• Pivots (from one field to another)

Links:

INSPIRE Projects - https://inspireuvic.org/projects 

More about RUSH and NatuR&D - https://naturnd.com/updates/rush-initiative/ 
Alliance to End Homelessness in the Capital Region (Formerly the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness) - https://victoriahomelessness.ca/

What is EDI and why is it important in the workplace?

Jenna Mehlman and guest-host Ali Hamdy are joined by the University of Victoria’s Dean of Engineering and Computer Science, Dr. Mina Hoorfar, as well as Dr. Daniela Damian, Professor of Software Engineering and the director of INSPIRE.

This week:

• What is the INSPIRE program? What sets it apart from other experiential learning opportunities?
• Defining EDI and its importance in the workplace
• INSPIRE’s design-thinking methodology

Links:

Inspire - https://inspireuvic.org/

UVic Engineering EDI Helpline - https://www.engineeringedihub.ca/

More about Dr. Hoorfar https://www.uvic.ca/ecs/mechanical/faculty-and-staff/faculty/profiles/hoorfar-mina.php