Summer is a time for rest but also for enrichment, which is the route one grade 12 SAC student chose to take.
William Deo ’17 had a busy six weeks this summer partaking in the Yale Young Global Scholar’s program and the SHAD Summer program.
At Yale University, he spent two weeks studying in the Applied Science and Engineering program in New Haven, Connecticut, and living in the historic Jonathan Edwards College. It was one of six sessions offered. Converging with 220 of the greatest young thinkers in the science and engineering fields was a great chance to not only learn from each other academically, but to also learn about the 67 different nations represented among the students.
The days were filled with lectures, discussions, and seminars, as well as completing a culminating project. The issue William’s group chose to tackle was climate change, forging a solution through clean and sustainable nuclear power production. The idea for this solution was definitely influenced by the grade 11 physics class taught by Mr. Inglis. With a base great of knowledge, William was able to explore more of the complexities that exist in the field.
After less than 24 hours back in Toronto to repack and reorganize, William was off to Saskatoon to attend the SHAD Summer program at the University of Saskatchewan. After being accepted to the program, students were placed in one of 12 campuses across the country. He found the city quite interesting and an unexpected bonus, as it wasn’t on his radar to visit, let alone live in for a month.
The SHAD Summer program started at St. Andrew’s College in 1980 and is now headquartered in Waterloo, Ont. Time at SHAD was spent with 55 other students from across the country, all with a focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) and business. William also had the chance to spend three days on a research project about the composition of corrosion on an aircraft turbine blade from a Boeing 737 at the Canadian Light Source (CLS). Visiting the CLS was amazing, as it is Canada’s national centre for synchrotron research. Their research is expected to be published in early 2017.
One of the major aspects of the SHAD program is a culminating project centered on a pressing issue. This year’s issue: Food Security in Canada. Through lectures, workshops, field trips, and project work, William’s group devised an economical, environmental greenhouse the size of a small shipping container that could easily fit into a parking space. One of the areas where food insecurity is highest is in urban settings, which is why it is important to develop something low maintenance, durable, and highly effective within a small space. (For more information visit the website at refarm.tk) He looks forward to competing in the SHAD-John Dobson Entrepreneurship Cup in October.
William returned to St. Andrew’s this fall with not only some great experiences, but also an increased passion for the STEM fields. This year he will serve as the COSSOT STEM Council Co-Chair aiming to promote STEM learning and career paths within the independent, single-sex schools. For those interested in STEM, the council hosts a daylong conference in February at the University of Toronto. It’s open to all interested students and offers keynote speakers, workshops, and Q&A periods.
