Thunder Bay, Ont. – Lakehead University has received $540,000 from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) PromoScience program to address the underrepresentation of Indigenous perspectives and knowledge in Canada’s engineering profession.
Led by Lakehead’s Faculty of Engineering, the project, ‘Sustainable Engineering for Indigenous Communities,’ will develop outreach programming for primary and secondary school students in northwestern Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, with an emphasis on engaging Indigenous youth and their communities to promote sustainable engineering.
“Our shared intention with our partners is to provide Indigenous youth with more opportunities and more pathways to become engineers, enabling them to apply their talent and perspectives to help address challenges facing communities across Canada, including sustainable land development, ecosystem restoration, and access to clean water, energy, and housing,” said Faculty of Engineering dean Dr. Janusz Kozinski.
Dr. Kozinski says that less than one per cent of undergraduate students enrolled in accredited engineering programs in Canada identify as Indigenous. “We want to send a strong, compelling message to students throughout their educational journey that engineering is for everyone and there is a pathway for every student to become an engineer.”
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