Why did you decide to pursue the
Energy Option?

I decided to pursue the Energy Option because it struck me as addressing one of the critical issues of the future.

I found myself very much interested in finding ways to apply the fundamental knowledge gained in the foundation years to tackle broader and more complex global problems.

I also think the Energy Option addresses the critical role the environment and public policy have to play in solving problems, and the considerable weight of these in relation to the technical expertise required.

Finally, the inter-disciplinary nature of the option was appealing, as I think working across classical boundaries in collaborative teams is an essential skill for today’s engineers.

What have you learned with your PEY experience at Ontario Power Authority that you can bring to your studies in the option?

The Ontario Power Authority is a small government agency whose primary mandate is to produce a 20-year Integrated Power System Plan (IPSP). While it may be small in the number of staff, it is massive in the scope of its mandate, the knowledge of its employees, and the importance of its task. I’ve learned a great deal in my 12 months at OPA about the high-level structure, mechanisms, impending issues and emerging solutions within Ontario’s electricity sector.

Of particular interest has been the importance of public consultation, government directives, environmental sustainability and economic prudence in the planning and implementation of major generation and transmission projects. I think this will provide a key balance point for me when learning the detailed electrical and engineering theory behind the power system. I also think I’ll have a realistic perspective on newer technologies, their feasibility and their role (small or large) in the near to medium term. I think this will provide useful guidance when it comes to specializing in 4th year, and in choosing a thesis topic.

What do you anticipate will pique your interest most in the first year of the Energy Option?

From the perspective of the curriculum, there are two new courses, which jump off the page for me:
the first is Terrestrial Energy Systems, which I anticipate to be a fascinating study of the earth as an energy system, and a chance to see both the natural and man-made flows and conversions of energy. I think this will be a good challenge to a classical mindset of energy and electricity being synonymous, and I fully support such a holistic approach to the planet, and hope to see this concept pervading the curriculum elsewhere.

The second is Energy Policy, where I look forward to stepping back from immersion in the implementation of government policy to studying the subject from an outsider’s perspective. I hope to be able to contribute to this course some of my first-hand experiences at OPA, and to also gain some new and different perspectives.

In addition to the curriculum, I am interested to see the differences between the workings of the industry and the mindsets of the university community on some key issues. I’m looking forward to some good debates and discussions with my peers on their thoughts and ideas about the energy sector, both in Ontario and across the world.

How do your interests in energy fit with your position with Engineers Without Borders? 

I think my involvement in the Energy Option and my position with EWB are inherently intertwined. At a fundamental level, my interest in energy is linked to a value for a sustainable world, and a respect for the planet and its diverse ecosystems. My passion for EWB stems from a value for human dignity and a respect for all humans and the ranging spectrum of lives they live. I see both as opportunities or vehicles for creating change to empower people with the least opportunities and to protect ecosystems which are the most vulnerable.

Why is the Energy Option a good fit for the Engineering Science program? 

I think the Energy Option is a great fit for EngSci, as energy is a leading edge field of research, and the field itself has an incredible breadth of opportunity. As well, I think there are numerous opportunities for collaboration - with other options in the EngSci program, with other Departments in the Faculty and with other Faculties and schools within the University. Finally I think the initiation of the Energy Option is a strong step forward for the image of EngSci, as a tangible action supporting the concept of Engineers for the World.

What are your goals as an Engineer for the World? 

I would consider an Engineer for the World to be a person with a clear understanding of themselves – their values, their gifts, their strengths, weaknesses and perspectives. He or she would be aware and informed of the larger theories, structures and workings of today’s world – and be highly critical of the impact of these on individual people and the planet itself. The final key to an Engineer for the World would be a belief that her or his contributions make a significant difference, and to make conscious and deliberate choices in terms of research areas and career paths.

For me personally this involves thinking through the impacts of my actions, however subtle, always seeking to learn more about both the environments I live in, but in particular the environments and people which I impact but have never laid eyes upon, spoken with, or understood. I look forward to challenging and questioning existing systems, and taking action to change them when I feel strongly, and have the capacity to do so. This would lead to my career goal – to work in a field that I am passionate about which intersects with my own values, and leads to a future that I would want to live in.

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