STEMing UP Spotlight (Interview with Dhwani Vaishnav) – STEMing UP Weekly Write Up 11

Hello readers! I hope you enjoyed last week’s Spotlight with Naomi Thomas. This week, we will be featuring Dhwani Vaishnav. This series, spanning over the duration of Phase III of the STEMing UP program will showcase the girls in the program, one each Saturday! Check back here every weekend to learn more about the incredible girls in the STEMing UP program and what they are working on.

Dhwani will be in grade 11 this September at J Clarke Richardson Collegiate and she enjoys reading, Bharatanatyam dance, and playing the violin. Fun fact: Dhwani loves to travel and has visited five countries so far!

Let’s get into the interview!

1. Why did you join the STEMing UP program?

I joined the STEMing UP program because although I have always been interested in STEM, I had not received the opportunity to learn about content that would help me in the future other than soft skills. I received an email from the Girls-E-Mentorship (GEM) program, where I was a mentee, and immediately applied. After all, a chance to learn skills such as financial metrics, marketing, how to pitch, and coding skills such as Python and coding with the Django framework are irreplaceable skills!

2. What interests you about STEM?

What interests me about STEM is that there are endless opportunities within it, it is always changing, and it is interesting! Within the STEM field, there are so many roles you could perform- from being a researcher to a mathematician to an engineer. Most STEM requirements and careers are also forever changing- especially technology. After all, many say that we are experiencing the fourth industrial revolution! With the rise of exponential technologies such as blockchain, AI, and VR,  society will change for the better. Lastly, STEM fields are interesting to me! From biology to physics, each interests me to some degree.

3. Why is it important to you that we have more women in STEM fields?

My simple answer is that currently, women represent 39% of STEM graduates. This number is even lower in sub STEM categories, such as mathematics and computer science. Since those in STEM fields create and improve on products, practices, and services that serve both men and women, it makes sense that those creating these products, practices, and services are men and women! Women bring a different perspective that I believe would help with elevating the quality of innovation. STEM careers add to a nation’s economic growth, so I feel it is crucial to have more women in STEM fields.

4. What do you hope to pursue in the future post-secondary wise?

I hope to go into engineering post-secondary wise, namely biomedical engineering!

5. When did you first realize you were interested in STEM? Describe that experience.

I feel that I have always been interested in STEM fields; there is not a specific moment I can pinpoint. I have always loved science, and always will!

6. What skills have you acquired through the STEMing UP program?

I have gained the ability to think critically, work in a team productively, and question everything- to not take anything at face value. I have learned to think both inductively and deductively, and learned skills such as how to pitch a product, how to market an item and how to price it. I have also learned how to code in Python and HTML + CSS.

7. What are some things you are working on in the STEM field?

I am a part of my school’s robotics team, compete in hackathons, and attend many Canada Learning Code workshops. I am also a TKS alumna, where I learned about exponential technologies such as AI, blockchain, and quantum computing. I am also a Flight Corporal in the Air Cadet program, where I am working towards obtaining my glider pilot license.

Thanks for reading this week’s STEMing UP Spotlight with Dhwani Vaishnav. Check back next week to read about another girl doing amazing things in the program!