STEAM Engine Program Impact and Highlights | Annual Report 2023

April 15, 2024

We’re thrilled to present some highlights from the 2023 school year!

STEAM Engine is an in-class program where grades 5 to 8 students learn and apply concepts in science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) to both enhance their digital technology skills and increase interest in STEM fields. In STEAM Engine, participants complete eight one-hour workshops during their core science or math class, facilitated by a representative role model/facilitator.

Last year, STEAM Engine reached 1,036 students from 14 schools. During the sessions, 17 STEM professionals from GM Canada opened up about their own educational and career journeys, offering priceless advice and shedding light on the paths to STEM careers.

What’s more, STEAM Engine is making strides in closing the gender gap in STEM. Nearly half of the participants are female or identify as gender non-conforming. We’re thrilled to play a part in this important shift within the world of STEM.

This year, we had many notable visitors to our program. Hamilton MPP Neil Lumsden visited the program to talk to students about their experiences. 17 classrooms were fortunate to receive a visit from employees from GM Canada, who spoke to students about their journey into the STEM fields, and more specifically into the automotive sector.

The STEAM Engine Program was generously supported by a host of public and private funders including: the Hamilton Community Foundation, NSERC PromoScience, Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network, GM Canada, the City of Hamilton, and the R. R. McCann and Family Foundation.

A Mathstronauts' instructor helping a STEAM Engine student in coding

A mentor from GM Canada taking questions from students about working in the automotive sector

Hamilton MPP Neil Lumsden visiting the program to talk to students about their experiences

Gallery

Students showcasing their Mars Rover project

mathstronauts

IGNITE Program, In-Class Programs, News, STEAM Engine Program

Mathstronauts Receives Prestigious Grant from Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) to Drive Interests in Automotive Careers

Hamilton, September 5, 2023
by Priska Handojo, MDCC, Marketing and Communications Specialist at Mathstronauts

Read OVIN’s official press release

Mathstronauts is thrilled to announce that we have been selected by the Ontario Government through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) as a recipient of the Regional Future Workforce (RFW) Program to support the development of a highly skilled workforce in the automotive and mobility sector.

The RFW Program is allocating over $6 million to 14 projects carried out by Ontario non-profit organizations, post-secondary institutions, and school boards to deliver automotive and mobility-focused programs connecting students from kindergarten to post-secondary to the sector.

The nearly $300,000 funding received by Mathstronauts underscores the significance of our mission to bridge the STEM educational gap and empower students in underserved communities. This award validates the relentless efforts of our team and charges our ability to extend the outreach of our programs.

“As we continue to grow Ontario’s auto supply chain, it’s important that we empower students and connect them with exciting opportunities in the sector,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “We’re attracting billions of dollars worth of investment from companies worldwide that will create thousands of new jobs.”

“We are honored to be selected as a recipient of this funding and excited to contribute to this important project,” said Sehrish Zehra, Executive Director at Mathstronauts. “At Mathstronauts we believe in providing educational programs driven by community needs, and our work here will help to pave the pathway for the technologically skilled workforce required in Ontario in the near future.”

Fostering a Talent Pipeline

“Careers in Ontario’s auto sector offer life-changing opportunities, with good pay, pensions and benefits. Our government will continue to invest in innovative projects that help workers and jobseekers get the skills they need to land better jobs with bigger paychecks in the auto industry,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

Through the RFW Program, Mathstronauts will create two school programs in collaboration with GM Canada, McMaster University, and the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board and Toronto Catholic District School Board. These programs will engage 600 students in grades 5-12 to foster interest in automotive and mobility careers. By offering high-quality STEM programming, mentorship, and hands-on projects, we aim to enhance students’ readiness for the automotive industry future workforce, cultivating their software-related skills and industry knowledge.

Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade of Ontario, Victor Fedeli and Ontario Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, Monte McNaughton with recipients of the RFW Program, including Mathstronauts’ Director, Sehrish Zehra (front row, third from right) and Instructional Developer, Bryan Williams (second row, third from right) at the OVIN Announcement Event on May 30, 2023.

Promoting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Automotive Sector

We are committed to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). This funding aims to level the playing field for underrepresented groups in the automotive sector and reducing stigmas around pursuing careers in this field.

Our programs will embody EDI principles through diverse curriculum content, featuring varied ethnic, racial, and gender identities. We will integrate inclusive examples of scientists, engineers, and researchers, fostering cultural awareness. Hands-on activities and projects will emphasize cultural diversity. Fostering inclusivity will help students connect, understand diverse STEM careers, and learn mutual acceptance and respect.

GM Canada will provide students a chance to connect with real-world STEM mentors in class, sharing their automotive career journeys. These mentors are GM Canada’s engineers and technologists, and they will raise awareness about the diversity of automotive jobs, demystify STEM jobs, and showcase their dynamic work settings.

Quotes

“OCI is grateful for the support from the Government of Ontario. The three core elements that make the Regional Future Workforce program stand out are its regional reach, the inclusion of equity-deserving groups, and the reach across multiple audience segments.”

– Claudia Krywiak, President and CEO of Ontario Centre of Innovation.

“Ontario has emerged on the global stage as the jurisdiction that will usher in the future of the automotive sector as it transitions through electrification, connectivity, autonomy and mobility solutions. The Regional Future Workforce program is another example of Ontario’s commitment to ensuring that we have a highly-skilled and diverse workforce across the province to power this industry for years to come.

– Raed Kadri, Head of the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network, Ontario Centre of Innovation

“This funding will play an important role in preparing our youth to respond to the needs and challenges of tomorrow. As Hamilton and Ontario continue to grow at a rapid pace, it is critical that we encourage young Ontarians with an interest in the skilled trades to pursue employment opportunities in that area. I am confident that this funding will contribute to that end – enabling great community organizations like Mathstronauts to continue to provide high quality STEM programming to youth from grades 5-12, and encourage their pursuit of rewarding careers that support local communities and economies.”

– Neil Lumsden, MPP for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek.

For more information and/or PR inquiries, please contact: Priska Handojo (p.handojo@mathstronauts.ca)

mathstronauts

In-Class Programs, STEAM Engine Program

Driving 950 Ontario youth to develop a passion for engineering and technology via the STEAM Engine Program

5 June 2023

Today, we’re celebrating our STEAM Engine Program!

The 2022 – 2023 program just wrapped up. We are excited to share some highlights from the school year with you!

STEAM Engine Program in-class is a hands-on, project-based learning (PjBL) STEM program provided to Grades 5 – 8 students.

The STEAM Engine Program started in 2016 in just one school in Hamilton. Now, it’s reaching hundreds of students throughout Ontario, all the way from Oshawa to Kitchener!

This year, we brought STEAM Engine to 950 students from 19 different schools. Throughout the program, 12 real life STEM professionals from GM Canada shared their own academic and professional journeys, give memorable advice, and demystify STEM career paths.

STEAM Engine is also closing the STEM gender gap, as almost half of its participants are female or gender non-conforming students. We are so proud to be making this change within the STEM field.

Thank you to our STEAM Engine sponsors, Hamilton Community Foundation, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and General Motors – we couldn’t have run this program without them.

Gallery

Helping Students Build Technical Skills and Confidence

The STEAM Engine Program inspired many students this year, including Muqadasa, a newcomer student from Pauline Johnson Elementary School, Hamilton.

Muqadasa didn’t just learn digital literacy skills in this program, but her instructor also helped her learn the English language so she could communicate with her classmates.

Mentoring Opportunities from STEM Professionals

Students in the STEAM Engine Program got to hear from real-life STEM professionals from GM Canada! These mentors shared their own academic and professional journeys, gave memorable advice, and demystified STEM career paths.

Category: In-Class Programs