2022-23 Department Representative Platforms Part 2

Science Students’ Council Dep-Rep Platforms Science Students’ Council

Biology

Biology Representative Dep-Rep Platform Prepared by Eileen Oh; eoh7@uwo.ca

YEAR AND PROGRAM 2nd Year Medical Sciences

REPRESENTING AND ADVOCATING FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS -Listen to student's concerns or anything they may casually mention that seems or needs attention -Have a great support system where anyone and everyone can ask and reach out -Easy accessibility to department events -Sending out emails, posting on social media -Show a lot enthusiasm

EVENT OR INITIATIVE IDEA -Interactive science fair?

-Optional free small laptop stickers representing the department the student is in to show a sense of pride or just as a method to pinpoint any other possible students who may be in the same department as you to be friends with -Sometime throughout the year have a mini department vs department competition for fun, where more engagement can result in more points for the team

DEP-CLUB PARTNERSHIP -Stay in contact with them -Introduce myself and get to know them as a way to remember the person themselves and the club they're representing -Set reminders about communicating with other department club(s) as to not forget -Be kind and considerate of new ideas

Biology Representative Dep-Rep Platform Prepared by Juliana Meli; jmeli2@uwo.ca

YEAR AND PROGRAM 1st Year General Science—Biology

REPRESENTING AND ADVOCATING FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS With this position I will be…

Communicative: - Providing various forms of communication allowing students to voice their concerns/ideas regarding the department.

- By ensuring all students have contact with me, whether by hosting zoom calls to voice opinions/thoughts, or simply using emails/socials.

Inclusive/Informative: - I will accomplish this by communicating various events/opportunities with my department through bulletin postings, media posts, and through emails.

- I advocate for students to be included in all forms of events as I hope to allow equal opportunities for all.

- Alongside being communicative, this will ensure all students are engaged, informed, and heard.

EVENT OR INITIATIVE IDEA An event I propose is a Science Faculty Weekend where there are specific events catered to helping students.

-One night is a get to know the faculty/department night, where there is food, we introduce ourselves, and play many games allowing the students to gain comfortability with the team and fellow students.

-Another night is an information night regarding possible positions, in which they have the opportunity to research and talk to those who have participated in them. This creating more opportunities for the students.

-Lastly, a resource night that allows students access to help, tips and advice with courses.

DEP-CLUB PARTNERSHIP I will ensure a strong and communicative relationship while working with the Biology Department by allowing an inclusive environment where all individuals in my department or in the faculty as a whole are heard. This can be done by communicating with the students through ways where they feel most comfortable expressing their thoughts and concerns. Whether it be in person or online, I will check-in with students in order to voice any issues or thoughts they may have. By doing this, it will allow them to become comfortable communicating with me while also creating a community with each other.

Biology Representative Dep-Rep Platform Prepared by Varenya Danthurthy; vdanthur@uwo.ca

YEAR AND PROGRAM 2nd Year Medical Sciences

REPRESENTING AND ADVOCATING FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS I will work with SSC to inform students about a more diverse array of careers following a Bsc degree/shift the stereotypes on what careers in science look like (via panels, mock job fairs etc). Students should not feel limited with their degree, as it opens a plethora of doors that don't have to lead to only Medical School/PhD to be successful. Furthermore, I’d like to showcase underrepresented demographics of scientists and their contributions to the community in weekly/cultural month posts, to reinforce the fact that science is a field for anyone and holds no prejudice.

EVENT OR INITIATIVE IDEA One event I would organize with SSC is a night of People Bingo. This is an effective, cheap, and accessible option that can be switched to zoom for public health and safety. It fosters conversation and is a great icebreaker for attendees looking to make connections in the BSc+ community. Meeting others with similar academic responsibilities/passions is good for the individual, as it can help their mental health and alleviate academic pressure, but also benefits the BSc+ community as it ties us closer together, which is a pillar of SSC’s mission.

DEP-CLUB PARTNERSHIP I will ensure strong communication between my department club and I by scheduling/attending meetings and organizing/participating in group chats to discuss future initiatives, feedback on past events, and complete team building exercises (let’s hit the spoke!). I want to have a positive relationship with all the members of my dept. Club, and have our interactions not feel like a job, but a friendly collaboration!

Science Students’ Council Dep-Rep Platforms Science Students’ Council

Environmental

Science

Environmental Science Representative Dep-Rep Platform Prepared by Natalie Minda; nminda@uwo.ca

YEAR AND PROGRAM 3rd Year HSP Environmental Science and Biology

REPRESENTING AND ADVOCATING FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS Engaging with the department, as well as keeping students informed: - Forwarding emails to all environmental science students (opportunities, general information, events).

- Being in frequent contact with the environmental science related clubs on campus.

- Holding personal zoom meetings / office hours once a month to discuss how classes are going, opportunities coming up, Q & A, resources.

- Promoting the program to incoming students at Western.

Advocacy: - Providing wellness resources more regularly.

- Being present and reliable for environmental science students for assistance.

- Engaging and connecting students in the program more.

EVENT OR INITIATIVE IDEA - Learning and respecting Indigenous history/ways of life is crucial to furthering understanding about environmental sciences.

- It should be focused on more in the program.

- One idea of an event is to work with Indigenous Students Association to go on a nature walk/hike.

- Volunteers at ISC could discuss Indigenous history, where the land is situated, about certain species of plants and trees, and more.

- Great for the mind, the body, and would be COVID-19 safe. It would also give students a chance to connect, make friends, learn about Indigenous knowledge, and feel more aligned with the Earth.

DEP-CLUB PARTNERSHIP - Form a strong and communicative relationship with the department clubs by connecting online with the club presidents (email / zoom).

- I will work with department clubs by communicating with students events that are happening with certain clubs.

- Provide insight to clubs on initiatives, advocacy and events when necessary.

- I will organize zoom meetings with the presidents of each club to discuss upcoming initiatives, issues and advocacy within the department.

Environmental Science Representative Dep-Rep Platform Prepared by Allison Pert; apert@uwo.ca

YEAR AND PROGRAM

3rd Year Environmental Science

REPRESENTING AND ADVOCATING FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS - Advocacy: sustainability is applicable in every academic discipline; you can turn any career into one that incorporates your love of the environment - I would hope to help connect students with clubs and initiatives on and off campus that could further their networking opportunities and help them facilitate environmental stewardship - I want to show students that sustainable living and interest isn't restricted to being vegan or a minimalist, it's inclusive and diverse

EVENT OR INITIATIVE IDEA - careers in sustainability panel - NSERC USRA previous award winners interview - campus tour highlighting everywhere you can get involved on campus with sustainability initiatives/cool sustainability features on campus - environmental science clubs social - trip to the outdoor farmers market - river clean up

DEP-CLUB PARTNERSHIP - Many sustainability initiatives on campus have common goals, I want to help with collaboration and communication between groups (both SSC affiliated and not) - Communication through Discord, Facebook, and Instagram seem most effective for this kind of thing given previous experience as a core executive member of the Western Sustainable Leaders Program and as a Team Leader with the International and Exchange Student Centre - I can use my previous experience with project and event planning to help coordinate these efforts

Science Students’ Council Dep-Rep Platforms Science Students’ Council

Epidemiology & Biostatistics

Epidemiology and Biostatistics Representative Dep-Rep Platform Prepared by Emmanuel Akanbi; eakanbi@uwo.ca

YEAR AND PROGRAM 2nd Year Medical Sciences

REPRESENTING AND ADVOCATING FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS -Commit to office hours early on in the semester and advertise my email through professors and course forums -Talk to the professors of all the main courses from the epidemiology and biostatistics courses in order to advertise SSC events -Organize events across multiple departments or collaborate with multiple departments in order to advertise to a broader group of students -I hope to advocate for more science specific study spaces

EVENT OR INITIATIVE IDEA -An event featuring Teaching Assistants and graduate students across epidemiology and biostatistics and departments related to it including computer science and pathology departments and going through the research they are doing and the motivations they had graduate programs.

-A competition based on an epidemiologic scenario judged by professors from the department -A dinner with professors from the key courses of the epidemiology and biostats department -Organize talks discussing the epidemiology of diseases currently plaguing the world

DEP-CLUB PARTNERSHIP I would attend meetings held by the Undergraduate Student Council of Epidemiology of Biostatistics (USCEB) and be an active member in the club I would workshop any ideas I have for events with them I would act as a liason to get any ideas they have for the science students at large to the council I would organize weekly or biweekly check-ins with the executives of the department clubs

Science Students’ Council Dep-Rep Platforms Science Students’ Council

Interdisciplinary

Medical Science

Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences (IMS) Representative Dep-Rep Platform Prepared by Nathan Oelschlagel; noelschl@uwo.ca

YEAR AND PROGRAM 3rd Year HSP IMS + Major in Physiology

REPRESENTING AND ADVOCATING FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS - hosting events where they can meet me and the other IMS dep rep so they can feel comfortable approaching us -Making class announcements to acquaint peers with myself/my role and keep them informed -Reaching students via multiple platforms (social media, bulletin boards, etc..) with updates about their concerns and how they are being addressed circulating virtual surveys/ google forms for people who may be more comfortable voicing concerns anonymously Ensuring my contact information is posted so peers can reach me Advocacy: increasing accessibility of professors to students/opportunities for students to get involved via social events

EVENT OR INITIATIVE IDEA - IMS, being a relatively large student group compared to the other honours BMSc modules, comes with challenges in having personal interactions with profs, coordinators, and other faculty -I would recommend having networking events such as meet and greets with profs and researchers to not only gain personal connections but also insight on what to do following completion of your degree - game night/trivia kind of events where questions can help us get to know students interests in research and future careers and then we can have information on scientists in those areas or who to reach out to

DEP-CLUB PARTNERSHIP -Meeting with the clubs at the beginning of our relationship to establish expectations such as regularly attending club meetings, talking about goals/needs and updating them on the work SSC is doing as it pertains to these goals/needs.

-Meeting with previous year’s reps to learn from them about what worked for their relationship, and how they would advise me to go about my role to the benefit of the department clubs and student body -It is important to create an environment where my peers and the department clubs feel their concerns are being voiced/addressed and that they are valued.

Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences (IMS) Representative Dep-Rep Platform Prepared by Maisha Fahmida; mfahmida@uwo.ca

YEAR AND PROGRAM 3rd Year Medical Sciences

REPRESENTING AND ADVOCATING FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS Student advocacy has been a priority of mine throughout undergrad, which is best exemplified in my role as a senator for advocating for extending add/drop deadline and SRAs. I want to ensure that students’ concerns are being heard and I would collect feedback through social media surveys, department clubs’ events and during my SSC office hours. Some issues that I plan to address are: providing more careerrelated workshops, address any concerns about graduation requirements, creating more study spaces and allocating more initiatives/programs for students’ mental health and wellbeing. I am always open to hearing more concerns or issues our students face and bring forward to SSC and find a solution best suited for all.

EVENT OR INITIATIVE IDEA For events/initiatives, I would like to divide them into three pillars: academic, career and social! I think our departmental students have different interests and needs, therefore, having a wider variety of programs will allow me to cover more of their interests. I would like to host monthly “Academic Panels” and “Humans of IMS” with professors, past students and alumni to network with current students and to share their experiences and knowledge about their academic and career pathways. Social initiatives are so important because the pandemic limited our interactions with one another. For social initiatives, I would like to host regular “Bar nights” and a yearly “IMS Banquet” for IMS students to allow students to socialize and make new friends!

DEP-CLUB PARTNERSHIP To maintain effective communication, I would make it a priority to attend regular/executive meetings, events, and any initiatives run by my departmental club, which will ensure positive rapport and help me build good connection with my fellow students. I hope to maintain open communication via social media and provide opportunities to students for feedback to best serve their interests while being the bridge for department and SSC. I will also make sure that department clubs are provided ample opportunities to partner with campus stakeholders and other related club to provide professional and personal development opportunities.

Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences (IMS) Representative Dep-Rep Platform Prepared by Akshay; avenka8@uwo.ca

YEAR AND PROGRAM 3rd Year Medical Sciences – Double Major IMS + Anatomy/Cell Bio

REPRESENTING AND ADVOCATING FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS Engaging with the department and facilitating a communicative relationship is key in advocating and being able to make changes that benefit students. I would advocate to change the stigma that IMS is a more general module for students who unsure of what to specialize in. I would start a social media page for the IMS department and post regularly about the program, what courses are taken and what each of the offered courses are. Posting reviews from students who have graduated from the IMS module can give students a better understanding of what being in the program is like.

EVENT OR INITIATIVE IDEA - Networking event where students can connect with guests working in both the medical industry and nonmedical fields - impactful since it allows students to experience and learn about new fields they never would have thought about otherwise - A networking event is beneficial because it gives a chance for students to have one on one conversations with professionals and will have a wholistic understanding of working in a particular field - Building a network is beneficial when it comes to seeking jobs and or applying to post grad schools or even seeking advice

DEP-CLUB PARTNERSHIP To ensure a communicative relationship with AIMSS: - Communicate and reach out to members and executives of the club regarding their experiences in the IMS program to get a perspective of what the program is like for people who took and have a different course schedule - Work alongside club to run networking and guest speaker events (reach out to different organization such as Sick Kids, Toronto General Hospital and get guest speakers such as researchers and doctors to speak at events)

Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences (IMS) Representative Dep-Rep Platform Prepared by Alexandra Vaupotic; avaupoti@uwo.ca

YEAR AND PROGRAM

3rd Year Medical Sciences – IMS

REPRESENTING AND ADVOCATING FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS To represent students I will ensure their voices are not only heard but acted upon. So often a representative will hear what is being said but not understand let alone act on what needs to be done.

I will communicate students’ voices to the department and ensure they do everything that can be done to accomplish our goals.

I hope to advocate for students who have not yet been able to see their vision for the department come to fruition. These individuals are the ones that need to be heard because without their inclusion there can not be a happy and successful student body.

EVENT OR INITIATIVE IDEA I would make a Facebook page for IMS students, this would include updates on upcoming events, information regarding the program and any useful opportunities for students pursuing an IMS degree.

Updates posted on the main medical sciences page can get lost and IMS students might not know of opportunities directly related to them.

Information on IMS will also be included to ensure current and future students completely understand the program.

A Facebook page would be convenient for students to access information and for myself to obtain students views through their engagement in polls.

DEP-CLUB PARTNERSHIP Communication is key. A strong line of communication will be one of my priorities with the department club(s).

This will be done via the preferred method of communication of the department club in question.

I will provide reminders to clubs of upcoming events or deadlines as well as any other information that is relevant to them

Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences (IMS) Representative Dep-Rep Platform Prepared by Stephanie Wu; swu485@uwo.ca

YEAR AND PROGRAM 4th Year Medical Sciences – HSP IMS REPRESENTING AND ADVOCATING FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS What steps: Podcasts Advocacy: I believe one of the most pressing issues affecting IMS, Western, and more broadly Canada is the lack of representation and diversity and a lack of understanding between individuals of different perspectives and backgrounds.

I’m a strong believer that through amicable conversations, we’re able to bridge divides and form a greater understanding of one another.

To foster these important conversations, I intend to leverage numerous channels to broaden my reach and engage with my department such TikTok, LinkedIn, Blog Posts, and Podcasts where I can host conversations with individuals in IMS, learn about their experiences, and dissect important issues.

EVENT OR INITIATIVE IDEA A pain point in IMS is a lack of understanding of viable career paths outside of the traditional med-school & research path. This has led to many students feeling disenfranchised and purposeless.

Addressing this, I propose collaborating with the events commissioner to create a case competition for IMS students to apply the learnings from their degree in real-life circumstances reflected in the industry.

Implementation: This may be achieved through partnerships with industry experts and corporates such as ZS, KPMG, Invictus, Janssen Pharma, or Merck.

The result will be students exposed to alternative career paths that leverage their program and allow them to apply their learnings in real-life scenarios.

DEP-CLUB PARTNERSHIP Respect and transparent communication and incorporating stakeholders' in the decision-making process are essential to obtaining their buy-in To achieve this, I will take the initiative to organize meetings with clubs and also provide weekly office hours so I can work with them to address their pain points or capitalize on initiatives.

With each decision, I will provide them the opportunity to voice their thoughts and incorporate them in the decision-making process through town hall meetings, and provide judgment of each decision such that they experience high procedural justice and fairness.

Finally, I will host general meetings in order to revise the committee in order to best accommodate the student body's needs and help students achieve the most valuable experience possible.

Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences (IMS) Representative Dep-Rep Platform Prepared by Mehul Satish Prabha; mprabha@uwo.ca

YEAR AND PROGRAM 2nd Year Medical Sciences

REPRESENTING AND ADVOCATING FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS A great way to engage students would be to host trivia nights, where the questions are specific to the content they are learning. This would be an easy way to communicate and connect with students to introduce them to the plethora of opportunities that exist in Western. Occasionally, It would also be great to have participants come to outdoor study sessions to engage in interactive learning practices. Engaging students in this manner will help them feel comfortable and allow them to work towards their personal goals and needs.

EVENT OR INITIATIVE IDEA An innovative idea that I am interested in running for students in this department is an alumni carnival night.

This event requires the recruitment of previous IMS alumni graduates to delineate their experiences and share tips on how to approach upcoming exams. Additionally, “stress-busting” activities would be run to help promote an interactive environment for students and alumni to enjoy. These activities would include a puppy room, yoga, carnival games, etc. More importantly, this event will allow students to better prepare for exams and alleviate stress in the coming weeks.

DEP-CLUB PARTNERSHIP In order to maintain a positive relationship and work experience, I will commit to attending all regularly scheduled meetings. This will allow me to understand the plans and future initiatives while fostering strong relationships with others. In addition, I will keep students informed and engaged through social media challenges and posts. As well, I will remain engaged and contribute to the planning and execution of events.

Finally, I will host general meetings in order to revise the committee in order to best accommodate the student body's needs and help students achieve the most valuable experience possible.

Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences (IMS) Representative Dep-Rep Platform Prepared by Charlotte Calvez; ccalvez@uwo.ca

YEAR AND PROGRAM 3rd Year Medical Sciences

REPRESENTING AND ADVOCATING FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS I love to connect with people, I plan to be approachable and open to feedback and opinions from those around me. Via: - Virtual drop-in sessions for IMS Students - Attending student-led events and SSC events - Saying Hi on campus :)

EVENT OR INITIATIVE IDEA I would love to host event to showcase different departments within medical sciences. IMS is all about an interdisciplinary approach to science, so why not showcase all the different modules and courses that you can take in 3rd and 4th year in IMS. We can learn from profs and past students !! It would also be interesting to hear about masters program involving interdisciplinary approach to science related fields.

DEP-CLUB PARTNERSHIP - Being present in conversations and meetings - Creating an open minded and welcoming atmosphere - Connecting with individuals of different years and profs of different departments

Science Students’ Council Dep-Rep Platforms Science Students’ Council

Physics & Astronomy

Physics and Astronomy Representative Dep-Rep Platform Prepared by Mahima Siali; msiali@uwo.ca

YEAR AND PROGRAM 4th Year Physics + Math

REPRESENTING AND ADVOCATING FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS Currently, the most effective way to reach out to P&A students at large is through our weekly undergraduate seminar. The Physics and Astronomy Students’ Association (PASA) makes announcements at these seminars, and SSC-related news is included. However, I would like to make the distinction between PASA and SSC clearer. I would provide more thorough and frequent updates on council business, and heavily promote my office hours as a place to discuss general science faculty affairs.

EVENT OR INITIATIVE IDEA One initiative I’d like to introduce would be Research Shadow Days, where students are paired with professors/graduate students to get a chance to work alongside them for a few hours.

The research done by the P&A department is incredibly diverse both in terms of subject matter and the methods and tools used, and many students are unaware of the different ways they can get involved.

Additionally, P&A students have expressed interest in earlier opportunities to strengthen their research skills.

This initiative would also allow students to network with faculty and potentially obtain actual research positions.

DEP-CLUB PARTNERSHIP I have been heavily involved with PASA since my second year. I have both directly worked on PASA initiatives, such as the Physics Undergraduate Conference and the First Year Final Exam Review Sessions, as well as collaborated with the club through my position on the Math Club at Western (MaCAW).

As such, I am already very familiar with the internal workings of the club, their events, and their channels of communication, and would easily be able to work within their structure to update students, receive feedback, and achieve my goals as SSC Dep Rep.

Science Students’ Council Dep-Rep Platforms Science Students’ Council

Physiology & Pharmacology

Physiology and Pharmacology Representative Dep-Rep Platform Prepared by Aditya Iyer; aiyer9@uwo.ca

YEAR AND PROGRAM 3rd Year Medical Sciences – Double Major IMS/Phys

REPRESENTING AND ADVOCATING FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS 1. Collaborate with the department club 2. Become an active member in the community by engaging in facebook group chats more often is essential in making a 3. Provide opportunities for students to connect with leaders in both medical careers, and physiologypharmacology related fields. Although a majority of students in this module would like to pursue careers in medicine, exposing them to a variety of careers is still a valuable opportunity.

EVENT OR INITIATIVE IDEA Reach out to professors at Schulich to see if they want to give a talk about what medical school is like because so many students in this module want to go to it. This would be great for people who are wanting to pursue medical school and also students who are unsure. Students could reach out to the professors who come out to speak and ask them more detailed questions if they were interested.

DEP-CLUB PARTNERSHIP 1. Develop a relationship with the leader of the department club. This can be done by meeting outside of club related activities in order to build trust and foster a stronger relationship.

2. Take an interest in the club by attending events and playing a larger part in the physiology and pharmacology community.

Science Students’ Council Dep-Rep Platforms Science Students’ Council

Western Integrated Science

Western Integrated Science Representative Dep-Rep Platform Prepared by Sravanthi Cheekati; scheekat@uwo.ca

YEAR AND PROGRAM 3rd Year Integrated Science

REPRESENTING AND ADVOCATING FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS - Frequently collaborate with department clubs and student representatives to best advocate for WISc -- Work with WISc Society to program social events and improve internal/external relations - Continue to play an active role in cohort group chats and liaise concerns to respective admin -- Create a central channel of communication through Discord for all cohorts to ask questions, provide feedback, engage with others, etc., - Improve resource accessibility by creating a WISc-specific dropbox for all cohorts -- Updated with changes to content made by the new program heads - Continue advocating for more specializations and module changes - Continue advocating for incorporation of minors within specializations

EVENT OR INITIATIVE IDEA WISc Day - a day dedicated for students to learn about their future in WISc and form meaningful connections with peers - Upper year WISc Mentors host mini-lectures about their specializations and what they’re learning in their courses to younger cohorts -- collaborate with WISc Society’s student mentorship program and Integrated Science 3002: Science in the Community - Professor meet and greet & ITR Information Session - similar to WISc Society initiatives - Showcase upper year thesis projects, community engaged learning initiatives, internships and alumni experiences Impact: - Highlights future opportunities and benefits of the program for all WISc cohorts - Increases inter-program relationships - Encourages student retention in WISc

DEP-CLUB PARTNERSHIP - Abide by formal agreements laid out by the SSC’s Memorandum Of Understanding -- Contact respective VP’s and administrative members to discuss proposed initiatives towards programming or academics -- Effectively liaise concerns of the constituents in my department - Use knowledge, skills, and connections obtained as current WISc Society President -- Continue keeping up to date with WISc Society constitution and involve executive members with proposed initiatives towards WISc -- Acknowledge initiatives to be spearheaded by WISc Society and suggest improvements -- Continue promotion of WISc both internally and externally - Collaborate as much as possible with pre-established infrastructure -- WISc Society, Upper Year Leadership Courses, SSC initiatives, etc.,

Western Integrated Science Representative Dep-Rep Platform Prepared by Aidan Freeman; jfreem64@uwo.ca

YEAR AND PROGRAM 1st Year Integrated Science

REPRESENTING AND ADVOCATING FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS After experiencing my first semester of my first year, it is easy to identify how much time students spend on devices. Whether it is through social media, classes, or even doing homework. The best way for the department to engage our student body and keep them informed is through social media, especially in the presence of a global pandemic. When dealing with students, primarily those coming into first year, it is important to make them feel safe and welcome. Specifically, reaching out regarding mental health issues, time management and organization, and comfortability with their selected program.

EVENT OR INITIATIVE IDEA As it is fairly new with a limited number of students, I strongly believe that the Western Integrated Science program (WISc) requires more recognition and familiarity from Western students and students interested in applying to our school. An initiative to increase the acknowledgment of the program is to expand our social media platform by reaching out to interested first year students, asking them related questions to our program and perking their attentiveness. By accomplishing this initiation, we impact the choices high school students make and earn better recognition from other Western science students as well.

DEP-CLUB PARTNERSHIP I believe that the most important method for maintaining a strong and communicative relationship with my peers is by getting a sense of familiarity with them through participation, collaboration, and even humour.

Not only does this method recognize me as someone who is eager to accomplish the job, but show that I am a personable and likeable guy. Working with my respective department clubs, I’d like to be more collaborative. The WISc program is designed to integrate all the aspects of science Western has to offer, so working closely with the other department clubs would benefit both parties.

Western Integrated Science Representative Dep-Rep Platform Prepared by Valerie; vlozanor@uwo.ca

YEAR AND PROGRAM 2nd Year Integrated Science

REPRESENTING AND ADVOCATING FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS Represent and Engage: • Plan events to allow me to meet and discuss with other students and department members • Social events to help interpersonal relationship building, discuss ideas and receive feedback • Create a website that could receive input and post updates. This could be promoted on the integrated science Instagram.

• Leverage my position as a WISc society representative, and use my increased outreach with students of all years to my advantage Advocacy: • Inform more students about the integrated science program and the opportunities that it offers • Advocate for student mental and physical health • Present ways to maximize university experience as a science student at Western

EVENT OR INITIATIVE IDEA An event that educates the importance of having a healthy balance between academics and personal life! As a science student, I know how stressful our workload can be.

Event Details: • An opportunity to discuss time management techniques, positive effects of taking study breaks, and self-care activities for students.

• Various speakers from different science programs on keeping a healthy balance • Encouraging doing schoolwork for gratitude rather than academic validation Impact: • Increase the positive student experience of science students at western • Resources for help or questions, close by study spaces on campus/in London • A chance for science students to connect with peers

DEP-CLUB PARTNERSHIP How I would facilitate strong and communicative work: • Use my extroverted personality to my advantage to reach out and work as a team with peers and individuals to express ideas, advocate for changes that other students would like to see, and be open to meeting others and listening to any input they may have • Continue to use practical time management skills to make adequate space in my schedule to embrace my role as department representative • Use several different platforms to convey ideas and receive input to maintain strong and open communication with both team members and fellow peers

Western Integrated Science Representative Dep-Rep Platform Prepared by Maisie Gorial; mgorial2@uwo.ca

YEAR AND PROGRAM 1st Year Integrated Science

REPRESENTING AND ADVOCATING FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS -A suggestions box in the WISc lounge (located in the Collip building) -Creating a “WISc 101” document of important information for all years -Occasionally attending various mandatory WISc classes to get feedback straight from students -More mental health support: when students are mentally vulnerable the last thing they need is to worry about writing an email - I’d create email templates for various situations -Holding office hours -More WISc representation within the science faculty - I’ve had to explain what WISc is to science students in other programs frequently

EVENT OR INITIATIVE IDEA WISc is special in that we are a small program with a tight-knit community. The upper-years have been extremely helpful and kind when it comes to helping the lower-years. I’d like to start a WISc tradition where the lower-years hold an event, make small presents, etc. for the graduating class as a thank you for all their help. Not only would it help improve spirit within WISc, but it could also serve as a motivation for students to stay in the program to have a full-circle moment. It achieves three things: communication, tradition, incentive.

DEP-CLUB PARTNERSHIP I am currently a co-owner of two Western Discords: a first-year Integrated Science Discord, and a first-year Science faculty Discord. Through these servers, members have been able to have fun, ask school-based questions, and keep each other company during the online portion of this academic year. I aim to create a program-wide Discord server for all WISc cohorts to improve communication and camaraderie. I would also aim to expand our current mentorship program, with the goal to begin it closer to the beginning of the academic year; this year it began at the start of the second semester.