Innovation Spring 2025

In addition to all the social, professional, and personal benefits there are to gain from volunteering with Engineers and Geoscientists BC, certain volunteering activities may be eligible for Continuing Education (CE) hours. For example, practice advisory group members like Jaclyn Bowman can claim CE hours for attending practice advisory meetings or reviewing materials related to the group’s terms of reference. She also noted how CE-eligible Engineers and Geoscientists BC volunteering opportunities help her balance her hectic schedule as a professional engineer with a young family. “For instance, the volunteer activity I’m a part of is approximately 20 hours of work a year, and I can fit it within my schedule even though I’m currently in a very busy time in my life right now.” For more information on what volunteer actitivies may qualify for eligible CE Hours, see article on page 14. Find your niche While taking on a new responsibility outside your usual role can sound daunting, volunteers suggest finding what works best for you. “Find your niche. Like anything else, Engineers and Geoscientists BC has diverse opportunities,” Ndegwa said. “So, always choose a role that aligns with your interests. For example, I chose to be a campus presenter because I could connect with more people while at the same time I could improve on my communication and also create a network.” That said, Ndegwa stressed volunteers should not always go where they feel most comfortable. “They should always be open to learning,” he said. “Stepping into a new role can feel daunting, but every challenge has its own opportunity to grow.” As Bowman said, “You don’t have to have 10 or 15 years of experience to do some of these things – you can still get really valuable experience out of it and meet a lot of interesting people and learn from other volunteers while making significant contributions.” VOLUNTEERING CAN LEAD TO CE HOURS

Her journey as a racialized immigrant woman in a male dominated aerospace industry greatly influenced her volunteering intentions, which have focused on youth and women outreach and empowerment. “I wish I had a mentor when I was younger,” she said. “I had to find my own way, make mistakes, but I really wish I had a mentor as a child or during my university studies, someone to come and say ‘Hey, don’t put yourself in a box. I know you love space, but there’s a world out there with many opportunities.’ I wish there was someone to guide me, so I try to be that person for others.” Akhavan met a young girl at a busy shopping mall recently and the girl quickly began firing questions about the engineering profession and how to become an astronaut. “I was tearing up as she spoke,” Akhavan said, “because I could see myself in her eyes. This one girl and that short interaction had made all my challenges and hard work worth it.” “I’ve been actually meeting them, the girl and the mom, and we go to the space centre together.” Akhavan continued. “This is the most rewarding part of volunteering. The awards and honours are exciting to look at, but the impact you make on others is priceless.”

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Spring 2025

Innovation