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ideas without borders

ideas without borders

By UWaterloo Engineers Without Borders

A podcast dedicated to helping listeners systemically engage with social and engineering issues. Run by the Engineers Without Borders chapter at the University of Waterloo
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Ep 28: How Does Recycling Really Work?

ideas without bordersMar 25, 2021

00:00
49:36
Ep 38: The Perks of Being an Avid Reader

Ep 38: The Perks of Being an Avid Reader

Enjoy this episode on reading and it's perks! For any questions or concerns, reach out to s2shahri@uwaterloo.ca to get in touch with Maisha. 


For all your online library needs: https://openlibrary.org/

YouTube Channel for Algorithms: https://www.youtube.com/@abdul_bari

For your online homework help needs: https://www.khanacademy.org/


Jan 30, 202331:19
Ep 37: Incarceration and Mother Child Programs

Ep 37: Incarceration and Mother Child Programs

In this episode  we discuss Mother Child programs in the Corrections Service Canada with Dr. Carlie Leroux-Demir. We discuss what they are, how they work, how effective they are and what they can tell us about classism in Canada.

Apr 02, 202252:05
Ep 36: Post Harvest Losses

Ep 36: Post Harvest Losses

They say 40% of the world’s food never makes it to feeding our populations. Surely we can’t be just tossing half of our groceries in the garbage all the time. Where are the missing meals? In this episode we dive into the reason farmers in sub-Saharan Africa are losing their harvested crop and the challenges of solving this issue. 

Mar 01, 202230:08
Ep 35: Microplastics
Jan 30, 202218:37
Ep 34: How the Pandemic Impacted School

Ep 34: How the Pandemic Impacted School

Take a gander at our episode all about how the pandemic impacted education and the general school experience. 


0:10 - Intro 

1:25 - Elementary School Perspective 

4:25 - Middle School Perspective

7:14 - High School Perspective 

13:15 - Household Dynamics

14:00 - Adjusting to an Online Setting

16:25 - University Perspective

18:30 - How to make the transition out of the pandemic easier


Oct 28, 202124:41
Ep 33: Engineering Your Impact - an introduction to Effective Altruism
Sep 16, 202144:07
Ep 32, Part 4: Media Narratives and Systemic Discrimination - Black Perspective

Ep 32, Part 4: Media Narratives and Systemic Discrimination - Black Perspective

Around this time last year, there was an incredible outcry regarding discrimination against African Americans with regards to police brutality as a result of the inhumane and unjust murder of George Floyd. Many wrongful incidents just like this one were also documented, pushed to the forefront on social media and served as inspiration for this series. We'll be finishing this series on the Black perspective and we have 3 amazing guests who will be sharing their thoughts and opinions with you. 

We hope that all of us gain a bit more perspective, understanding, and begin addressing our internalized biases. 

Additional Resources to Learn More:

  • Kevin Hart's Guide to Black History (on Netflix)
  • 13th (on Netflix)
  • Stamped From the Beginning (novel by Ibram X. Kendi)   
Jun 09, 202123:50
Ep 32, Part 3: Media Narratives and Systemic Discrimination - South Asian Perspective

Ep 32, Part 3: Media Narratives and Systemic Discrimination - South Asian Perspective

This episode focuses on the South Asian perspective and covers how media impacts colorism, stereotypes and there is also a bit of an analysis of what was shared at 21:20. 

If you have any questions or comments about what we have discussed in this episode, feel free to reach out to Amilah and/or Sandra on Instagram.

Amilah: @mimiavenge

Sandra: @sandra.d_

Additional Resources:

  • Patriot Act by Hasan Minhaj (You can find Hasan's show on Netflix!)
  • The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri (You can find this book at your local library or book store!)
  • Home Body by Rupi Kaur (This collection of poems truly highlights Rupi's experience as a child of diaspora!) 
Jun 02, 202126:34
Ep 32, Part 2: Media Narratives and Systemic Discrimination - Muslim Perspective

Ep 32, Part 2: Media Narratives and Systemic Discrimination - Muslim Perspective

Have you noticed how media portrays certain demographics of people? If you think about it a little, you might realize that religious minorities like Muslims are usually on the receiving end of negative media representations and here is an episode all about it. 

If you have any questions about the discussion we had, feel free to reach out to Ayesha, Sobia, or Anusha on Instagram!

Ayesha: @discarded_drafts

Sobia: @sobiamahmood.art 

Anusha: @anusha.alamgir

To see some real/accurate representations of Muslims today check out @macmsamirror on Instagram and the novel The Translator by Leila Aboulela! 

To see some more positive representation of Muslims, feel free to do a quick Google search for Ibtihaj Muhammad, Linda Sarsour, and  Huda Quhshi. To learn more about Islam, search for the works of Dr. Imam Omar Suleiman, Nouman Ali Khan, Yasmin Mogahed, and Mufti Menk. 

References:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWtOlwv3Qg8



Music from: https://www.bensound.com/

May 26, 202141:28
Ep 32, Part 1: Media Narratives and Systemic Discrimination - East Asian Perspective

Ep 32, Part 1: Media Narratives and Systemic Discrimination - East Asian Perspective

Recently, there has been an overwhelming outcry on social media regarding media inaccuracies, how these inaccuracies perpetuate negative stereotypes and lead to discrimination. For this reason, we've created a 4-part series on media narratives and systemic discrimination to shed some light on these issues and learn more about one another. 

This episode is about the East Asian perspective and honestly, I learned a lot!

If you would like to talk to either Khanh or Toby regarding anything we discussed in this episode, feel free to reach out to them on Instagram!

Khanh:  @khanh.ns.dinh

Toby:  @t0bylii

To learn more about East Asian issues, Toby has provided some great resources you can find on Instagram! 

@nextshark

@asianfeed

@representasianproject

Music from: https://www.bensound.com/

May 19, 202125:44
Ep 31, Part 2: Light at the end of a tunnel? An overview of supply chains and why they matter in the global COVID-19 vaccination effort
Apr 21, 202150:54
Ep 31, Part 1: COVID-19 Vaccine — Basics and Misconceptions
Apr 15, 202120:53
Ep 29: Mining Shared Value

Ep 29: Mining Shared Value

This interview with Jeff Geipel, the Founder and Managing Director of Mining Shared Value (an initiative of Engineers Without Borders Canada), discusses harnessing the social and economic benefits of mining for host communities and countries through increasing local procurement in the global mining industry. 

Mar 31, 202124:34
Ep 28: How Does Recycling Really Work?
Mar 25, 202149:36
Ep 27: Tackling Youth Homelessness in Waterloo
Mar 18, 202133:55
Ep 26, Part 8: Life in the Pandemic — Mexico
Mar 11, 202124:31
Ep 26, Part 7: Life in the Pandemic — Israel
Mar 08, 202115:07
Ep 26, Part 6: Life in the Pandemic — Egypt
Mar 04, 202131:42
Ep 26, Part 5: Life in the Pandemic — USA
Feb 25, 202123:39
Ep 26, Part 4: Life in the Pandemic — India
Feb 18, 202124:60
Ep 26, Part 3: Life in the Pandemic — Uganda
Feb 11, 202118:13
Ep 26, Part 2: Life in the Pandemic — Canada as an International Student
Feb 04, 202125:06
Ep 26, Part 1: Life in the Pandemic — China
Jan 28, 202110:47
Ep 25: The Climate Crisis

Ep 25: The Climate Crisis

Want to learn more about climate change and how we can help? Check out this Global Engineering Week featured podcast!

Featuring: 

Michelle Angkasa: Sustainable Campus Initiative, Enviroment and Business Undergraduate Student

Brooklyn Rushton: BSc Wildlife Biology & Conservation, Masters of Climate Change Candidate, Climate Students

Lesley Johnston: Fossil Free UW, PhD. Candidate School of Public Health and Health Systems



Aug 29, 202041:55
Ep 24: Influencers and Social Media

Ep 24: Influencers and Social Media

Are you curious about how social media might be impacting you? Let's talk about it.

Aug 27, 202015:27
Ep 23: Special Episode with Kumvana Fellow Kabwela Malupande

Ep 23: Special Episode with Kumvana Fellow Kabwela Malupande

Check out our podcast with a Kumvana fellow from Zambia!

Aug 27, 202006:25
Ep 22: A Professor's Perspective on Remote Teaching

Ep 22: A Professor's Perspective on Remote Teaching

As the academic world shifts to a fully-online delivery mode for classes amid this pandemic, we are joined by professors Andrea Scott and Mohammed Nassar to discuss their experience with online teaching for a term with engineering students at the University of Waterloo.

We discuss the challenges with remote content delivery, student engagement, and some interesting patterns that they noticed forming among their classes as the term progressed. As well, they offer advice for professors and students who are about to enter their first fully-online school term.

Aug 20, 202055:41
Ep 21 Part 2: Uganda's path to clean energy access - a conversation with Marvin Tumusiime from New Energy Nexus
Jun 01, 202001:01:33
Ep 21 Part 1: A co-op term in Uganda - as told from chapter president Mandy Coleman
Jun 01, 202032:24
Ep 16 Part 3: Opportunities for student involvement in the Energy Sector, Advice for Uncertainties
Dec 25, 201928:27
Ep 20: A Co-op Term in Ghana: The Junior Fellow Experience
Nov 23, 201925:08
Ep 19: Is Finding Middle Ground Too Profound? Reflections on an event co-hosted by the Masters of Peace and Conflict Studies Society, Muslim Students Association, and EWB

Ep 19: Is Finding Middle Ground Too Profound? Reflections on an event co-hosted by the Masters of Peace and Conflict Studies Society, Muslim Students Association, and EWB

Conflicts are inevitable and everywhere, but why do they occur? What kinds of engagements and interactions do the different student demographics on campus experience and what are their influences? Where are these interactions mostly available? In the face of an apparent disparity between social groups today, we ask the question of whether trying to establish a middle ground for safe and productive dialogues is even possible. “Is Finding Middle Ground Too Profound?” was a campus event hosted by The Masters of Peace and Conflicts Society (MPACS), Muslim Students Association (MSA), and EWB UW back in March of 2019. This event was facilitated as a first step towards promoting healthy interactions and perspective exchange between students from different programs and groups on campus. In face-to-face discussion circles, participants shared their views on:

  1. how to make the campus a more inclusive space
  2. How we can establish safe and productive dialogues between increasingly polarized political views and the mechanisms exist for doing so

Join Simon, Stella, and Simmi in this episode as they listen to and reflect on the points raised during this well-received event.

If you are interested in attending an event such as this one, send us a message! We’re excited to arrange another one: https://www.facebook.com/ewbuw/


More on Masters of Peace and Conflicts Studies:

Masters of Peace and Conflicts Program: https://uwaterloo.ca/master-peace-conflict-studies/

MPACS events: https://uwaterloo.ca/master-peace-conflict-studies/events

MPACS facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mpacssocietyuwaterloo/

Oct 28, 201951:13
Ep 18: Podcast Your Vote
Oct 14, 201910:58
Ep 17 Mini Episode 5: An Interview with Professor Giannikouris

Ep 17 Mini Episode 5: An Interview with Professor Giannikouris

In this mini-podcast episode, Maisha interviews Professor Giannikouris about her experiences in STEM and offers insightful views on very important matters.

Sep 06, 201910:52
Ep 17 Mini Episode 4: An Interview with Mariko

Ep 17 Mini Episode 4: An Interview with Mariko

In this mini-podcast episode, Aysha interviews Waterloo's Engineering Society President, Mariko. She opens up about her experiences and offers insightful opinions on the issue of gender imbalance in STEM.

Sep 06, 201934:28
Ep 17 Mini Episode 3: An Interview with Sinclair

Ep 17 Mini Episode 3: An Interview with Sinclair

In this mini-podcast episode, Scarlett interviews a fellow UWaterloo engineering student (who also happens to be her sister) and she shares her experiences in the STEM field through her co-ops.

Sep 06, 201907:31
Ep 17 Mini Episode 2: An Interview with Professor Meunier

Ep 17 Mini Episode 2: An Interview with Professor Meunier

In this interview, Amilah interviews Professor Meunier on her experiences in STEM, balancing motherhood with her career and the important support system that she received from her family. 

Sep 06, 201912:30
Ep 17 Mini Episode 1: An Interview with Professor MacGregor

Ep 17 Mini Episode 1: An Interview with Professor MacGregor

In this mini-podcast episode, Aysha interviews Professor MacGregor about her personal experiences in STEM and she gives some incredible insight on some very important matters.

Sep 06, 201923:50
Ep 17: Gender Imbalance in STEM

Ep 17: Gender Imbalance in STEM

Have you ever been curious as to why it is  difficult for women to pursue or be in STEM? In this podcast episode, we talk about many important factors in this issue, including impostor syndrome, nature versus nurture and personal experiences about the struggles in this male-dominated field. The episode also carries on in 5 mini episodes, where we share our interviews with many incredible women in STEM. 

Sep 06, 201928:59
Ep 16 Part 2: WISE and the AE4H Innovation Lab - Getting to know the Energy Access Sector

Ep 16 Part 2: WISE and the AE4H Innovation Lab - Getting to know the Energy Access Sector

Episode Summary

Part 2 of this episode explores the Energy Access sector through interviews with experts to get a sense of existing challenges today. Key terms such as "Social Value" and "Productive Use" of energy are defined by these experts, along with their personal metrics for measuring success in providing energy access. 

---

Preface

Approximately 1 billion people in the world today live without access to the energy required for basic life functions such as cooking and seeing at night. The Affordable Energy 4 Humanity (AE4H) Innovation Lab 2019 dedicated three days to bring some of the world's top energy experts together to establish global networks and start collaborations for today's increasingly complex energy access challenges. 

EWB UW had the privilege of attending and interviewing some of these experts in search of insights on what it means to work in Energy Access today. Join us on a 3-part episode to learn about how Energy Access relates to development work, how you can get involved through co-op opportunities and fellowships, and the perspectives experts have on their work.

---

Notable links:

Listen to all the expert interviews in full here: https://ae4h.org/projects/innovation_lab_current/innovation_lab_2019#Podcast

Co-op opportunities in the Energy Access sector through WISE and the Queen Elizabeth Scholars program: https://ae4h.org/projects/qes

Do you like these kinds of episodes? Do you have something to share with us about an event or organization?

Send us a message here: https://www.facebook.com/ewbuw/

Jul 29, 201932:31
Ep 16 Part 1: WISE and the AE4H Innovation Lab - Tackling energy poverty through globally established networks

Ep 16 Part 1: WISE and the AE4H Innovation Lab - Tackling energy poverty through globally established networks

Jul 24, 201919:23
Ep 15: Millenials vs Generation Z
May 31, 201924:03
Ep 14: Mobile Learning in Africa with Fiona Otieno, UW's 2019 Kumvana Fellow

Ep 14: Mobile Learning in Africa with Fiona Otieno, UW's 2019 Kumvana Fellow

As part of EWB's Kumvana Fellowship Program, the Waterloo Chapter had the opportunity of hosting Fiona Otieno, a Lead Customer Engagement Associate at M-Shule (mobile - Shule, "Shule" is Swahili for school). UW EWB's Kumvana Portfolio arranged a one week itinerary for Fiona, dedicated to meeting related industry partners, social impact incubators, and like-minded individuals here in Waterloo to support her work back at M-Shule. Join us in this podcast to learn more about the Kumvana Program, and hear how Fiona's journey in improving the education system in Kenya led to her current involvement at M-Shule, one of Africa's most innovative education solutions. 

Do you have some questions? Would you like to contact Fiona? Send her an email at  fiona.otieno@m-shule.com  and mention that you heard of her from this podcast episode!

Mar 11, 201943:02
Ep 13: Beyond Borders - Pulse Home

Ep 13: Beyond Borders - Pulse Home

This episode explores what chapter members are up to following their EWB experience. 

Featuring former chapter co-President Emman Haider, a 4th year systems design engineering student, EWB UW takes a closer look into the Canadian Indigenous Housing Crisis via Pulse Home - an engineering capstone project that is quickly growing into a social enterprise dedicated to empowering First Nations communities in developing affordable, sustainable housing solutions on reserves. 

Perspectives are shared between our chapter members and Emman, along with a discussion of the multi-faceted layers of the housing crisis on First Nations Reserves.

Questions? Send us a message on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ewbuw/ 

Feb 17, 201926:53
Ep 12: Burnout
Feb 03, 201930:59
Ep 11: Weed is Legal

Ep 11: Weed is Legal

Cannabis is legal in Canada. How will this affect the system revolving around weed in Canada? How will it affect the black market? What about youth? We take a closer look, and also call in an anonymous drug dealer for some more information. 

Jan 19, 201936:47
Ep 10: Student Mental Health

Ep 10: Student Mental Health

Students often experience mental health issues, but what kind of mental health issues are prevalent? What are the causes behind these issues, and what can people do to help? From weighing in various statistics to having a round-discussion between actual students, this podcast will make you ponder on various mental health topics and encourage people to discuss this important matter.

Jan 06, 201929:15
Ep 9: Feedback Loops- Big Data, Diversity Hiring, and AIFs

Ep 9: Feedback Loops- Big Data, Diversity Hiring, and AIFs

A vital part of systems analysis is seeing how feedback loops impact stocks and systems as a whole. In this final episode for the Spring term, the team looks at how bias can slip into everything, and how we can reduce its impact.
Sep 09, 201821:38
Ep 8: Sustainable Transportation

Ep 8: Sustainable Transportation

With the soon arriving ION Transportation System, how will this affect the system of transportation within Waterloo? How can we create a system that encourages sustainble transit?
Sep 02, 201819:32
Ep 7: Healthy Food Options

Ep 7: Healthy Food Options

Wonder why there's only Tim's on campus? Ever wish for healthier options? Why is it that we are stuck with an unhealthy food system? In this episode, we tackle all of these questions around the food system at the University of Waterloo.
Aug 24, 201820:23