Introduction
My name is Kellie Nicholson, I am a 2nd year Environmental Engineering student.
I have many interests and hobbies such as singing, drawing, photography, playing musical instruments, reading, rock collecting, etc. I am very interested in organizations and people that are incorporating new technologies into mitigating pollution problems faced world-wide. One of my favourite examples being Boyan Slat’s, The Ocean Cleanup. It is such a powerful show of what an engineer can accomplish with hard work and ingenuity - very inspiring!
What does it mean to you to be an Indigenous engineer?
I am Métis and I know that being a part of the Indigenous population in the past used to mean less opportunities in work and in life. Now there are more opportunities than ever for me or any other Indigenous student to reach their desired goals. I know that with the continued recognition of Indigenous students in the engineering field, more opportunities will continue to present themselves for the students yet to come and will keep the field diverse - as it always should be!
What is your favourite UWaterloo Engineering memory?
My favourite UW engineering memory so far was when I was working with the University, and I was helping create the 2022 convocation balloon sign. It really was just a fantastic time laughing with my colleagues and making something special for the graduates to remember and take photos in front of.
In the coming years, what role would you like to see your university or workplace(s) play in educating others about Indigenous Peoples?
Indigenous people hold a wealth of knowledge. I would love to see more partnerships between Indigenous groups/peoples and the University of Waterloo. Not only can Indigenous people at the university educate the students, staff, and alumni, but they can also set the example of showing that Indigenous people are valuable within the engineering field, or any field for that matter.