Courtney Kates is a 3rd year student in the Honours Physics program and one of our Department’s champions in the realm of science outreach and recruitment efforts. But her love of science didn’t start here, it began from her childhood. As Courtney puts it, some of her earliest memories are of “throwing things downstairs to see their motion or mixing shampoo to see how they would react”. That innate curiosity translated into reading popular science books about the universe and becoming fixated on becoming a theoretical physicist. Upon attending a UWaterloo Open House in Grade 11, she knew that this was the place where she belonged.
When Courtney entered the University of Waterloo, she received the UWaterloo President’s Scholarship of Distinction as well as the Schulich Leader Scholarship that is awarded to exceptional high school students based on merit in STEM areas. However, Courtney came into university in Fall 2020, a very isolating experience due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The once super-involved student who never left school at the bell…now had nothing. Not wanting this to be the rest of her university career, Courtney took every opportunity to connect with others and share her passion for science – as part of this effort, she joined PhysClub as a first-year representative. As Courtney says, “getting to host events made by Physics students, for Physics students, brought back the joy.”
As the pandemic slowed down and things slowly returned to normal, something still felt like it was missing. Forever passionate about showing others that Physics is fun, Courtney started to tutor first year students. “So many students see Physics as this big, scary thing and when I’m able to help them slowly start to understand, it reminds me of why I fell in love with Physics to begin with.” Courtney then went on to become a Science Ambassador. Science Ambassadors are a group of students who get to chat with prospective students and tell them about their lives at Waterloo. Two of the biggest initiatives they do are making handwritten cards for admitted students and hosting open houses. At the March 2023 open house, a shy student walked up to the Physics booth and introduced themself to Courtney. Having remembered that student as one she had written to, she excitedly said “hi” and said that she had written him that letter. The student lit up and Courtney saw that same sense of belonging she had first felt on campus when she came to visit.
All of those little moments led to Courtney’s decision to pursue becoming a Physics and Mathematics teacher. “I’ve met so many students who say that they don’t like Physics because their teacher didn’t show them how fun it truly is, I want to change that. Physics truly is a space for everyone, and I hope that I will be able to convey that to the future generations.”
Courtney’s outreach-filled undergraduate experience isn’t the only thing that sets her apart. Courtney is an excellent student and has won both an I.R. Dagg Memorial Scholarship for exceptional leadership and academic excellence; plus an NSERC Undergraduate Student Award to do research with a professor. During her research term, Courtney worked with Professor Scott Hopkins in the Department of Chemistry, using physical properties of molecules to learn more about them and their behaviour. In more technical terms, she used differential mobility spectrometry and velocity map imaging to determine the behaviour of different species of molecules.
Courtney’s experience at the University of Waterloo is a true example of following your heart and taking opportunities when you see them to pave your own path forward. From Courtney herself, here are some words of wisdom she wishes to share to current and prospective students who are thinking of trying something new:
Unsurprisingly my number one tip for students would be to get involved! I’ve discovered so many things about myself, made some of my best friends, and made people smile all from saying yes to getting involved. It’s scary to put yourself out there but as the saying goes, growth happens outside your comfort zone.
