McGill University's 6 students get Canada’s largest STEM Scholarship

Study in Canada: Six students at McGill University have received the most generous student award for STEM in Canada. These six students are - Andreea-Nicole Calenciuc, Allison Hutchings, Yanni Klironomos, Nami Dwyer, Daniel Valentini, and Thanasis Wees.

McGill University’s six students have received Schulich Leader Scholarships. By observing the significance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) discipline for the future, businessman and philanthropist Seymour Schulich started this prestigious $100+ million scholarship fund in 2012.

Seymour Schulich is an alumnus of McGill University and he started this scholarship to encourage entrepreneurial-minded students who have the traits of good leadership, creativity and charisma and are also good academically.

The following are the winners:

• Andreea-Nicole Calenciuc is enrolled in the Software Engineering program.
• Allison Hutchings will be studying Computer Engineering.
• Yanni Klironomos entering the Software Engineering Co-op program
• Nami Dwyer will be pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree
• Daniel Valentini will be studying Computer Science and Biology
• Thanasis Wees will pursue a Bachelor of Science degree.

“We are proud to celebrate the continued success of Schulich Leader Scholarships, the premiere STEM scholarship program in Canada. This group of outstanding students will represent the best and brightest Canada has to offer and will make great contributions to society, both on a national and global scale. With their university expenses covered, they can focus their time on their studies, research projects, extracurriculars, and entrepreneurial ventures. They are the next generation of entrepreneurial-minded, technology innovators,” says program founder Schulich.

McGill team to accelerate progress to carbon neutrality

The researchers at the university have harnessed sunlight power to transform greenhouse gases into valuable chemicals. The findings can pave the way for sustainable ways of producing certain industrial products and help combat climate change.

Co-first author Hui Su, a Postdoctoral Fellow in McGill’s Department of Chemistry said, “Imagine a world where the exhaust from your car or emissions from a factory could be transformed, with the help of sunlight, into clean fuel for vehicles, the building blocks for everyday plastics, and energy stored in batteries. That’s precisely the kind of transformation this new chemical process enables.”

“By tapping into the abundant energy of the sun, we can essentially recycle two greenhouse gases into useful products. The process works at room temperature and doesn’t require the high heat or harsh chemicals used in other chemical reactions,” said Chao-Jun Li, lead author, a Distinguished James McGill Professor in the Department of Chemistry and a Canada Research Chair in Green/Organic Chemistry.

Read more:

• Australian government announces $5m TNE fund to support TAFE expansion
• Study in US: AAUW Awards $6.2 M to Women Scholars and Community Organizations