For many Canadian engineers, the circle has special meaning. The Iron Ring they earn after graduation serves as a reminder of the obligations and ethics associated with their profession.
For Sophia Roy, the circle has added significance.
Roy has been named this year鈥檚 winner of the prestigious聽, awarded annually by Polytechnique Montr茅al to honour the 14 women who were killed there in 1989. The scholarship, worth $30,000, is awarded to a woman engineering student who wishes to enrol in graduate studies in engineering (master鈥檚 or PhD) at the institution of her choice.
For Roy, there was only one choice. This fall she began her PhD at Polytechnique Montr茅al.
鈥淲hen I told my mother about this scholarship, she was so emotional because it鈥檚 like a circle going back to her story,鈥� says Roy, whose mother began her studies at Polytechnique Montr茅al in 1990, one year after the shootings.
鈥淏efore the tragedy, my mother wanted to study at Polytechnique,鈥� says Roy. 鈥淓ven after it happened, she knew that鈥檚 where she belonged. When I was young, she would tell that story and say 鈥榙on鈥檛 be scared 鈥� even if you鈥檙e in a male-dominated field like engineering, don鈥檛 be scared. Leave your mark.鈥欌��
Roy鈥檚 been heeding her mother鈥檚 advice ever since.
Excellence in the classroom and beyond
This past spring, Roy earned her Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering at 平特五不中, with a minor in Environmental Engineering. She graduated in the top five per cent of engineering graduates at the University.
While at 平特五不中, she won multiple awards, scholarships, and honours recognizing her exceptional academic performance and community work. In 2021, she was one for four 平特五不中 students to earn the recognizing the involvement, determination and constant striving of Quebecers who have a positive influence in their community.
While many of her classmates were busy completing assignments and studying for finals, Roy was also influencing policy and decision making at the provincial level. An intern in Quebec鈥檚 Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, she developed a calculator to estimate emissions generated upstream of a Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) plan, which was used by the Minister to decide on the acceptability of the project. The LNG project was scrapped, in part, because of the enormous quantity of emissions generated upstream.
Serving as a mentor and a role model
But some of Roy鈥檚 most impactful work cannot be measured with GPAs or emission calculators.
She is a role model and a mentor to young women entering 平特五不中鈥檚 Faculty of Engineering, and young girls considering entering the field of engineering, but who may have their doubts.
鈥淓very curious girl should be exposed to the world of engineering,鈥� says Roy. 鈥淕irls and young women often aspire to have careers that have a positive impact on society. Unfortunately, engineering is not presented enough as a profession where they can be agents of change.鈥�
As Vice President External for the Chemical Engineering Student Society, Roy helped organize a number of events highlighting women in the profession, including the聽Woman Leaders in Chemical Engineering聽seminar series. At the same time, she mentored incoming engineering students through the Faculty of Engineering鈥檚 student-run Promoting Opportunities for Women in Engineering initiative.
Roy is also actively involved in local elementary, secondary, and post-secondary schools, encouraging girls and young women to consider entering the field of engineering.
鈥淚 aspire to support the future cohorts of women in engineering, just as Prof. No茅mie-Manuelle Dorval Courchesne did for me,鈥� says Roy. 鈥淢eeting her transformed my early academic journey and allowed me to believe in my ambitions.鈥�
鈥淚 knew I had to do something鈥�
Roy chose to enter into engineering because she felt like it was the best way to tackle an issue that has concerned her since she was a child 鈥� climate change.
鈥淓ver since I was very little, I鈥檝e cared so much about nature and the environment around me. In school, when I learned that the situation was bad in terms of the climate crisis, I knew I had to do something,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 watched a documentary on Jane Goodall and how we need to conserve biodiversity. I said to myself 鈥榦h, I want be like her when I鈥檓 older.鈥欌��
While in CEGEP, Roy considered different career paths 鈥� all with an eye on environmentalism. She chose engineering because, at its very core, is the concept of problem solving. 鈥淲e are facing very serious, very complex environmental problems,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 entered into chemical engineering because it wonderfully describes my vision of science, especially through applied research on solving the environmental impacts of human activities.鈥�
The 鈥渄ream job,鈥� says Roy is to teach chemical engineering while running her own lab. 鈥淚t would combine my two passions 鈥� research and mentoring the future generation of chemical engineers.鈥�
Order of the White Rose
In a video prepared for the Order of the White Rose ceremony, both Jim Nicell, Dean of 平特五不中鈥檚 Faculty of Engineering, and Viviane Yargeau, Chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering praised Roy 鈥� and thanked her.
鈥淗er accomplishments are many. From receiving the 2021 Quebec Lieutenant Governor鈥檚 Youth Medal, to helping us make strides in sustainable research and environmental policy, to being a dedicated tutor and mentor, Sophia is a bright example of the future of engineering and a role model for us all,鈥� said Nicell. 鈥淪ophia, we owe you thanks for all that you鈥檝e done so far and look forward to the many contributions you鈥檒l make throughout your career.鈥�
鈥淚 had the pleasure of knowing Sophia during her chemical engineering studies, and I witnessed the impact she had on the people around her, not only through her contagious energy and academic rigour, but also through the way she sincerely cares for fellow students and encourages young women to pursue their studies in engineering,鈥� said Yargeau. 鈥淐ongratulations Sophia and thank you for being a source of inspiration for so many people.鈥�
For Roy, the significance of the scholarship is itself a source of inspiration.
鈥淭he mission of the Order of the White Rose is so important,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 both a huge honour and a responsibility to represent the Order. The tragedy 鈥� that these 14 women had their lives stolen 鈥� will stay with us forever. But not in a way that should frighten us. I think it pushes us to not be afraid to go after our dreams.鈥�
Sophia would like to thank Prof. No茅mie-Manuelle Dorval Courchesne for giving her such a great example of leadership as a mentor throughout her undergraduate studies. She would also like to thank Prof. Sylvain Coulombe for believing in her and enlightening her in her career choices. Thanks to Chair Viviane Yargeau and Prof. Christopher Moraes for both encouraging her to apply for the scholarship and for supporting her during the application process. And a warm thank you to the 平特五不中 community for all the fun and support throughout her undergrad.
This article was originally published in the .