James LeMoine is an Anishinaabe PhD student at McMaster University. His research is on electro-hydrodynamics, a method of improving heat transfer in the hopes of increasing system efficiency in various components which can, in turn, reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The entire lab is focused on reduced greenhouse gas emissions and reducing the carbon footprint. By researching how to increase transfer and by designing more efficient systems, we hope to reduce our global impact.
James notes that it means a lot to be recognized as one of the minority groups on a university campus. “Of my Indigenous friends, few went into academia and those who did, did not choose STEM paths,” said James. “It really felt isolating, so seeing an award that aims to encourage more Indigenous people to follow the path really means a lot.”
James volunteers at the Hamilton Regional Indian Center, also known as the Friendship Center. They provide tech support for Indigenous people in the Hamilton community. At the onset of the pandemic, he worked to move some of the elders onto the Zoom video conferencing platform to ensure they could continue having meetings throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more about James and his background as Anishinaabe from the Mississauga of the Credit First Nation in a recent story in recognition of Truth & Reconciliation Day.
McMaster Engineering has proudly partnered with ten Ontario universities to create the IBET Momentum Fellowship to expand the pathways for Indigenous and Black students pursuing doctoral degrees in engineering.
This initiative aims to change the academic landscape within the next five to ten years by increasing the number of Indigenous and Black engineering professors teaching and researching in universities across Ontario. It will also create a pipeline of students who will increase diversity in Canadian technology industries as they enter the workforce with graduate degrees from STEM programs.