Have you met Madeleine, Team Lead (Programming) with DiscoverE in the Faculty of Engineering? Spend the next few minutes getting to know her a little better.
What is your first U of A memory?
My grade 12 physics class came to the University of Alberta North Campus to do some hands-on experiments. I remember being in CAB talking with some friends while we waited for the rest of the class to arrive.
What’s something your coworkers don’t know about you?
I recently started vermicomposting. I’m training as a master composter recycler (MCR) with the City of Edmonton and am learning various ways of composting. I figured trying out a few would be a good idea.
What’s your favourite distraction?
Knitting. It occupies my hands and my mind. And the possibilities of what you can create are endless.
If you were enrolling in one course, program or degree right now, what would it be?
Probably a design course of some sort. A co-worker described a famous artist’s method for creating his paintings. When I saw one of his pieces in a gallery a few weeks later, I looked at it in a completely different manner. Learning to look at the world in a new way is always fun!
What’s a weird pet peeve you have?
The mispronunciation of certain French words like crêpe, Rouleau, and Souris. My partner grew up in a town on the Souris River about an hour from Rouleau, Saskatchewan (of Corner Gas fame). We always have animated discussions about how those words should be pronounced!
You can invite anyone — alive or dead, real or fictional — to dinner. Who would it be?
My grandmothers! That’s two people, but I wouldn’t be able to choose between them.
If you could see any live performance tomorrow, what would it be?
Lisa Leblanc would be at the top of that list. She’s a singer-songwriter from New-Brunswick. I’ve seen her perform many times in Edmonton and the show is always amazing.
What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?
I’d definitely tell my 18-year-old-self to get involved sooner. I met incredible people and had wonderful experiences when I become more involved during my undergraduate and graduate degrees. This has carried over to multiple volunteering opportunities once I graduated.
What’s one thing you can’t live without?
Maple syrup! I always have a few cans on hand.
What three words describe your U of A experience?
Friendship, laughter, exploring.
Madeleine is the Team Lead (Programming) with DiscoverE in the Faculty of Engineering. She completed her MSc in Chemistry at UAlberta in 2012. She volunteers with organizations that promote the recruitment, retention, and recognition of under-represented groups in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). Sometimes, that includes burning chemicals to get kids excited about STEM! Madeleine enjoys knitting science inspired pieces, canning the bounty from her garden, and travelling.