Faces of WISEST: Sydney Easton

In 2021, I participated in the WISEST SRP, and during the following school year, I was a member of the WISEST Youth Council. Today, I’m pursuing a degree in Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo, along with a minor in Astrophysics. 

That summer, I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Myatt, which sparked my deeper interest in physics and its intersection with engineering. Together with another student, we developed a specialized calculator designed to convert units and streamline routine calculations.

The SRP equipped me with essential academic skills: how to read and write scientific articles, how to network effectively, and how to build confidence in STEM environments. These tools have continued to support me throughout my academic journey, especially when reaching out to researchers in fields I’m passionate about or applying for co-op placements. I’m deeply grateful for the mentors and peers I met through WISEST. The experience taught me not just to ask the questions I’d always been curious about, but also how to begin answering them through a scientific lens.

Looking ahead, I hope to bridge my passions for engineering and physics to explore fundamental questions about the universe through experiment-driven research. I'm excited to apply to graduate programs in the near future and to continue contributing to the kinds of research that first inspired me when I was a student in the WISEST SRP.