The University of Ottawa Alliance Supporting Indigenous STEM Students (uOASISS) was founded on a simple but powerful belief: Indigenous students belong in STEM.
Established in the Faculty of Science in 2023 and later expanded to the Faculty of Engineering, uOASISS emerged from the shared vision of Professors Jaclyn Brusso (vice-dean, faculty affairs and inclusive excellence, and professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences (CBS), Adam Shuhendler (CBS) and Cory Harris (Biology).
From the outset, the organizing team recognized that Indigenous leadership was essential.
“It was really important to have an Indigenous voice as a key element and driving force behind uOASISS,” Professor Brusso says, reflecting on the essential contributions of Métis graduate student and current alumnus Connor Bourgonje.
Today, the program starts a new chapter under the leadership of Professor Terri Lovell (CBS), whose own experience as an Indigenous student in science is shaping the program’s direction.
While the leadership team has evolved, uOASISS’s mission, focused on three key initiatives— community building, mentorship and funding— remains unchanged. The program continues to be a multi-faceted support network for Indigenous students in STEM.
Community building
At root, uOASISS is about connection. Whether it’s attending a pizza lunch or a seminar, students of all years of study are welcomed with open arms.
Moreover, pursuing a STEM degree doesn’t mean trading one knowledge system for another. The Indigenous Themes in Science seminar series features Indigenous researchers and researchers working at the intersection of Western science and Indigenous knowledge. STEM is inherently collaborative, strengthened by the diverse perspectives of those who pursue it.
Beyond campus, uOASISS continues to strengthen community through its partnership with the Let’s Talk Science initiative, in which the outreach team engages Indigenous high school students, encouraging them to consider futures in STEM.
“Our goal is to support the success of students in science who may not have had access to all the right tools in high school.”
Terri Lovell
— Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences
Mentorship
On top of community-building events, uOASISS offers valuable mentoring opportunities. Through the Buddy Program, senior students advise junior students on the transition to university.
Professor Lovell, who comes from a small Indigenous community in Newfoundland, also serves as a mentor for students.
“The first time I spoke about being Indigenous, the feedback was incredible. Graduate students thanked me for being open. It empowered them. Being open helps students feel comfortable approaching me, not just about identity, but about personal challenges. That sense of safety is really important.”
Funding
Finding a community that feels like home and a mentor who guides you through the ins and outs of university can be a gamechanger for students’ wellbeing. But the support doesn’t stop there.
The Pathways Program offers paid summer research internships that give students hands-on experience in research labs, with an intentional focus on access and support for the Indigenous community.
Drawing from her own experience, Professor Lovell understands how students from remote communities may have limited access to early experiential learning STEM opportunities. Pathways helps level that playing field, letting students build confidence in their research abilities, giving them a taste of what they could pursue at the graduate level.
“Our goal is to support the success of students in science who may not have had access to all the right tools in high school. It helps them get their foot in the door and decide if they like research. Maybe they don’t, but maybe they do. For me, I didn’t realize it was something I wanted until I was actually in a lab,” Professor Lovell says.
Future directions
As uOASISS continues to grow, so too does its vision. Plans include internship opportunities for high school students and online learning options that could allow students from remote communities to complete part of their degree from home before coming to campus for hands-on training. Reducing relocation and travel costs could help make post-secondary education more accessible.
By supporting Indigenous students’ aspirations and expanding access to opportunities that may once have seemed out of reach, the program empowers Indigenous students to explore and find success within the many pathways STEM has to offer.
Indigenous students in STEM at uOttawa interested in uOASISS should stay connected and get involved by emailing [email protected]
