This text is part of the special notebook 150 years of Polytechnique Montréal
This week, Polytechnique Montréal is celebrating its 150th anniversary, an opportunity to look back at what makes this university strong through the journeys of three of its students involved in university life and research. Laura Ahunon, doctoral student in biomedical engineering, Émile Garon, bachelor’s student in electrical engineering, and Marianne Grimard-Conea, doctoral student in civil engineering, give their impressions of the society of tomorrow, as well as their motivations for undertaking their studies .
Diverse backgrounds and common aspirations
A doctoral student in biomedical engineering at Polytechnique Montréal, Laura Ahunon stands out for her commitment and involvement. Her interest in engineering, motivated by the desire to concretely apply science and not just learn it, pushed her to move into this field, with a specialization in regenerative medicine and application of biomaterials. For five years, she has been leading a research project on the development of a material intended to heal chronic wounds in diabetic patients. She is excited about the impact biomedical engineering has on society, especially when it comes to health care.
For his part, Émile Garon, an electrical engineering student, found his motivation in the challenges linked to energy. Always passionate about nature and the outdoors, he chose engineering to combine this love with mathematics, his second passion, and thus contribute to a cleaner future. Motivated by his studies in engineering, he believes he has the “power to change things and work on concrete projects, to have an impact on society, especially with the reputation of the university and the experts who work there”. Its goal is to have a positive impact on the world, by participating in tangible work that improves the environment.
After having had a significant experience during an exchange in South Africa during which she was confronted with a water shortage, Marianne Grimard-Conea found her vocation at Polytechnique Montréal by specializing in the study of ‘water. His university career in chemical engineering, followed by a doctorate in civil engineering, demonstrates his desire to diversify his knowledge. Guided by Michèle Prévost, her research director, Marianne positions herself at the crossroads of engineering and public health. His project, anchored in a sustainable development perspective, aims to measure and save water and energy in buildings, while focusing on the occurrence and mitigation of opportunistic pathogenic bacteria in water systems. large buildings.
Hope despite fears
Laura Anuhon says she is somewhat worried about the future of society, particularly regarding the accessibility and use of technology in a context of an abundance of data. She believes that it will be necessary to have experts in their respective fields who know how to use technology to sort this data. “We will face major human challenges that we will try to solve increasingly with technology, so we will need people who master technology, ethics and humanity at the same time.” For her, tomorrow will be made up of individuals who “must wear two hats: […] have the ability to communicate with others and be a specialist in a specific field. »
Émile Garon, for his part, fears the growing division of our societies, which is fracturing the social fabric. “In a world of social media and disinformation, this is a time when we can easily add fuel to the fire and ignite debates.” Despite his optimism, he also believes that it is hard to address the climate emergency without feeling devastated. He says he is terrified by the climate “denial of the evidence” and deplores the increasing quantity of objects we currently possess.
Marianne Grimard-Conea says she, in turn, is worried about environmental problems, but believes that she has the means to make microchanges in order to reduce her ecological footprint, both on a personal level and through her research project on the ‘water. However, she hopes that governments will put in place solutions to help citizens take concrete action, and that funds will be allocated to research projects for innovation and sustainable energy.
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