Meet Charlotte Kimmins
Charlotte Kimmins is currently in grade 11, with the goal to study Environmental Systems Engineering at Post Secondary level. She is the founder of Cut It Out BC, a plastic elimination initiative. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family and pets, riding horses, and enjoying time on the water paddleboarding.
When did your love of STEM begin?
From an early age, STEM has been incredibly important in my life. As a kid, without even knowing what STEM was yet, I always enjoyed learning the process in which systems worked and was infatuated with Science. However, it was not until I attended the 2018 Young Woman in Ocean Literacy and Leadership Academy when my work in the field truly began. During this program, I worked alongside other young women to understand the science behind our ocean's decline. Since my love of STEM has only grown and has become an incredibly powerful focus of my life with the creation of my Environmental Conservation program and plastic elimination initiative, Cut it Out. Science allowed me to not only address a global problem but create a realistic solution. STEM is the field I will pursue in post-secondary and beyond.
What is the best part about working in the field of STEM?
Working in STEM provides endless opportunities. My favorite part of working in the field is the constant collaboration that STEM allows. There is nothing better than presenting an idea to a group and watching it develop and expand. Every idea becomes a group project and projects evolve into greatness. The thing I love most is that in the field of STEM, individuals are action-driven and forward-thinking; no idea is too crazy and in STEM nothing is impossible.
What advice would you give young women interested in a career in STEM?
If a young woman is interested in pursuing a career in STEM, my advice would be to say yes. Say yes to the opportunities you are afforded, even if they are new and push you from your comfort zone. The greatest things to happen in your career may be the ones you never see coming. I almost chose to not attend the event that ended up starting my career in STEM, simply because I was nervous about the unknown. If I hadn't made that leap of faith, I do not know if I would have found my passion and career. It is vital to try new things and to say yes to the opportunities, even if they scare you a little bit.