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Our professional development and panel discussions bring together knowledgeable educators, researchers, community members, and an Elder, each offering unique insights and experiences. Below, you’ll find information about the speakers leading our sessions, including those sharing their knowledge through lived experience and traditional teachings. Get to know them and the perspectives they bring to our conversations!
Elder Kathy Wahpepah
Elder Kathy Wahpepah
Kathy Wahpepah is an enrolled member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska (or as we call ourselves Ho-Chunk), a descendant of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma and community member of Cegakin (the Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation) in Treaty 4. Elder Kathy is involved in many educational and research initiatives from early learners through to adults as well as their educators and administrators to decolonize and revitalize spaces where children and adults learn and play. CLS Education is excited to be guided by Elder Kathy in this workshop and through our Elder Advisory Council.
Tracy Walker
Tracy Walker
Tracy is the Education Programs Lead at the Canadian Light Source (CLS), Canada's only synchrotron research facility. In her role, she leads efforts to bridge the gap between scientific research and education, with a focus on integrating Indigenous ways of knowing with mainstream scientific practices. Tracy has a diverse background in education, having worked with learners from pre-kindergarten to university levels, as well as in informal science education at CLS. Her passion for transformative, experiential learning was the focus of her research in earning a Master’s of Education degree.
Dr. Robert Blyth
Dr. Robert Blyth
Dr. Robert Blyth is the Science Projects Manager at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. In this role, he oversees upgrades and additions to the experimental facilities, ensuring the synchrotron remains at the forefront of scientific research. His responsibilities also encompass the scientific oversight of CLS's academic user and educational programs.
With a scientific career centered on novel materials, Dr. Blyth has conducted extensive research on subjects ranging from rare-earth metals to organic light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
Beyond his research, Dr. Blyth is committed to science education and outreach. He has been instrumental in programs like "Students on the Beamlines," which offers high school students hands-on experience with synchrotron science.
Additionally, he has delivered seminars and virtual tours to demystify the CLS and its applications for broader audiences.
Anna-Maria Boechler
Anna-Maria Boechler
Anna-Maria is married and has three beautiful young boys who continuously bring joy to her life. She has two brothers, one of whom is a twin, and is the daughter of two immigrants who moved to Canada from Poland in the 1980s.
Originally from Calgary, Anna-Maria came to the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) to pursue her education, earning a B.Sc. in Physiology, a B.Sc. in Biochemistry, and a B.Ed. in Chemistry/Biology. She is currently working toward her Master's in Educational Technology and Design.
As the Education Specialist at the Canadian Light Source, Anna-Maria collaborates with educators and learners to make science both relevant and inclusive. Through her continued education, she aims to help others create learning environments that support diversity, inquiry, and literacy.
Grace Flaman
Grace Flaman
Grace completed her Master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Saskatchewan in 2024. Her research represents cross-beamline collaboration: creating customized samples at the Synchrotron Laboratory for Nano and Micromachined Devices (SyLMAND) beamline for infrared chemical imaging conducted at the Mid-Infrared Spectromicroscopy (Mid-IR) beamline. She is now an Associate Scientist for the Mid-IR beamline of the Canadian Light Source, Inc. Grace will contribute to the ‘Role Models & Research’ section bringing a perspective reflecting her transition from graduate student and beamline user to junior science staff featuring all the people who have helped her along the way.
Dr. Toby Bond
Dr. Toby Bond
Toby Bond is a Senior Scientist with the Industry Services group at the Canadian Light Source. His role involves working with companies and industrial clients who do x-ray imaging and diffraction work at the CLS. He is an expert in Li-ion batteries, particularly those used in electric vehicles and grid-energy storage. Both his work with CLS clients and his academic research is focused on understanding how batteries degrade and fail over time – an area that has become very important in the last few years as the adoption of electric vehicles has dramatically increased.
Toby is an electrochemist by training, with a B. Sc. in Chemistry from the U of S (2009) and an M. Sc. In Chemistry from Dalhousie University (2012). In 2020, he returned to Dalhousie as a student (while continuing to work at the CLS), completed his PhD in physics this spring.
Explore some of Toby's work and contributions through this following link:
Article with CBC News - U of S synchrotron testing next-gen EV batteries that could go 25x longer before replacement
Dr. Chithra Karunakaran
Dr. Chithra Karunakaran
Dr. Chithra Karunakaran is the Science Director at the Canadian Light Source (CLS), where she provides leadership in developing and implementing CLS’ science strategy. In this role, she ensures that CLS experimental facilities and scientific programs remain at the forefront of technological advancements and remain competitive with third-generation synchrotron facilities worldwide.
Since joining CLS in 2005, Dr. Karunakaran has held various roles and has led the expansion of the CLS plant imaging and innovation research program, advancing the use of synchrotron techniques in agricultural and food sciences research.
Dr. Karunakaran holds a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Engineering from Tamilnadu Agricultural University in India and earned both her Master’s and Ph.D. in Biosystems Engineering from the University of Manitoba. She became a Chartered Professional Manager (C.Mgr.) in 2016 and earned her MBA from the University of London in 2021. In addition to her work at CLS, she is an adjunct professor at the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Manitoba. She is also a frequent contributor to CLS education programs, helping to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and learning opportunities.
Julia Doucette-Garr
Julia Doucette-Garr
Julia Doucette-Garr is a member of English River First Nation. They completed their undergrad at the University of Saskatchewan with a B. S. degree in Physics with a minor in Mathematics. During their time as a student they worked at the Canadian Light Source as a summer student before being hired as an Accelerator Operator. One of their projects included looking for commonalities between the composition of a comet and the inside of a superconducting radio frequency cavity. Now alongside operating a particle accelerator, they are learning to code python by translating a data analysis program used for magnetic analysis into python. Julia likes to swim, travel, and bead in their free time.
Dr. David Muir
Dr. David Muir
Dr. David Muir is a scientist at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, where he serves as the Environmental & Earth Sciences Manager and Beamline Responsible for the IDEAS (Inelastic Diffraction and Scattering) beamline.
Dr. Muir's academic journey began at the University of Saskatchewan, where he earned a Bachelor of Engineering in Engineering Physics in April 2004, followed by a Master of Science in Physics in November 2006, and a Ph.D. in Physics in October 2013.
His doctoral research focused on developing a soft X-ray emission endstation for the CLS, building upon his master's work, which involved designing a high-performance soft X-ray emission spectrometer for the REIXS (Resonant Elastic and Inelastic X-ray Scattering) beamline.
At CLS, Dr. Muir has been instrumental in advancing the IDEAS beamline, facilitating a wide range of scientific investigations. His expertise encompasses electronic structure, spectroscopy, and synchrotron radiation.
Beyond his research, Dr. Muir is dedicated to mentorship and education. He has played a pivotal role in programs like "Students on the Beamlines," offering high school students hands-on experience with synchrotron science. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he provided remote training to students, exemplifying his commitment to fostering the next generation of scientists.
Dr. Muir's contributions have significant impact on both the scientific community and public outreach.
Rockford McKay
Rockford McKay
Rockford is a member of the Berens River First Nation. He and his wife Diane have 3 daughters and are grandparents. He grew up in Winnipeg receiving his Bachelor of Science and Education degrees at the University of Manitoba.
Rockford first worked as a chemist at Varta Batteries and Arion Manufacturing. He then went onto a career in science education that continues for over 30 years. He has worked with all First Nation communities in Manitoba, as well as inner city youth in Winnipeg. He is working with all Winnipeg School Divisions including teaching at Children of the Earth High School, science instructional coach with MFNERC, Frontier SD, MFNSS, and a School Trustee with the St. James – Assiniboia SD. He is an author of the Pearson Grade 7 Science textbook used in schools in Manitoba. He has also been part of the development team of educators that created the new Manitoba Science Curriculum.
His work continues to help with chemical cleanup and disposal in schools, instructing students to get RPAS pilot certification with Transport Canada, science classroom support, science fair coaching, and sharing First Nation star teachings.
Stephanie House
Stephanie House
Stephanie House has been a teacher at Oskayak High School (in Saskatoon) for the past 13 years. She works closely with Elders and tries to incorporate as much Indigenous knowledge as possible into her science classes. Elders help her guide student learning and empower young people in a good way.
She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the U of S in 2002. She took a few years off to teach overseas before returning to Saskatoon and completing her Bachelor of Education.
Stephanie has taken the Teacher Training workshop as well as participated in a variety of student education programs at the CLS. Her students do particularly well with the LiSSE programs offered. She has also participated in the 2023 Education Workshop which was an excellent program looking at aquatic research.
She is looking forward to be a part of this year’s workshop and share some of her experiences in partnering with the CLS.
Dr. Vincent Ziffle
Dr. Vincent Ziffle
Dr. Vincent Ziffle (he/him) is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv), in Regina, Saskatchewan. He has been teaching there since 2010. His research interests include Traditional Knowledge and Indigenous Science, uses and chemistry of Medicinal Plants of the Boreal Shield and Central Plains, organic chemistry of plant secondary metabolites, Indigenous Fine Art technologies, and food chemistry.
He works toward the elucidation of medicinal plant compounds with noteworthy medicinal properties, and the treatment of nefarious biofilm infections via Traditional methods. Dr. Ziffle has also developed CHEM 101: Chemistry of Food and Cooking, which incorporates food chemistry, plant medicine and Indigenous Food Traditions, and unique food labs where students learn from Traditional Knowledge Keepers about Indigenous Food pathways, sovereignty, and sustainability.
He is a promoter of all things STEM and is a proponent of STEAM – capital “A” for arts, design, and Indigenous Culture – via Let’s Talk Science and FNUniv’s Indigenous Outreach team of student mentors and educators.
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