In March 2020, the Office of the Chief Science Advisor announced the inaugural Chief Science Advisor’s Youth Council. There is great enthusiasm among Canada’s youth population towards science and an eagerness to contribute to shaping the country’s science landscape.
The mandate of the Youth Council includes:
- Providing accurate and balanced views to the Chief Science Advisor (CSA) from the perspective of youth
- Bringing to the attention of the CSA and the Office of the CSA questions and issues related to the various groups that council members represent
- Identifying and informing the CSA on key issues and challenges facing the Canadian science community
- Advising on and taking part in outreach activities of the Office of the Chief Science Advisor
Reports
This timely report from the second cohort of the CSA’s Youth Council outlines youth perspectives on the risks and potential applications of AI in science, research and technology in Canada.
In this inaugural report, the CSA’s Youth Council shares its insights and aspirations for the future of Canada’s science and research landscape.
Alumni members
Chief Science Advisor’s Youth Council Members
Adèle Agenes
Adèle Agenes is a first-year student at the University of British Columbia, studying general sciences. She hopes to major in Neuroscience with a minor in physics. At UBC, Adele is an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the Judy Illes lab at Neuroethics Canada. Adèle has completed research internships at the University of Grenoble Alpes in Grenoble, France, led the Rotary Youth division in her province, and attended several conferences, including the Science Diplomacy Summit (2025, Washington, D.C.) and the Society for Neuroscience (2024, Chicago). In her free time, Adèle enjoys going on hikes and spending time with her friends.
Ayesha Ahmad
Ayesha Ahmad is a research assistant in the Department of Pediatrics at McMaster University and an Emergency Response Communications Officer with Yukon Emergency Medical Services. Originally from Whitehorse, Yukon, she is pursuing a Master of Science in Health Research Methodology at McMaster, exploring how geography and health policy influence access to pediatric oncology care in remote and northern communities.
With a background in Environmental Sciences, Ayesha has contributed to research on mine remediation, salmon conservation, and community-based health equity. She co-founded the Yukon Period Pantry, a mutual-aid initiative recognized in the Yukon Legislative Assembly, and serves as Track Co-Chair for the 2025 Youth 7 Secretariat under Canada’s G7 chairmanship.
Deeply connected to the North, Ayesha finds inspiration in Yukon’s landscapes and advocates for northern representation in science and policy.
Édouard Hurens
Édouard Hurens is a Québec-born fourth-year medical student, pursuing a master’s degree in clinical and biomedical sciences at Université Laval. His research focuses on nephrology and vascular health, particularly the links between vascular calcification and kidney disease.
He currently leads a pilot clinical study assessing the impact of diuretics on arterial stiffness and calcification and has also contributed to basic research on vitamin D in chronic kidney disease. These experiences have built his expertise in the kidney-bone-vascular axis and the pathophysiology of cardiovascular and renal diseases.
Beyond the lab, Édouard helps organize symposiums and research days aimed at fostering the next generation of scientists and tutors elementary school students through a community organization. His work has earned multiple awards for research and science communication.
Raphaëlle Jean-Baptiste
Raphaëlle Jean-Baptiste is an engineering graduate in Biomedical Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of Ottawa. Her work bridges human-centred design, artificial intelligence, and applied engineering exploring how technology shapes human experience. She believes that intelligent systems should be designed not only for performance but with an understanding of human values, needs, and creativity at their core.
Raphaëlle views design as spanning the physical, digital, and social, where critical thinking and imagination converge to shape people’s interactions with technology and each other. Her goal is to advance AI-enabled solutions in engineering through responsible, accessible, human-focused innovation.
Beyond her technical pursuits, she advocates for equitable participation in STEM. As a former executive member of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Chapter Lead for Canada Learning Code, and participant on an Actua National Panel, she empowers underrepresented communities to explore technology.
Cassandra Johannessen
Cassandra is an early career researcher in environmental risk assessment. As a PhD candidate in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Concordia University, she investigates emerging contaminants through field monitoring, laboratory work, and computational modeling. Her research produced over a dozen peer-reviewed publications, influencing policy discussions and government collaborations.
Holding an honours BSc in Chemistry and an MSc in Environmental & Life Sciences with distinction from Trent University, she has been supported by NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarships.
Beyond research, Cassandra has served as co-president of Science & Policy Exchange, and has held leadership roles in graduate student governance, curriculum development, and science communication initiatives.
Looking forward, Cassandra aims to strengthen the connection between scientific evidence and policy development, advocating for comprehensive assessment frameworks that protect both Canada's ecosystems and public health.
Mobeen Lalani
Mobeen Lalani is a Venture Development Manager at Toronto Innovation Acceleration Partners (TIAP), leading technology evaluation, due diligence, and venture development of digital health, AI in healthcare, and medical devices.
Mobeen brings diverse experience across healthcare innovation, strategy, and science commercialization. Previously, he lead sales and business development at telehealth startup, worked on strategy for Canada’s largest pharmacy retailer and supported the design of health data transformation strategies in primary care.
Mobeen was selected by the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, as one of six trainees with the AI for Good Foundation, where he explored the role of AI in healthcare during times of social and political unrest. His contributions have earned him the 2023 Emerging Leader Award from Digital Health Canada and recognition on The Peak's 2023 Top 40 in the Healthcare category.
He holds an MHI and BSc (U of T) and a certificate in Health Law and AI in Healthcare (University of Ottawa).
Toby Le
Toby Le is a PhD candidate in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at the University of Manitoba. His research examines how the injectable contraceptive, Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), affects the immune system, building on previous studies linking DMPA use with increased HIV susceptibility. This research is conducted in close partnership with the sex worker community and scientists in Nairobi, Kenya.
Beyond his doctoral studies, Toby helped the National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases, launch a platform tracking SARS-CoV-2 variants and authored briefings for policymakers, clinicians, and researchers. He represented Canadian youth at the 76th World Health Assembly and the 60th Pan American Health Organization Directing Council, leading consultations with more than 200 stakeholders to inform global health policies. To advance science communication in Canada, Toby served as the Programming Director for ComSciCon-Canada, a national workshop aimed to equip graduate students with the skills to share their research with diverse audiences. He also delivered a TEDx talk on inclusive, community‑centered science.
Meghana Munipalle
Meghana Munipalle is a PhD candidate in Biological and Biomedical Engineering at McGill University, where she applies computational models to study regenerative stem cell biomaterials for spinal disc repair. She holds an Honours BSc from the University of Toronto, and a MSc from the University of Guelph. First trained as a physicist and later as a biophysicist, she combines biology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, and computer science to solve problems across scientific disciplines.
Meghana is committed to science outreach, communication, and advocacy. She holds leadership roles with Scientista (empowering pre-professional women in STEM), the McGill initiative in Computational Medicine (computational literacy training to life science researchers) and has lead the development graduate-level science communication resources. Meghana has volunteered for the last two years with the Canadian Science Policy Centre as a Program Committee member.
Amine Oualhan
Amine Oualhan is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Software Engineering at Université du Québec à Montréal. A scholarship recipient from LACIM (Laboratoire d'algèbre, de combinatoire et de mathématiques informatique), he helped improve a web application for exploring RNA motifs and served on his department’s program committee.
Passionate about science and education, Mr. Oualhan volunteers with Let’s Talk Science, leading outreach activities for youth. At the Eurêka! Festival, he introduced children to the solar system and teaches French with Canadian Parents for French.
From September 2024 to May 2025, he participated in the federal Odyssey program, promoting bilingualism in Canada. He participated in the 2025 Senate Simulation, assuming the role of senator and took part in debates on timely issues.
Natalie Pallisco
Natalie is a senior epidemiologist for the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), where she focuses on provincial public health surveillance and data management related to injuries, chronic diseases, and nutrition. She also provides local epidemiological support to dozens of communities in the North West and North East of Saskatchewan, including outbreak management, health status reporting, and data literacy. As of September 2025, Natalie is on leave from the SHA to complete 2 years of training in Ottawa as part of Cohort 51 of the Canadian Field Epidemiology Program.
Natalie earned an MPhil in Population Health Sciences from the University of Cambridge and a BMSc(H) in Epidemiology and Statistical Programming from Western University as a Loran Scholar. Her research has focused on quantifying the rural-urban disparities in acute care utilisation and the impacts of the pandemic and of social determinants of health on these differences.
Aiden Shlien
Aiden Shlien is a medical student at McGill University’s Campus Outaouais dedicated to making scientific innovation more accessible to youth.
Before medical school, Aiden partnered with the National Research Council of Canada and a local plastics recycling company to develop recyclable construction materials from plastic waste as an alternative to wood. The project earned him a Bronze Medal at the Canada-Wide Science Fair, where he represented Quebec. He later worked for the Canadian Space Agency, supporting operations within the Sun–Earth Systems team.
At McGill, Aiden conducts research in Dr. Polychronakos’ Endocrine Genetics Lab at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, focusing on whether polygenic risk for pancreatic β-cell dysfunction contributes to the incomplete penetrance of monogenic diabetes. He also serves as the VP Finance of the Special Projects and Community Involvement Committee, which empowers medical student-led groups to launch innovative, community-based projects by providing access to funding and resources.
Noah Siegfried
Noah Siegfried is a PhD student in Chemistry and Materials Science at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, ON. He studies the design and characterization of low-dimensional electronically active nanomaterials that can be integrated in electronic devices like LEDs. His research focuses on the impact of molecules containing multiple functional groups in the creation of two-dimensional covalent organic and metal-organic frameworks. His master’s work earned him the Canadian Society of Chemists Silver Medal and the NSERC Canadian Graduate Scholarship. Noah has won the Surface Science Division best poster at the Canadian Chemistry Conference, winning a joint division of the Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC) and Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP).
Noah brings a unique perspective through the insights of Indigenous youth in science and his background in a research field that utilizes aspects of chemistry, physics, and materials sciences. He believes that his educational journey and experience will contribute to creating diverse policies that reflect the vast perspectives of youth from small communities across Canada.
Shali Tayebi
Shali Tayebi is a researcher and advocate who uses data and evidence to drive meaningful change in environmental and public health. She holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of British Columbia and a Master’s in Global Health from the University of Copenhagen.
During her studies at UBC, Shali gained research experience as an assistant in multiple psychology labs. During her master’s, she conducted environmental epidemiology research using advanced technology to measure air pollution exposure and assess its environmental and health impacts. Her first-author thesis on cryptocurrency mining, along with four co-authored articles, were published in peer-reviewed journals. She has also presented her findings at international conferences, highlighting her ability to translate complex data into actionable insights.
Beyond academia, Shali led multi-stakeholder projects for a provincial non‑profit to improve supports for individuals with disabilities and contributed to policy briefs incorporated into the 2024 BC Poverty Reduction Strategy. She also advises on equity-focused climate policies for the City of Vancouver.
CSA Youth Council Mentors
Justine Ammendolia
Justine Ammendolia (she/her) is a PhD student at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada. Her research focuses on identifying plastic pollution sources, pathways and sinks in Eastern Canada. While completing her undergraduate at the University of Guelph in Zoology in 2014, she was awarded the National Geographic Young Explorer Grant to research Arctic seabirds in Eastern Greenland in an off-grid field location for 6 weeks. During this time, she fostered a deep passion for protecting the corners of our planet and their unique ecosystems, particularly those in our Northern environments. Justine completed her MSc in Marine Biology at Memorial University of Newfoundland and in 2017 helped develop the Placentia Bay Ocean Debris Survey, a research team focused on monitoring plastic pollution on the coastlines of Newfoundland. Using a combination of citizen science methods and working with locals, her work aimed to better understand the presence and movement of plastics in coastal waters. Justine is also passionate about sharing her knowledge and experiences in STEM with younger audiences and has keynoted a number of international youth leadership events and written science articles for students. Justine participated as a Youth Council Member for the Chief Science Advisor of Canada from 2020-23 and is currently a Mentor for the incoming Youth Council. She is an NSERC, Killam, Royal Canadian Geographic Society and Nova Scotia Graduate Scholar.
Chloé Currie
Chloé Currie is a mentor for the Chief Science Advisor’s Youth Council, previously serving as a member in the second cohort. She is an MSc candidate in Global Health, Social Justice, and Public Policy at King’s College London, where she focuses on reducing health inequities through evidence-based policy. She is the 2025–26 Student Program Representative, a candidate for the President’s Global Leadership Award, and a writer with the King’s Policy Journal.
Chloé has experience in government relations, research, and public policy, most recently serving as a Consultant in Government Affairs at Santis Health, following an earlier role as Public Affairs Coordinator. She has worked with health-sector organizations to develop advocacy strategies, manage stakeholder relations, and support engagement with government decision-makers. Additionally, she was formerly the Director of Content for Encode Justice Canada, a student-led coalition focused removing barriers of understanding regarding artificial intelligence ethics.
She holds a Master of International Public Policy from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Scottish MA in History from the University of Edinburgh. Her published work spans science policy, AI ethics, and development policy.
Julia Messina-Pacheco
Julia Messina-Pacheco is a Program Officer at the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). She holds a Ph.D. in Pathology from McGill University, where her research on the cellular mechanisms underlying pancreatic cancer was supported by a doctoral scholarship from the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS).
A past member of the CSA-YC, Julia continues to champion its mission of bringing youth perspectives into science advice and policymaking in Canada. She also serves on the Board of Science & Policy Exchange, a non-profit organization led by next-generation researchers that promotes evidence-informed policy and engagement between scientists, policymakers, and the public. Through her work with SPE, she has contributed to national advocacy efforts for increased research funding for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, including testimony before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research. She is passionate about advancing equity in research, strengthening the role of science in policy, and improving how scientific knowledge is translated into societal impact.
Teodora Riglea
Teodora Riglea is a Ph.D. candidate at the École de santé publique de l'Université de Montréal in Public Health, option Epidemiology. She is a student member of CELPHIE (Coalition for Early Life course studies supporting Public Health Intervention and Evaluation) which aims to develop, nurture, and expand Canadian expertise in studies of young people through novel analytic approaches and knowledge sharing. Teodora was a research coordinator at the Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal from 2018 to 2023.
Her research focuses on the role of movement behaviours (i.e., physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep) on mental health. She is interested in causal inference methods from observational data and longitudinal studies. She has published several peer-reviewed publications and represented her research team during their contribution to the recently released public recommendations for screen time in youth in Québec.