Sydney Strocen
- Degree: Bachelor of Applied Science
- Program:
- Campus: Okanagan
What attracted you to the field of engineering?
Academically, math and science were my strong suits and I have always found it satisfying to work on problems and arrive at solutions. My dad had a tire shop and I often found myself doing physical work and helping him out (even when I’d rather be inside). Engineering offered a path where I could pursue my interest in STEM without being stuck working at a desk for my whole career.
You’ve had three co-op positions. What were they like?
To be honest, I wasn’t that inspired by my first two positions. The first was working as a civil engineering intern for a construction company repairing a highway in the Okanagan that had been damaged by flooding. I lived in a remote motel and worked 12-hour shifts while I was onsite. My second position was working for Manitoba Hydro in Winnipeg. Both positions were more focused on the management and supervision side of the job and my responsibilities weren’t very well-defined.
These experiences actually made me question if civil engineering was the right program for me. However, all that completely changed with my last co-op term, at BGC Engineering, which was fantastic.
Tell us about your work at BGC Engineering!
I worked for 12 months in Edmonton for BGC Engineering with their geotechnical engineering group, specifically focused on geotechnical and hydrotechnical analyses of pipelines. It was a mix of field and office work, and I had so many opportunities to learn and was able to take on a lot of responsibility.
When I was in the office, I learned how to do IMU (inertial measurement unit) analysis. The company basically sends out a machine through a pipeline that records every little incremental movement. You can then compare this data over time to see if the pipeline is shifting and this information is matched with identified hazards from LiDAR imagery to flag potential issues. Once in a while I’d get to go out in the field to do ground inspections of the pipelines, doing week-long stints driving across the country, hiking from site to site to look for any exposures or ground movement.
All this information would then be integrated to identify if the pipeline needed to be repaired.
Tells us about your exchange to Glasgow.
I went on exchange to the University of Glasgow from January through May 2025. I was able to take some great electives in structural engineering, water and aerodynamics. I had some extra room in my schedule, so I took a stained glass course through the Glasgow School of Art that I just loved. It was refreshing to have a course that did not involve math and where I could be creative in a hands-on way. I also completed my humanities elective by taking a course on Scottish culture, which included an archaeological focus for my final project.
Living in Glasgow was amazing. As an exchange student, you are in a place long enough that it becomes home – you have your favourite cafes and weekly rituals. I miss the fish and chips more than you can imagine!
After I completed my courses, I travelled around 15 countries. I originally thought I would be travelling solo, but I ended up travelling with friends from Canada and friends I’d met on exchange, which was really fun.
