Meet Maryam, a data scientist and recent newcomer to Canada, joined Climate Resilient Communities (CRC) with a goal to put her technical skills to work in a meaningful way. Her projects at CRC focus on making climate information more accessible and supporting community resilience. Here, Maryam shares her journey, the projects she’s been part of, and what she’s learned along the way.
Q: Can you tell us about your journey to becoming a volunteer with Climate Resilient Communities and what personally motivated you?
As someone new to Canada, I was eager to join a community and contribute to a meaningful project as a data scientist. I was drawn to Climate Resilient Communities because it provided an invaluable opportunity to apply my machine learning skills to a cause that truly matters. The chance to make a positive impact in climate resilience efforts was both intriguing and motivating, and it ultimately inspired me to volunteer.
Q: Describe a specific project or event you were involved in. What were the goals, your role, and the outcomes?
I am involved in two impactful projects. The first is developing a multilingual chatbot that provides accessible, accurate information on climate change topics. The goal is to help diverse Toronto residents stay informed and foster resilient, well-informed communities better equipped to cope with climate anxiety and take positive action. This chatbot was awarded first prize in the “Cohere for AI” competition, which recognized innovative AI solutions addressing climate challenges.
The second project focuses on developing an NLP-based model to detect early signs of climate anxiety among youth based on their social media content. The model is designed for potential use by Kids Help Phone, a Canadian e-mental health service, to support timely mental health interventions.
Q: What challenges did you encounter while volunteering, and how did you address them?
At first, my understanding of LLM-based applications and RAG was largely theoretical. To build practical expertise, I carefully reviewed and ran the initial version of the code provided by our team lead, Luis, going through it almost line-by-line to fully understand each part. Luis’s guidance was invaluable—he was always available to support me, answering questions and clarifying concepts whenever I needed. His support played a crucial role in helping me gain the confidence and hands-on experience necessary to contribute effectively.
Q: Reflecting on your experiences, what insights can you offer to others about the importance of volunteering in climate resilience?
Volunteering in climate resilience offers a fantastic opportunity to connect with passionate, talented individuals, gain valuable hands-on experience, and continually build new skills. It’s a meaningful way to contribute to efforts that make a positive difference in our communities.
Q: What are your aspirations within the organization, and are there particular projects you are looking forward to?
My goals include deepening my expertise in machine learning applications for climate resilience and contributing to projects that address environmental issues. I am particularly excited about enhancing our multilingual chatbot to make it more effective and accessible. I believe it has great potential to foster a more informed and resilient community that is motivated to take action.
Join CRC!
We're Recruiting:
💰 2 Funding Leads: Drive our funding initiatives to support impactful projects.
🤝 2 Communications Leads: Foster strong relationships with the communities we serve.
👯 2 Social Media Coordinators: Help us build our social media & brand!
Why Volunteer With Us?
🤖 Gain experience in climate resilience & data and AI technologies
💚 Contribute to a meaningful cause
🤲 Collaborate with a passionate and diverse team
👯 Expand your professional network
🎓 Grow your knowledge, skills, and more!
Ready to make a difference? Join us in creating a sustainable and resilient future. To apply or learn more about the roles, visit https://crc.place/contributors/
