The aim is to EXCEL

HANNA RABINOVICH | High school and CEGEP students from visible minority groups from across the Montreal region are invited to spend some time at McGill later this month and look into some possible careers for themselves. The EXCEL ("Education, eXtra curricular activities, Community involvement, Entrepreneurship [and] Leadership") conference will be headquartered in the Stephen Leacock Building from May 27 through May 29. McGill is an official sponsor for the event, along with the Bank of Montreal, the Royal Bank, Merck Frosst, Spar Aerospace, and other companies and organizations. The EXCEL program's goal is to encourage members of Quebec's racial minority groups to seriously consider pursuing careers in the areas of science and technology. Organizers such as McGill graduate and Bank of Montreal workplace equality manager Gemma Raeburn-Baynes say that while they hope to see many such students at the event, anyone is welcome to attend. Part of EXCEL's goal is to help students make connections. On a glossy conference brochure, potential applicants are encouraged to bring their résumés. A wide range of McGill experts will be hosting workshops on topics ranging from "What is Sports Medicine" (with Department of Athletics head athletic therapist Lynn Bookalam) to "Nursing You Back to Health" (McGill nursing students and McGill University Health Centre nurses discuss their profession) to "Physics in the 21st Century" (with physics professor Robert Moore) to "DNA and Forensic Science" (with experimental medicine graduate students Richard Marcotte and Natalie Richard). The workshops will focus on dealing with failure and success and on developing creative thinking. At the conclusion of the program will be a speech given by the first African-American woman to enter space, astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison. Conference workshops on the first two days are open to all high school and CEGEP students. The final day of the conference is open to the public. For more information, call (514) 877-8864.