McMaster’s brightest changemakers took centre stage at the annual MacChangers Project Showcase on April 3, presenting bold ideas aimed at tackling real-world challenges. From students and faculty to city staff and Hamilton community members, the event brought together a dynamic crowd to the David Braley Health Sciences Centre to celebrate a shared vision for a better future.
Creating change in community
MacChangers is a year-long co-curricular program at McMaster University that brings together interdisciplinary student teams to tackle complex, community-identified challenges in Hamilton. Each challenge area is inspired by Our Future Hamilton, the city’s 25-year community vision.
Assigned a specific challenge question, students spend the year engaging in workshops, collaborating with mentors and local partners and developing innovative solutions. Each challenge question was developed in consultation with community partners representing a diversity of backgrounds, experiences and expertise. Their work culminates each April at the MacChangers Project Showcase, where 10 teams are selected to deliver a three-minute pitch to peers, faculty and community stakeholders.
The MacChangers Medal of Excellence was also presented to eight students who demonstrated outstanding dedication, commitment, and perseverance throughout the program: Ashnavi Assokan, Tasin Karim, Piranavaan Vijayalingam, Tridib Banik, Kourosh Mamouri, Nibra Yasin, Kobe Li and Zuhair Qureshi.
Here is a look at some of the top team presentations in this year’s showcase:
Hygiene Hub: Improving Access to Menstrual Products in Hamilton
Team members: Jeslyn Chow, Gordon Liu, An Nguyen, Malak Al Musawi, and Xuong Minh Thi
Challenge: “How might we design public washrooms in Hamilton that are hygienic, safe, and accessible?”
Hygiene Hub, developed in consultation with The City of Hamilton, McMaster’s Okanagan Office of Health & Well-being and 541 Eatery & Exchange, addresses barriers to accessing menstrual products in public spaces. The team proposed a QR code-operated hygiene product dispenser paired with a mobile app. The dispenser would provide free, equitable access to menstrual products in public washrooms across Hamilton, while the app would feature an interactive map showing washroom locations and real-time product availability.
Team Hygiene Hub’s project tackles the crucial issue of menstrual equity and public accessibility. Looking ahead, they plan to refine their idea, seek funding through the Menstrual Equity Fund, and pilot the project with the goal of city-wide expansion.
The team was awarded the Stewart-Levinson Trophy for their exceptional creativity, collaboration and commitment throughout the program. Named after MacChangers founders Lynn Stewart and Beth Levinson, the trophy honours the origins of the program, which began a decade ago in the Faculty of Engineering and has since grown to include over a hundred students across all faculties and levels of study, offering a truly unique experiential learning opportunity for McMaster students.
Harbour Heroes: Floating Wetlands for a Healthier Harbour
Team members: Deea Saha, Marlena Ciemiega, Savitoj Sandhu and Charlyne Taabazuing
Challenge: “How might we reduce contamination in Hamilton Harbour to improve aquatic habitats?”
Harbour Heroes’ project proposes expanding the city’s pilot of Floating Treatment Wetlands (FTWs) in Cootes Paradise. By using locally sourced, natural materials and partnering with McMaster students to design and build low-cost FTWs, the team aims to scale an already effective method of reducing phosphorus levels in the water. Their idea was shaped through consultations with the City of Hamilton, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and McMaster University. Team Harbour Heroes envisions a future where these floating wetlands contribute significantly to restoring the health of Hamilton Harbour’s aquatic ecosystems.
Sustainability Artists: Tackling Food Waste on Campus
Team members: Christine Namuddu, Liliana Patru and Alexandra Chow
Challenge: “How might we enhance large-scale sustainability practices at McMaster University?”
The Sustainability Artists innovative idea targets the issue of food waste among McMaster’s 27,000 off-campus students. With limited options for food storage on campus, many students are forced to buy packaged meals throughout the day, leading to increased packaging waste and discarded food. The team’s solution proposes the installation of fridges with individual, lockable compartments in accessible locations across campus. Developed with feedback from McMaster Facility Services and Green Venture, this project encourages sustainable habits, reduces food waste and supports McMaster’s broader sustainability goals.
Team Roots in Hamilton: Supporting Newcomers Through Peer Mentorship
Team members: Yasmin Ahmed, Tanisha Ahamed, Areeba Hasan, Ayesha Akhtar, Sejude Alama and Wazba Faiaz
Challenge: “How might we assist newcomers in navigating programs and services to support their settlement in Hamilton?”
Roots in Hamilton’s solution proposes a culturally informed mentorship program called NewRoots, connecting McMaster student volunteers with newcomers who share similar cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Volunteers would provide personalized support, helping newcomers navigate essential services such as housing, employment and language assistance through direct referral pathways to organizations across Hamilton. Developed with input from the Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council and McMaster University, NewRoots strengthens community ties and fosters a welcoming environment for newcomers.
