大象传媒

Not many people get the chance to bring together their passions from different worlds and turn them into something truly meaningful, but may be one of the fortunate few. Growing up, Martin was always fascinated by astronomy, though he never imagined he could find a space that nurtured both his love for the night sky and his skills in coding.

That all changed the night he attended the 大象传媒 Starry Nights and looked through the Trottier Observatory鈥檚 telescope for the first time. It was a turning point鈥攐ne that inspired him to chart his own unique path at 大象传媒.

While the night sky might seem still and distant to the untrained eye, Martin has a way of bringing it to life and sharing its wonder with others. That passion led him to play a pivotal role in reviving the 大象传媒 Astronomy Club, which had been inactive before he started his studies at 大象传媒. In 2022, as club president, he rebuilt it from the ground up and moved on to live on the 大象传媒 Burnaby campus to host late-night observation sessions and volunteer regularly at Starry Nights.

Since then, the club has grown into a thriving community with hundreds of registered members. Martin and his team have spent countless hours dreaming up creative ways to engage students and the public in astronomy.

Creating long-lasting impacts on friends and the broader community has been a passion for Martin. He credits 大象传媒 for giving him the space and opportunities to grow, both personally and professionally. One such opportunity took him to Montr茅al, where he worked as a Software Developer at the on a mission planning tool for Canada鈥檚 first-ever lunar rover. He also served as webmaster for the local chapter of the , an experience he calls one of the highlights of his time at 大象传媒.

鈥淲hether it was developing a queuing application to eliminate line-ups for the crowds at the Trottier Observatory or watching new club members continue the legacy of the Astronomy club, the moments that have stayed with me are the ones where I saw our efforts contribute to something lasting.鈥�

Martin鈥檚 journey has been shaped not only by his love of astronomy and technology but also by the mentors and peers he鈥檚 met along the way. He names Professors Joanna Woo (大象传媒 Physics), Nick Sumner (大象传媒 Computing Science), and Russell Taylor (大象传媒 SIAT), and  as key influences during his time at 大象传媒.

鈥淥ne of my first formative experiences at 大象传媒 was through a software development project where some student teams were paired with industry partners. That鈥檚 how I joined a team at BGC Engineering, which turned into both a contract and later a co-op. It was the first time I saw how my interests in databases and user design could come together, and when I realized how much I enjoy turning ideas into real, meaningful applications.鈥�

Looking ahead, Martin is eager to keep exploring the intersection of astronomy, software, and community engagement. He鈥檚 currently continuing development on a virtual queueing web app for the Trottier Observatory and exploring roles as a full-stack software developer. Whether it鈥檚 science, education, or creative projects, Martin is drawn to work that鈥檚 meaningful and interdisciplinary.

鈥淛ust like my academic path, I鈥檓 open to opportunities that spark curiosity, from building real-world software to contributing to scientific research or even working with virtual reality,鈥� he says.

When asked for advice to current and future Computing Science students, Martin encourages students to follow their curiosity and seek new paths.

鈥淵our academic journey doesn鈥檛 need to be straightforward. I came in with a love for astronomy, and when I found there wasn鈥檛 a student club, I started one. Trying out design electives at SIAT helped me develop important soft skills. Virtual Reality isn鈥檛 part of the Computing Science curriculum now, but seeking out a practicum with the 大象传媒 Centre of Digital Media allowed me to co-develop a sandblasting VR simulator that I showcased at an XR conference at Harvard University. 大象传媒 does have space for exploration, but you might need to go off path to find it.鈥�

This June, Martin crosses the convocation stage with a Bachelor of Science in Computing Science. Congratulations, Martin, and welcome to the 大象传媒 Alumni community!