This $30,000 scholarship, created two years ago, is awarded annually to a Canadian woman engineering student who wishes to continue her engineering studies at the master’s or doctoral level in Canada or elsewhere in the world.

Christophe Guy, Chief Executive Officer of Polytechnique, Michèle Thibodeau-DeGuire, Polytechnique Principal and Chair of the Board of Directors, and Nathalie Provost, ambassador of the Order of the White Rose, are particularly impressed by the outstanding academic record of this year’s recipient. After completing her bachelor’s degree, Liane Bernstein was admitted directly to the PhD program of the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science department at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“I am delighted that Liane Bernstein has been chosen as the recipient of this second Order of the White Rose scholarship, as she has not only had a stellar academic career punctuated by successes that are well deserved and worthy of mention, but is also a graduate of our engineering school”, says Mr. Guy. “We are all the more proud that an institution of the calibre of MIT has also acknowledged her potential, as have the many associations and organizations that chose her for scholarships and awards during her studies here. Wherever in the world Liane decides to put her skills to use, she is destined for a brilliant, successful career—one that will reflect on her alma mater.”

Ms. Bernstein says: “I am deeply moved to be receiving the Order of the White Rose scholarship, and I wish to thank the selection jury for having considered my application with such interest. This is an enormous honour for me. I didn’t always know what field I wanted to pursue; I had hesitated between engineering, physics and even history. But after I met Professor Caroline Boudoux at Polytechnique and interned in her lab, my choice was clear. I developed a true passion for engineering physics, which to me represents the ideal blend of theoretical study and concrete applications.” She continues: “When I enter the job market, I want to use my scientific knowledge and the results of my research to create innovative imaging technologies that will be used to screen for diseases and improve people’s health.”

And Ms. Thibodeau-DeGuire, who in 1963 was Polytechnique’s first woman graduate in civil engineering, notes: “Liane Bernstein is a true source of inspiration for young women who have chosen engineering as their field of study. The jury has selected an exceptional student who has proved that it is possible not only to fit in but to stand out in a predominantly male field like engineering physics. In addition to her studies, she leads a well-rounded life, being an accomplished musician and athlete.”

For her part, Ms. Provost, a Polytechnique graduate who was injured during the events of December 1989, says: “This scholarship presented to Liane Bernstein will enable her to fulfill a dream that young women like her, at one time, believed was out of their reach. Liane has the qualities it takes to succeed at anything she puts her mind to. At the same time, she cares about the success of others, and lives by the credo ‘pay it forward,’ as evidenced by her commitment to promoting engineering to young girls.”

The Order of the White Rose was established to honour the victims of the tragedy of December 6, 1989, at Polytechnique, as part of the activities surrounding the 25th annual commemoration of the event. The scholarship not only recognizes the importance that Polytechnique attaches to women’s contributions to engineering, but is also meant to be a catalyst for emerging talents.

The Order of the White Rose selection jury was chaired by Ms. Thibodeau-DeGuire. Its members included other outstanding people in the Canadian higher education community, namely:

Cristina Amon, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto
Elizabeth Cannon, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Calgary
Patrik Doucet, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Université de Sherbrooke
Suzanne Fortier, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, McGill University
Joshua Leon, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Dalhousie University
Pearl Sullivan, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Waterloo
Kimberly A. Woodhouse, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Queen’s University

The Polytechnique Montréal Week of the White Rose continues until December 6.

From left to right: Hélène David, minister responsible for Higher Education; Nathalie Provost, Polytechnique graduate injured during the 1989 tragedy and ambassador of the Order of the White Rose; Liane Bernstein, second recipient of the Order of the White Rose scholarship; Michèle Thibodeau-DeGuire, Principal and Chair of the Polytechnique Board of Directors, and Chair of the Order of the White Rose scholarship selection jury; Christophe Guy, CEO of Polytechnique.

Read more

Profile of Liane Bernstein on the Order of the White Rose website
Video interview between Liane Bernstein and Nathalie Provost, ambassador of the Order of the White Rose