Age: 18
An interest in engineering can take a person in many different directions. For Mariam Alshaikh, it led to designing an exercise machine for zebrafish as part of a study at the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute to better understand brain vasculature in young children — research that could one day help prevent strokes in at-risk kids. She has devoted countless hours as a mental-health advocate and volunteer with the Alberta Children’s Hospital Youth Council, South Health Campus and as head of her local STEM Fellowship chapter. She is also committed to helping the next generation of STEM enthusiasts. While attending West Island College, she helped create a program for projects in innovation, entrepreneurship and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) that grew from six to 20 students under her leadership.
“If we don’t break the stigma around [mental health] now, then it’s just going to carry forward into [more] generations.”
Top 20 Under 20 2025
Anastasia and Mercedes Korngut
