Welcome to this week’s Sunday Briefing. In this issue:

Now on to today’s briefing.

-Emily, [email protected]

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If you're a woman studying science, technology, engineering, or maths at a Vancouver Island post-secondary institution, there's money on the table — and not much time left to apply for it.

Island Women in Science and Technology (iWIST) has opened applications for its 2026 scholarship program, offering three awards totalling $13,000 for women in their second year or beyond in a STEM field.

The program is backed by Victoria tech companies Redbrick and Shift Browser, and recognizes that succeeding in STEM as a woman takes real perseverance — and that financial support can make a meaningful difference.

The three scholarships cover different corners of the STEM world. The Women in STEM Scholarship offers $3,000 to a student who demonstrates leadership and potential for impact.

The $5,000 Woman of Impact Scholarship, sponsored by Redbrick, looks for someone ready to balance professional purpose with real-world results. The $5,000 Woman of Innovation Scholarship, backed by Shift, targets students in computer engineering or software development who bring empathy and inclusivity to a field that still has a long way to go on both fronts.

Applications close June 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST. Winners will be announced in August.

🌊 Listening to the ocean: Three B.C. ocean tech companies, including Nanaimo's SHIFT Coastal Technologies and Reach Systems, completed a field trial testing a fully integrated uncrewed vessel capable of acoustic monitoring without a crew aboard.

🌍 We are the world: Researchers and heads of mission from 12 EU member states visited UVic to explore international research collaboration in climate solutions, aerospace, and Indigenous scholarship.

🎓 I went to school, I read the books: UVic is now accepting applications for its first cohort of Micro-Certificates in Applied Data Science — a part-time, graduate-level programme launching this September for working professionals.

Find your next career:

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June 5 | Submarine 101 and DND Career Opportunities

How does a submarine actually work—and who designs and maintains the ones based right here in Esquimalt? LCdr Jimmy Lau, a naval architect at Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton, breaks down the engineering behind one of the most complex machines in the modern world: diving and surfacing, structure, hydrostatics, power and propulsion, and combat systems. He’ll also unpack the Canadian Patrol Submarine Program—currently the largest military procurement in Canadian history—and the engineering career paths it’s opening up across the Department of National Defence, for both military members and civilians.

July 9 | VIATEC Summer Social at the HarbourCats

Trade the laptop for a ballpark hot dog. On Thursday, July 9th, VIATEC takes over the Canadian Club House at Royal Athletic Park for an evening of baseball, cold drinks, and the tech community under the summer sky. The Victoria HarbourCats are hosting the Bend Elks, and you've got one of the best seats in the park.

Have something or someone we should know about?

Reply or email [email protected] so we can work together to spotlight the lesser-known stories of Victoria's tech ecosystem.