2009
You are browsing the archive for 2009.
Dr. Carl Ollivier-Gooch receives the Shahyer Pirzadeh Memorial Award
The Department of Mechanical Engineering is pleased to announce that Dr. Carl Ollivier-Gooch’s technical paper “Assessing Validity of Mesh Refinement Sequences with Application to DPW-III Meshes” which was presented at the 2009 AIAA Aerospace Sciences meeting, AIAA 2009-1174, “has been selected by the AIAA Meshing Visualization and Computational Environments (MVCE) Technical Committee to receive the [...]
Technical Award presented to Dr. Clarence De Silva
Dr. Clarence De Silva from the Mechanical Engineering Department along with a list of fellow contributors recently won the Technical Award for their paper, “Distributed DSP for Fault Monitoring and Control” with the associated paper: De Silva, C.W., Tan, K.K., Huang, S., Lee, T.H., and Wu, R., Proceedings of the Digital Signal Processing Creative Design [...]
Professor Hongshen Ma receives $100,000 Grand Challenges Explorations Grant for Innovative Global Health Research
Professor Hongshen Ma, from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, has received a $100,000 (USD) grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This grant is part of the Grand Challenges Explorations program to support research in Global Health. Professor Ma’s grant will support his work in the development of a low-cost device to detect malaria [...]
Mechanical Engineering Alumnus Brent King wins the Manning Innovation Award for inventing the SPIDER
Mechanical Engineering alumnus Brent King (B.A.Sc. ’96) has won the $10,000 Manning Innovation Award for inventing the SPIDER, a device that accurately and securely positions a patient’s limb during surgery. The SPIDER Limb Positioner is used for specialized procedures such as rotator cuff repairs or wrist arthroscopy. Not only does the SPIDER improve the surgeon’s [...]
David Goosen, Dr. James Olson and Dick Kerekes are awarded the Van den Akker prize.
Undergraduate Mechanical Engineering student David Goosen, Dr. James Olson and fellow collaborator Dick Kerekes were awarded the Van den Akker prize for advancements in Paper Physics at the Fundamental Research Symposium in Oxford UK. The contribution was for their paper entitled: Goosen D.R., Olson J.A. and Kerekes R.J. “Role of heterogeneity in compression refining” J. [...]
James Saunders and Malcolm Shields win the Alternative Energy X Competition
In June the UBC Sustainability Office launched a competition for plans to reduce UBC’s carbon footprint- the Alternative Energy X Competition. Congrats to both James Saunders and Malcolm Shields on this accomplishment.
Professor Emerita Martha Salcudean receives Honorary Doctor of Engineering from the University of Waterloo
Professor Emerita Martha Salcudean receives Honorary Doctor of Engineering from the University of Waterloo at June Convocation On June 13, 2009, UBC Mechanical Engineering Professor Emerita Martha Salcudean received a doctor of engineering degree and addressed convocation at the University of Waterloo. Salcudean is the Weyerhaeuser Industrial Research Chair Emerita in Computational Fluid Dynamics. A [...]
Dr. Croft receives the Engineers Canada Fellowship
The Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC with Engineers Canada has recognized Dr. Croft’s noteworthy achievement and service to the engineering profession and has bestowed upon her the Engineers Canada Fellowship. Dr. Croft’s current research can be viewed at the Mech Faculty page and her own website. Congratulations to Dr. Croft for being selected for [...]
EcoDrain, founded by alumnus David Velan, is a finalist for the INDEX:AWARD 2009
Alumnus David Velan, BASc ’02, has taken his mechanical engineering knowledge and love of the environment to found EcoDrain, a finalist for the INDEX:AWARD 2009. EcoDrain is a technology company working to recapture heat from shower water. The device is a specialized heat exchanger that transfers heat from hot shower water waste to cold incoming [...]
Proof of Principle funding (CIHR) awarded to Dr. Peter Cripton
Dr. Peter Cripton a Professor from the Department of Mechanical Engineering has been funded from the CIHR Proof of Principle program (phase 1) for one of the many projects that the Department has running currently. The funding, 150k for one year, will fund a research engineer, biologic specimens and commercialization costs for a helmet project. [...]
UBC Engineers place third in ASHRAE Competition
UBC’s ASHRAE Design Team— Ara Beittoei, Brent Kavelaars, Chu Lin, Jensen Metchie, and Tapio Pikkarainen —placed third in the 2009 American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Student Design Project Competition. The UBC team competed against 14 others in the HVAC System Design category and tied with University of Central Florida as [...]
UBC Heavy Lift team takes third in SAE Aero Design West Regular Class
The UBC Heavy Lift team placed third overall (Regular Class) in the recent SAE Aero Design West international competition, held March 6-8th in Los Angeles, California. The team also took second in the oral presentation. The team’s 8lb plane successfully completed the empty weight bonus flight and scored a flight lifting 20.3lbs before crashing spectacularly [...]
Outstanding New Graduates Recognized
Many outstanding new graduates were recognized on May 26, 2009, at a reception following the graduation ceremonies. Alumnus Jay Drew congratulated the new class, and welcomed them to the alumni community. Major award winners included: Letson Prizes, for top graduates from the General, Mechatronics and Thermofluids Options: Christopher Bibby (General), Troy Adebar (Mechatronics) and Tu [...]
Dr. Elizabeth Croft a Nominee for the YWCA Women of Distinction
Dr. Elizabeth Croft, Professor and Associate Head in Mechanical Engineering, has been accepted as a Nominee for the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards, in the category of Technology, Science & Industry. From the YWCA Website: “A dedicated engineer, scholar, teacher and mentor, Elizabeth is passionately devoted to supporting and promoting the participation of women in [...]
“Motorized Neck Brace System” project by MECH students wins “Award of Distinction”
Building on last year’s award-winning “Dynamic Neck Brace” project in MECH 457 (2007-2008), the ALS Society of British Columbia increased its support for neck brace design projects this past academic year (2008-2009), as well as for other projects at UBC, SFU, UVic and BCIT that promote the well-being of persons with ALS. A total of [...]
Parisa Bastani receives the Outstanding Future Alumnus Award
Mechanical Engineering student Parisa Bastani receives the Outstanding Future Alumnus Award. This award recognizes a UBC student who has demonstrated ambassador-like qualities on behalf of UBC and who has excelled in one or a number of the following: leadership, academic success, community service, university service, athletic or artistic achievement, faculty recognition or other areas worthy [...]
Professor Thomas Oxland has been made an American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME) Fellow
The Department of Mechanical Engineering is pleased to announce that Professor Thomas Oxland has been made an American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME) Fellow. The Fellow Grade recognizes significant engineering achievements and contributions to the engineering profession. Professor Oxland’s principal areas of research and development contribution include the biomechanical aspects of the spine, spinal injury, [...]
Emily McWalter and Malcolm Shield receive the 2009 Graduate Teaching Assistant Teaching Award
The UBC Department of Mechanical Engineering is pleased to announce that Emily McWalter and Malcolm Shield have been selected as recipients of the 2009 Graduate Teaching Assistant Teaching Award. These prestigious awards are given annually in recognition of the valuable role that Teaching Assistants play in UBC undergraduate programs. The award includes both a certificate [...]
Troy Adebar, Engineering Co-op Student of the Year
Congratulations to Mechanical Engineering student Troy Adebar, Engineering Co-op Student of the Year! Troy has been an active member of the UBC Mechanical Engineering Department where he completed his first two of five terms. His third term was with Kraft Canada and his final two terms were in biomedical research with Evasc Medical Systems. Troys [...]
Alan Steeves to receive the 2009 President’s Service Award for Excellence
Alan Owen Steeves, Computer and Electronics Manager, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering is one of five members of the university community to receive the 2009 President’s Service Award for Excellence in recognition of his outstanding contributions to campus life and for personal achievements. Alan has provided nearly 30 years of dedicated IT support to the department [...]
Dr. Clarence de Silva awarded NSERC Canada Research Chair in Mechatronics and Industrial Automation
UBC Mechanical Engineering Professor Clarence de Silva has been appointed a Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Mechatronics and Industrial Automation. This seven-year, federally funded research position – valued at $1.4 million – is designed to build Canada’s research capacity. An expert in machine health monitoring, the prediction, detection and diagnosis of malfunctions in engineering systems [...]
Robyn Newell receives a grant from the International Society of Biomechanics
Robyn Newell, a PhD candidate with Dr. Peter Cripton, has been awarded a travel grant to travel and collaborate with a group in Switzerland. The grant was awarded by the International Society of Biomechanics and will allow Robyn to do a 30 day collaboration with researchers at the ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research at [...]
Susana Zoghbi selected to attend the Young HRI Pioneers Workshop
Susana Zoghbi, a Ph.D. student in the CARIS lab has recently been selected as one of the nine out of twenty-eight students to attend the 2009 Young HRI Pioneers Workshop immediately preceeding the IEEE Human Robot Interaction Conference in San Diego California, on March 10, 2009. This award includes travel and accommodation funds to attend [...]
Guan-Lu Zhang Receives Mitacs Accelerate Canada Industrial Internship
Through a highly competitive process, MITACS ACCELERATE CANADA program has provided $15,000 for our graduate student Guan-Lu Zhang to undertake an applied research project at Dynacon, Inc.—a company headed by Dr. Reda Fayek, based in Mississauga, ON. Guan-Lu’s research internship will be under the supervision and guidance of his M.A.Sc. supervisor and Mechanical Engineering Professor [...]
UBC Mechanical Engineer Associate Professor Dr. Mu Chiao receives money for his MEMS and microfluidic research
As well, UBC Mechanical Engineering Associate Professor Mu Chiao—CRC in MEMS and Nanotechnology for Biomedial Devices—has received $28,025 from CFI for a flip-chip bonder for his MEMS and microfluidic research. The Faculty of Applied Science at UBC currently holds 16 Canada Research Chairs, as well as a large number of industrial research chairs. View the [...]
Daniel Gelbart, Adjunct Professor, to receive honourary doctorate
Daniel Gelbart, Adjunct Professor in Mechanical Engineering, has been chosen to receive the honourary degree Doctor of Science, honoris causa, at the May 2009 convocation. Dan Gelbart is a gifted inventor and entrepreneur with a remarkably fertile and prolific mind. He has over 100 patents to his name. Many of his main achievements have been [...]
Dr. Peter Cripton among UBC’s research stars
Vancouver, Canada — February 3, 2009 – Mechanical Engineering Assistant Professor Peter Cripton has been awarded a UBC Killam Faculty Research Fellowship in recognition and support of his research goals. Cripton directs the UBC Injury Biomechanics Laboratory, working towards preventing traumatic injuries and consequences through improved, engineered safety devises, such as the Pro-Neck-Tor helmet, which [...]
Dr. Nimal Rajapakse inducted Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada
Vancouver, Canada—January 27, 2009—The Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC) will honour a UBC Mechanical Engineering professor for his excellence in professional service at its annual awards gala in Ottawa on March 7, 2009. Professor Nimal Rajapakse will be inducted a Fellow of the institute for his exceptional contributions to engineering in Canada. His contributions have [...]
Mech Department welcomes new Professor, Dr. Hongshen (Hong) Ma.
Mechanical Engineering is pleased to welcome Dr. Hongshen (Hong) Ma to the Department. Dr. Ma earned his B.A.Sc. in Engineering Physics (Electrical Engineering Option) from UBC in 2001, where he was a Wesbrook Scholar. With financial support from NSERC Graduate Fellowships, Dr. Ma conducted graduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he earned [...]
