Congratulations: UBC Sailbot Team Wins 2012 International Robotic Sailing Championship

Congratulations: UBC Sailbot Team Wins 2012 International Robotic Sailing Championship

June 18, 2012

The UBC Sailbot team placed first in the 2012 International Robotic Sailing Championship, ahead of the defending champions, the US Naval Academy. The team finished the championship with a record breaking combined score of 47 out of a maximum 50.

This year’s competition was co-hosted by UBC and the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club from June 11 to June 14, and involved a record 9 boats from North America and the United Kingdon. The challenge involved the design and construction of a 2 metre sailboat capable of maneuvering autonomously under sail power. UBC Sailbot was the first team in the history of the competition to successfully complete the long distance challenge.

Read the full article here

More press coverage for UBC Sailbot here

Formula UBC Departs For 2012 International FSAE Competition in Nebraska

June 18, 2012

The Formula UBC team has departed for Lincoln, Nebraska, to represent UBC in the  International Formula SAE Competition. The competition comprises a series of dynamic challenges to test the car’s ability to accelerate and maneuver, and static challenges where marketing, budget, and engineering design are critiqued by engineer judges.

The team completed the car on schedule with adequate time for testing and modifications, bringing down the 4 year build cycle of previous Formula UBC cars, to one year.

“This may potentially be the best car FUBC has ever produced,” a veteran team leader said, noting the workspace and monetary contribution of the Department and the incredible number of volunteer hours committed to the construction of the car enthusiastic team members, often late into the night and on weekends.

 

Congratulations: Mechanical Engineering Professor Peter Cripton Awarded UBC's Highest Teaching Honour

May 31, 2012

During the May 2012 convocation ceremonies, Peter Cripton was among the four Applied Science educators to receive the UBC Killiam Teaching Prizes for Graduate Instruction. The awards are the highest teaching distinction at UBC.

“Demonstrating forced motion using stopwatches and a pendulum made from students’ keys; and using an accelerometer and an oscilloscope to perform modal analysis of a student’s cell phone in class – these are examples of the exciting and engaging learning environment that Prof. Cripton provides his students. His dedication and significant efforts to enrich both undergraduate and graduate teaching has had a transformative impact on many of his students, who refer to him both as their favorite teacher and their mentor – well-deserved words for a dedicated teacher who places students’ learning first.”

Congratulations Dr. Peter Cripton on this accomplishment.

Read the full article here.

Capstone 2012

May 28, 2012

The Capstone Design project is the final graduating requirement for UBC’s mechanical engineering students. Photos from this year’s projects can be found below.

More information can be found here.

MECH 410E Global Engineering Leadership Distinguished Lecture Series

May 10, 2012

ERRATA: Please note the changes in the schedule:
May 29: Linc Kesler, Ph.D.
May 31: Leila Harris, Ph.D.

MECH 410E: Global Engineering Leadership Distinguished Lecture Series at UBC

Global Engineering Leadership is designed to introduce senior engineering students to concepts, theory and practice of engineering leadership in an international service learning context.  The course will develop engineering leadership characteristics, understanding and respect for individual and cultural differences in team building, service and management contexts, managing change, conflicts, and crises; and understanding real-world ethics and core values.

Come and hear the distinguished speakers discuss issues surrounding engineering, appropriate technology, knowledge, communication and understanding, and leadership in various contexts, on the following dates:

Note: For more details on each of the speakers or topics in the Speaker Series, Click Here­­

May 15, 2012: The Context for Global Engineering Leadership: Concepts and Applications
Speaker: Dave Waldron (Principal, Synapse Strategies)

May 17, 2012: Leading From Behind: Service as a Leadership Practice
Panel: Sheldon Green, Chandran Thiruchittampalam and Peter Ladner

May 22, 2012: The Four Worlds of Engineering
Speaker: Ralph Sultan, Ph.D., P.Eng. (MLA, West Vancouver – Capilano)

May 29, 2012: Social and Political Dimensions of Water Use and Access
Speaker: Leila Harris, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor, UBC: Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice; Associate Director, Program on Water Governance)

May 31, 2012: Contexts of Work: Rethinking Priorities and Timelines in Working with First Nations
Speaker: Linc Kesler, Ph.D. (Chair, First Nations Studies Program; Director, First Nations House of Learning; Senior Advisor to the President on Aboriginal Affairs)

June 12, 2012: Questions about Values
Speaker: Catherine Roome, P.Eng. (President & CEO, BC Safety Authority)

Time:
All talks will take place at 3:00 pm

Venue:
Hugh Dempster Pavilion, UBC
Room 110
6245 Agronomy Road
V6T 1Z4

2011-2012 Killam Teaching Award presented to UBC Professor Dr. Cripton

April 18, 2012

Congratulations to Dr. Peter Cripton for being selected as the 2011-2012 UBC Killam Teaching Prize winner from the Faculty of Applied Science (Vancouver). Such prestigious recognition is a clear reflection of the outstanding work being done by Dr. Cripton.

Dr. Cripton has been recognized by both his students and peers alike as having created a unique learning experience for his students and sending them forward with life lessons and skills well beyond the core course material. He is truly making a difference in their respective programs.

UBC Masters Management – Early Career Masters Program 101 Experience Day

March 12, 2012

Are you completing a degree in arts, the sciences or engineering? Are you looking for a career that matches your expertise with essential knowledge of business. Do you see yourself as a potential manager or leader?

If so, the Robert H. Lee Graduate School at the Sauder School of Business invites you to participate in our upcoming MM-ECM 101 Event to learn more about the 1-year Master of Management – Early Career Masters Program.

Saturday, March 24th from 1-5pm

Henry Angus Building (Room 492)

Join for a sample class, a career development workshop, and an alumni and student panel, with a reception to follow.

RSVP to join, in person or online at www.sauder.ubc.ca/ecm

 

New invention from Professor Hong Ma is a breakthrough in Malaria testing

March 8, 2012

Professor Hong Ma along with other colleagues from the UBC campus has designed an accurate and simple microfluidic device for the testing of Malaria. The new device consists of two layers that control the cells so that only a single cell is introduced into a funnel containing a series of different sized constrictions. The pressure required to push the cell through a constriction is measured precisely and used to calculate the deformability.The team used their device to show that the deformability of uninfected red blood cells can be distinguished from cells at various stages of infection. Measuring the deformability of an infected red blood cell can provide vital information about the disease’s mechanism and response to treatment

‘We hope our technique will provide a useful biomechanical assay for the development of new drugs,’ says Professor Ma, who adds that ‘the ability to easily measure the deformability of red blood cells will help researchers study the mechanism of the disease and investigate complex challenges, such as drug resistance.’

Professor Ma’s team plans to further test their device and use it to study the mechanisms of drug resistance.

 

Congratulations Professor Ma on this major accomplishment.

 

 

 

Event: Hamnavaz Ensemble Concert March 4, 2012

March 3, 2012

The Hamnavaz Ensemble presents it next major concert on campus this Sunday at 5pm in UBC’s Fredericwood Theater. The ensemble is led by our very own graduate candidate in the department of mechanical engineering, Amir Abbas Aliabadi. If you are interested to join this event please obtain more information from the attached poster.  Spring Concert information poster

Article: "Engineering and Geoscience Practice"

March 1, 2012

The article “Engineering and Geoscience Practice”, published in the Vancouver Sun on March 1, 2012 discusses the “game change” for engineers and geoscientists because of constant shifts in legislation, climate and social awareness that are “prompting geoscientists and engineers to repackage their skills for the global market”.

“The model is shifting but professional engineers and geoscientists are qualified to do this work”, says Peter Mitchell, P.Eng., director of professional practice, standards and development with APEGBC, the licensing body for B.C.’s professional engineers and geoscientists.

Read the full article here!