Professor Yusuf Altintas from the Department of Mechanical Engineering has been elected as the Fellow of University of Tokyo for his academic contributions in metal cutting mechanics, machine tool vibrations and control. The graduate students and postdoctoral fellows of Professor Altintas will be able to spend research periods at School of Engineering, University of Tokyo
Professor Elizabeth Croft elected Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering
UBC Mechanical Engineering Professor Elizabeth Croft has been elected Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME) in recognition of her significant engineering achievements and contributions to the engineering profession.
Elizabeth Croft is a dedicated engineer, scholar, teacher and mentor, who is passionately devoted to supporting, promoting and increasing the participation and retention of women in engineering. An expert in robotics and industrial automation, her work enables robots to work productively and safely in human environments-from factories and hospitals to homes. As a teacher, she has developed visionary and award-winning educational programs, as well as innovative, extra-curricular programs to support her students’ professional development outside the classroom. She is an energetic, motivational speaker, exposing young girls to the possibility of an engineering career.
About the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Founded in 1880, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that promotes the art, science and practice of mechanical and multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences throughout the world. The core values of ASME are rooted in its mission to better enable mechanical engineering practitioners to contribute to the well-being of humankind.
Professor Antony Hodgson appointed as the new Director of the Biomedical Engineering Program
Mechanical Engineering Professor appointed as next UBC Biomedical Engineering Program Director effective July 1, 2010.
Professor Hodgson earned a joint MIT-Harvard Ph.D. in Medical Engineering (1994). Since his Ph.D. he has focused his research in three areas, all related to biomedical engineering: human motor control, minimally invasive surgery, and computer-assisted orthopedic surgery and has taught courses on design, medical robotics and biomechanics. He holds the Associate Chair of the NSERC Chair in Design Engineering (Biomedical Design focus) and was one of the key people involved in developing the MECH Biomedical Option. A Board Member of the Medical Device Development Centre of Vancouver Hospital he collaborates closely with industry.
Ario Madani and Sean Delfel receive awards for their papers at the Paptac Annual General Meeting
This year at the Paptac Annual Meeting in Montreal, Mechanical Engineer PhD candidate Ario Madani won first place in both the Alkis Karnis award for best poster and the Henry Bolker award for Best paper presented in the graduate student conference. The title of his poster and presentation was:
“Fractionation in yield stress fluids” by A. Madani, J.A. Olson, D. M. Martinez
In addition Sean Delfel was awarded the association’s highest technical award, the IH Weldon award, for best paper presented at any Paptac supported event in the last year. The Paper was entitled:
“High Performance Multi-Elements Foil (MEF) Pulp Screen Rotor – Pilot and Mill Trials” By M. Hamelin, S. Delfel, J. Olson and C.F. Olivier-Gooch.
Jennifer Pelletier chosen to be the honorary president of the EUS
Jennifer Pelletier, Advising, Recruitment and Senior Program Assistant for Mechanical Engineering has been chosen to be the honorary president of the EUS for the 2009/2010 school year. This is the first time that a staff member has been selected to hold this position, and this honor recognizes Jennifer’s tireless efforts to support students in Mechanical Engineering, and more broadly in Applied Science, in navigating their engineering studies. She is responsible for major improvements in department information, support, and recruiting activities that have vastly improved the student experience. Jennifer is legendary for her encyclopedic knowledge of available classrooms, course conflicts and alternatives, work arounds, and her ability to maximize resources to put on top notch student support events, at any location, and even when the power goes out. Outside her work, Jennifer is a past co-director of the GEERing Up! program, a non-profit engineering and science camp for kids and remains active on the GEERing Up! board of advisors (which she co-founded) and continues to be a strong advocate for access, education, and support for all students.
ROBOstudio @ YVR during Olympics
On display at the Vancouver International Airport from January 17 throughout the Olympics in the international departures area. ROBOstudio features two sets of studio projects designed by collaborative teams of architecture, mechatronics (mechanical engineering) and engineering physics students: the first projects (PS1 SKIN) are retrofits for buildings on UBC campus whose envelopes have problems with their performance. These problems result in poor conditions for the building occupants (ie there is too much sun, it is too hot or too cold). The speculative projects propose mechatronic facade systems which respond both to occupation and environment. The second projects (PS2 TRANSFIGURATION) dealt broadly with the resolution of contested public space by an infrastructural intervention at any scale, be it building, bridge or seat. These projects are based on Granville Island and feature students’ analysis and responses to the cultural and social aspects of the dense use of urban space.
Article courtesy of sala.ubc.ca
The Virtual Design Studio (VDS) was used by the students to post and exchange their work throughout the session.
UBC researchers to lead two NSERC Strategic Networks worth $10.3M
Researchers at the University of British Columbia have received $10.3 million in funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) to lead and coordinate two Strategic Networks in machining and biomaterials technology.
NSERC today announced $56 million in grants for 11 Strategic Networks. The grants fund large-scale, muliti-disciplinary research projects that could significantly enhance Canada’s economy, society and environment within the next decade. There are currently 36 strategic networks across the country, including those announced today.
“We are grateful to NSERC and the Government of Canada for their continued investment in research collaborations that will generate new and immediately applicable knowledge to some of the most pressing and intriguing technological questions of our day,” said John Hepburn, UBC Vice President Research and International.
“UBC has a stellar track record of multi-disciplinary research and the addition of two new NSERC Strategic Networks hosted here will further enhance our capacity to contribute to research excellence in Canada.”
The new Strategic Networks to be hosted at UBC are:
NSERC Canadian Network for Research and Innovation in Machining Technology (CANRIMT)
Led by Yusuf Altintas, mechanical engineering professor and NSERC-P&WC Industrial Research Chair Professor in Virtual Machining, CANRIMT aims to develop the world’s most advanced Virtual Machining Technology and a state-of-the-art five-axis mezzo milling machine. The technology will enable the design and manufacturing of products without first resorting to costly physical trials and will benefit the Canadian aerospace, automotive, power generation, mould-making and automation systems industries.
The CANRIMT team will receive $5 million from NSERC and $400,000 from industry over five years. The network includes 20 researchers from seven universities in B.C., Alberta, New Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec. Approximately 100 engineers are expected to be trained through the network.
NSERC Biomaterials and Chemicals Strategic Network
Led by Wood Science Prof. John Kadla, the Biomaterials and Chemicals Strategic Network aims to develop technologies to better utilize lignin, one of the primary components of wood. Approximately 20 per cent of wood is dissolved as lignin when pulped. The complex biomaterial is currently used as fuel in pulp mills but has the potential to become part of carbon-fibre composites for strong and light-weight automobile parts, carbon aerogels for hydrogen storage and new bio-based polymers.
The Biomaterials and Chemicals Strategic Network will receive $5.3 million over five years and includes 16 researchers from 11 universities.
UBC already hosts two other NSERC Strategic Networks:
RES’EAU-WaterNet has received $5.2 million over five years to make technology available that ensures clean water for all Canadians. Currently, water quality in 1,700 small and rural Canadian communities can be as bad or worse than that in developing countries.
MagNet has received $4.8 million over five years to work with the automotive industry to develop knowledge to produce magnesium components that may significantly reduce the weight of vehicles and in turn reduce fuel consumption.
NSERC is a federal agency whose vision is to help make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators to the benefit of all Canadians. The agency supports some 28,000 students and postdoctoral fellows in their advanced studies. NSERC promotes discovery by funding more than 11,800 professors every year and fosters innovation by encouraging more than 1,500 Canadian companies to participate and invest in post-secondary research projects.
Department Scholars Named
UBC Mechanical Engineering designated their first group of Department Scholars at a Celebration of Achievements reception on Wednesday, January 13, 2010. The Department Scholar designation was created to recognize the outstanding calibre of graduate students in the Department, and their achievements in their studies and research.
The 2009-2010 Department Scholars are:
- Jeffrey Abeyskera
- Amir Aliabadi
- Ehsan Azadi Yazdi
- Vahid Bazargan
- Christopher Bibby
- Ambrose Chan
- Jack Chen
- Richard Graetz
- Hannah Gustafson
- Mohammad Honarvar
- Thomas Huryn
- Arash Jamalian
- Jeswin Jeyasurya
- Xiaoliang Jin
- Farzad Khademolhosseini
- Murat Kilic
- Raoul Kingma
- Angela Melnyk
- Fatemeh Pirmoradi
- Kris Smeds
- Carolyn Van Toen
- Susana Zoghbi
The Department Scholars were presented with a beautiful medal designed by staff member Alan Steeves. Pictured on it is Eena, the Chinook word for beaver. The legend of Eena tells of her building dams to create a network of lakes, and a lodge in which to live. Eena embodies the elements of the UBC Faculty of Applied Science – building the environment safely and sustainably and caring for people. Alan is a member of the Kwagiutl First Nation and is a renowned contemporary Native artist.
The honourary designation of Department Scholar may be given to a student at any point in their graduate program, and they hold the designation through the remainder of their degree.
The Celebration of Achievements brought together students and their families, alumni, friends of the Department, faculty and staff to recognize the outstanding accomplishments in the Department in the past year. The other awards recognized at the gathering include:
- UBC Graduate Teaching Awards: Emily McWalter and Malcolm Shield
- Undergraduate Student Leadership Awards: Daniel Boland, Jason Currie, Michael Elfstrom, Florin Gheorghe, Jason Le, Wen Li, and Douglas McLeod
- Garreth Ewan Thomas Memorial Award in Mechanical Engineering: Dan Boland and Jennifer Reimer
- Vinod J. Modi Memorial Award: Jason Chu, Samuel Mason, Devin Todd, Craig Tomsett, Victor Wang
- Alternative Energy X: James Saunders and Malcolm Shield
- Undergraduate Academic Achievement Award: Eric Buckley, Jason Chu, Ibrahim Gadala, Graeme Garvin, Alim Jiwa, Russell Jones, Tamer Kalla, Adriel Lam, Robert Lion, Samuel Mason, Andrew Nobles, Pimchanok Kwang Pithayachariyakul, Eric Pospisil, Christopher Prychon, Jennifer Reimer, Jeffrey Siow, Ethan Stuart, Devin Todd, Craig Tomsett, Victor Wang, Leon King Wah Yuen, and Leon Ching Fung Yuen
- Graduate Entrance Scholarship: Rashmi Bhadauria, Christopher Bibby, Mohammad Honarvar, Thomas Huryn, Murat Kilic, Matthew Pan, Haiya Peng, Mohammad Nahid Islam Razive
- Merit Awards: Christopher Bibby, Arminta Chicka, and Thomas Huryn
Professor Altintas awarded the Honorary Doctorate Degree from University of Stuttgart
Professor Altintas was one the three recipients of honorary doctorate degree from University of Stuttgart in 2009 for his outstanding academic contributions in metal cutting, machine tool vibrations and machine tool control. In addition to having highest citation record in his field, Prof. Altintas’s complex scientific models are licensed by industry world wide in the form of CUTPRO © simulation software registered to UBC. As well as this prestigous recognition Dr. Altintas was recognized by Pratt and Whitney Canada (P&WC) as one of six P&WC Research Fellows across Canada for his academic excellence and outstanding contribution to P&WC technology programs in the field of manufacturing.
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 Shahyer Pirzadeh Memorial Award for Outstanding Paper in Meshing Visualization and Computational Environments.
AIAA proudly presents Certificates of Merit to recognize such technical and scientific excellence.
Congratulations on this well deserved honor!