Future students

Leading scientists from organizations worldwide, including the University of Waterloo, launched a new report on February 19 that offers real-world strategies for addressing the world’s energy challenges. The Equinox Blueprint: Energy 2030 resulted from a gathering on energy organized by the Waterloo Global Science Initiative that took place in Waterloo in June 2011.

Ravi Mazumdar and his team of electrical and computer engineering researchers, including Shreyas Sundaram, Hiren Patel and Siddharth Garg, have received over $500,000 in funding from NSERC for cloud computing research they’re undertaking with Research in Motion.

Karim S. Karim of electrical and computer engineering has won a $100,000 grant from Grand Challenges Canada to help improve global health by developing an inexpensive tuberculosis test to combat the disease in developing countries. Karim was one of 15 researchers recognized on February 9 by Grand Challenges Canada’s rising stars awards handed out to the country’s most creative innovators to improve global health.

Gordon Stubley, a mechanical and mechatronics professor, has been appointed Waterloo Engineering’s first associate dean, teaching, for a three-year term beginning May 1, 2012. A memo written by Adel Sedra, dean of engineering, says the new position has been created to address a Vision 2015 strategic priority to enhance Waterloo Engineering’s support for teaching.

Five Waterloo Engineering teams placed either first or second in this year’s Ontario Engineering Competition and will advance to the Canadian Engineering Competition to be held March 8 to 11. Dhananja Jayalath, Neil Olij, Chris Wiebe and Ryan Mann, all fourth-year electrical engineering students, took top spot in OEC’s Innovative Design contest with their Muscle Activation Detection Suit entry. In addition, team members also took home the Technical Excellence award presented to the team displaying the greatest consideration and attention to technical aspects of design.

Fathy Ismail of mechanical and mechatronics engineering will serve as interim chair of the department from February 1 to December 31 2012. He will replace Pearl Sullivan who is succeeding Adel Sedra as dean of Waterloo Engineering on July 1, 2012. Sullivan is resigning as chair of MME on January 31 to allow time for the transition of the dean’s position. A full search will take place for Sullivan’s permanent successor.

Waterloo management engineering students won a number of awards, including the overall conference grand prize trophy, at the Institute of Industrial Engineers National Student Conference held January 19-21 in Halifax. The Golden I trophy was awarded based on the points the students earned for winning individual and team competitions, contributing a school video and cheer, and for participating in various conference events.

Mark Cremasco, a mechanical engineering MASc candidate, and his supervisor Carolyn Hansson won the best poster award at the 23rd annual Canadian Materials Science Conference held recently at UBC Okanagan. Their poster was entitled Analysis of the Effects of Anti-Icing Agents on the Durability of Concrete. 

Accolades continue to come in for the new Engineering 5 building. It was recently reviewed by Gabriel Fain in the June issue of Canadian Architect Magazine. Fain notes that the six-storey E5 successfully combines student project space on the lower levels with labs, offices and classrooms on the upper levels. He concludes that, “… there is no question that a new sense of identity will be formed that builds upon the rich academic culture and reputation of Waterloo’s Faculty of Engineering” with the construction of E5 and the other planned engineering buildings on this part of campus. 

Devon Rizzo, a first-year management engineering student, will be a member of Team Canada’s golf team at the 2011 Summer Universiade games in Shenzhen, China, August 17-20. Rizzo is the record holder for the lowest OUA women’s golf score. [news release]