Amount of funding awarded

4400

Budget Report

View budget report.

How the program has supported you

The Seattle trip was an initiative created by the ECE Student Society, allowing a group of ECE students to visit large scale companies during their working time. Since this was the first year we tried to do this event and planning only started in August, we could not change our budget much to accommodate the event. The Professional Activities Funding provided us with the financial help we needed to make this trip affordable for students, and possible to even do. Having a shuttle bus with us throughout the whole trip saved us a lot of time, kept us on schedule and allowed us to visiting more than just the Microsoft Campus.

Outcomes

During this field trip, ECE students were exposed to historical aspects of the engineering design by visiting the museum of flight, and acquired a better sense of the product life cycle of large scale engineering companies such as Microsoft and Boeing. Students were exposed to the professional engineering environment, having the opportunity to interact with employees and recruiters while touring the facilities of companies that they could potejuntially work at with a professional engineering career. This trip also represented a great opportunity for students from different year levels to meet other students that they might not get the chance of meeting at UBC.

Amount of funding awarded

$4609.76

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

National Conference is EWB’s yearly opportunity to bring its members together to work together on improving the organization and driving change in systematic development both within Canada and in developing communities. Through highly acclaimed keynote speakers, industry sponsors, and 78 workshops, National Conference empowered participants with ideas, knowledge, professional skills, and connections, enabling them to produce positive, systematic change as engineers.
This year’s conference was held in Ottawa, Ontario, from January 11-14. The largest international development conference in Canada, it drew more than 400 passionate students and professionals from across Canada and Africa.
The 2012 National Conference was an incredible opportunity to engage the government of Canada with a Massive Outreach Event to advocate for responsible budgeting in Foreign Aid. The PAF funding enabled one of the UBC Engineering Faculty’s core purposes, ‘to educate globally responsible professionals empowered to effect enduring, positive change for society”, to be realized.

Outcomes

All participants in the 2012 National Conference gained numerous professional skills from hands on workshops, discussions and activities. As a result of PAF’s funding, fifteen UBC Engineering delegates gained an enormous amount of organizational knowledge about EWB and were challenged on a daily basis to brainstorm creative solutions to challenges being faced within EWB’s Canadian Programs. They also learned many frameworks and techniques for creative brainstorming, facilitation, prototyping and system mapping. Many students participated in a career fair where they presented themselves professionally, built contacts and developed networking skills.
Besides the benefits gained during the conference itself, over sixty engineering students attended EWB’s Term 2 Kickoff Meeting, which served as a conference re-cap to share all of the learning and professional growth with those who were not able to attend the conference. All attendees walked away with new skills they could apply in a professional setting.

Amount of funding awarded

7200

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

The UBC Civil Graduating Class of 2012 attended a field trip to Las Vegas, Nevada during the beginning of January 2012. During this educational trip, students were exposed to projects and first-hand Civil Engineering knowledge unique to the Las Vegas area. This experience has fostered a broader base of knowledge pertaining to the Civil Engineering practice that the average student would not have access to in Vancouver. The sites and tours attended on this trip gave students insight into large-scale development projects, waste water treatment, energy systems, the construction management life-cycle and how large developments on the Las Vegas strip occur. The knowledge gained from this trip has benefited students in their studies and the trip itself created comradeship between the attendees. The funding provided through PAF permitted the trip to be attainable for students who would not otherwise be able to afford the irreplaceable experience.

Outcomes

The third-annual Civil Grad Field Trip created an opportunity for 39 engineering students to expand their knowledge base and expose them to projects they would not encounter within Vancouver. The educational visits to the Hoover Dam, the Colorado By-Pass Bridge, the North Las Vegas Reclamation Facility and the world’s largest sustainable development, CityCentre have already benefited students in their studies. These projects have assisted innovative thinking and new design approaches from student’s insight into large-scale developments, wastewater treatment, energy systems, the construction management life-cycle, and the occurrence of developments on the Las Vegas strip. The trip as a whole created a bond between the students involved. This union has further passed to students who did not attend the trip, as they have been indirectly exposed to a broader sense of Civil Engineering through communication with attendees and the interactions during group projects, which is largely incorporated in the fourth-year curriculum.

All funding recommended by the PAF Travel and Conferences Committee has been scaled by 68% to fit the total funding available for the Round 2 applications (totaling $10,500)

To see the Travel and Conferences Round 2 Funding Recipients, click here.

If you have not received an email about your Travel and Conferences Round 2 application by Tuesday January 24th, please email paf@apsc.ubc.ca.

Please contact paf@apsc.ubc.ca with any questions regarding PAF funding.

PAF Travel and Conferences Round 3 Applications due March 6, 2012

Amount of funding awarded

$500

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

This Memorial has helped students all around campus become aware of the gender prejudice that existed 20 years ago, and that much of it still exists. It helped students remember the women that died pursuing a male-dominated career and brought out the issue of gender equality to the table.

By holding this memorial, I was reminded that it is not okay for people to judge a person based on their gender, background, nor ethnicity. That when something like that happens, a stand must be taken to ensure that it doesn’t happen again.

Outcomes

The outcomes of the project included making students across campus aware of the prejudice that existed with regards to gender inequality. With this topic in mind, students encouraged to go out into the professional field with gender equality in the forefront of their minds. Not only in their careers, but while they are in school, they are to strive for inclusivity and equality in everything they do.

Amount of funding awarded

$1680.00

Budget Report

View budget report.

How the program has supported you

In addition to making UBC the best university in the world for engineering student teams, we also foster the development of new teams, support existing teams, and enable enhanced collaboration between engineering student teams providing maximum benefit and exposure through increased communication and cohesive voice. PAF has been a tremendous support to this cause as the ESTC is non-profit and neither generates income or has sponsors. We run all of our annual events and operations solely on PAF funding.

Outcomes

The ESTC does a great job in promoting the presence of student teams. This year, many team captains have complimented the record turnout in new members! The promotion of the teams allow new and existing students at UBC to join an engineering student team and enhance their educational experience at UBC to new levels unattainable from purely classroom learning; they learn hands on skills and practical applications in addition to practicing theory learned from UBC curriculum.
The opening of the EDC is also a great milestone for the ESTC. PAF fudning has helped us set up the 8 bays (1 of which is the new ESTC workshop) for engineering student team use. We attempt to provide all the teams with communal resources to ensure every team can perform to their best abilities.

Amount of funding awarded

6240

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

PAF funding for SUBC has in large part enabled the team to complete the construction of a human powered submarine and travel with it to compete this summer in the 11th International Submarine Race (ISR 11) in Bethesda Maryland.Specifically PAF funding helped partially cover a portion of our travel expenses (gas and accomidation), PAF covered the materials for hull construction as well as tools to improve our workshop.

Outcomes

As a team we were able to design, manufacture, test and race a human powered submarine at ISR 11, being UBC’s first entry in four years. We were able to bring five team members down to the competition to experience the event and directly participate in the racing.

Even those who weren’t able to come down the the competition(~20 students helped build the submarine) gained valuable skills in this design cycle for the submarine. Other than initial plug shaping done by CNC, the entire composite layup of the carbon fibre, kevlar and fibreglass hull was done by the team. A number of team members were able to learn and use CFD. The integration of the drivetrain with the human pilot gave team members with a interest in bio-medical engineering and ergonomics a chance to design and test an actual product that has humans and machine parts interacting.

Amount of funding awarded

300

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment for female engineers at UBC while providing networking and leadership opportunities. Female students in the faculty have been able to find some benefit through funding for networking events. While our networking events were mostly aimed towards females, males were also invited to participate. This is to promote our message of acceptance throughout the faculty regardless of gender, race, and sexual orientation. We were also prevalent throughout faculty fairs and recruitment sessions to show the student and faculty body who we are. PAF funding was beneficial to providing promotional materials for such events. PAF funding also allowed for our student council members to grow as leaders by organizing networking events, providing opportunities to give back to the community, and even by heading up the recruitment booth.

Outcomes

We were able to hold brown bag lunch seminars with members of the engineering profession and from UBC faculty interacting with students. Students can benefit directly by meeting people who have walked in their shoes before and help students see where their degree can take them. Indirectly, they were able to learn networking skills by speaking and presenting themselves in a professional manner. A similar event we held with UBC Computer Science was a student panel with female Microsoft professionals. That too allowed students to ask questions and learn about the industry of software and engineering. We were able to give back to the community by holding a barbeque to celebrate International Women’s Day with the EUS, all proceeds going towards the Vancouver Rape Relief & Women’s Shelter. We gave out pamphlets and pins to mark the date and indirectly the engineering student body benefited by understanding the importance of the day and to understand that we need to do more as a society to eliminate gender discrimination. All events that were organized by our Student Council directly helped our members grow as leaders. (December 6th Memorial on another report).

http://paf.engineering.ubc.ca/ on the right pane…

Is this correct?

Cheers,
Philippe Kruchten

Amount of funding awarded

8640

Budget Report

View budget report.

How the program has supported you

The Professional Activities Fund has been of tremendous value to UBC Solar over the past year. UBC Solar is building a solar powered vehicle – a very expensive endeavour! We are building a solar vehicle to show that solar power does have applications beyond being installed on a rooftop. The Professional Activities Fund (PAF) has allowed us to purchase safety equipment, consumables, and materials that went towards our rollcage and suspension. PAF funds have enabled us to send some of our team to observe the World Solar Challenge. This is essential to our future performance, as the logistics behind planning to race for 3000km in a week dictate whether a team succeeds or fails at competition and are as important as the vehicle itself. Without PAF’s support, it is much less likely that we will be able to succeed in our goals of building and racing a solar powered car!

Outcomes

UBC Solar has tried very hard to ensure that we benefit not only the 15-20 students involved directly with our team, but other engineering students as well. We were the sponsors of over 20 ECE 4th year design projects over the 2010/2011 academic year. As we develop more areas of the car, we hope to expand this further. This year we are hoping to get some MECH capstone students working on a few projects – and of course we plan on having more ECE projects too! Our focus has been on designing and building our own components as much as possible, so as to allow students to have more hands on design experience. While our components may not be as flashy as a commercial product, we can take pride in knowing that this truly is a student designed vehicle.

Amount of funding awarded

3900

Budget Report

View budget report.

How the program has supported you

The conference represents a large investment of both people and resources for the Engineers Without Borders chapters in Vancouver. Each year it costs around $40000 to run. PAFs contribution provides an integral part of the conferences fundraising, as ticket sales only account for half the total revenue, so the conference team must look for other sources of funding. We also forge partnerships with local engineering firms who provide fundraising as well.

Outcomes

The conference aims to bring together a broad cross section of people and engage them on how individuals, organizations and governments interact with the global community around us, and how we can translate our actions here and abroad to positively influencing peoples and cultures in developing countries. The conference is broken into several workshops that focus on issues such as advocating for change at federal level, exploring global citizenship, or sharing the work and learning that EWB does abroad.

Amount of funding awarded

572

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

The objective of the project was to build a functional prototype optical page scanner using a vibrating MEMS mirror. The PAF funding was helpful with the purchasing of basic electrical prototyping equipment as well as various optical sensors so that the optimal one could be found. The competition organizers had provided a MEMS mirror which was dysfunctional, so under the strict time limitations, a new one was bought. This could not have been done without the PAF funding.

Outcomes

The project did not meet the objective because of several unforseen obstacles. For example, due to co-op placements, the members of the team were in different cities in the time leading up to the competition. However, the project helped the students understand how to interact with MEMS devices, specify optical sensors, and filter noisy data as wells as other unique skills that cannot be acquired from lab experiments at university.

$151.00

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

The Hult Global Case challenge allowed us to network and interact with professionals in the field of engineering, but also in business, international development, and micro finance. We collaborated among other students from varied backgrounds to creatively solve a problem that spans the technical, economic, and social, which is a great preparation for the real work of engineering industry with complex problems. The PAF funding we received allowed us to travel to this unique event and build strong connections with our peers on an international level.

Outcomes

This project allowed our team to travel and interact with a variety of professionals, building our connections, international links, and also confidence in collaborating outside the world of engineering. Our team worked across disciplines to apply the design process that we learn in engineering by understanding user needs, creatively proposing a solution, and ensuring the suitability of the idea by performing economic analyses. The project allowed us to take an idea from inception to finish in the course of one day. Following the design stage, our team presented to a panel of judges and our peers which helped develop public speaking skills and confidence. Our experience also was shared and benefited students at UBC through a presentation done to the EWB chapter as well as to other students.

Amount of funding awarded

$8100

Budget Report

View budget report.

How the program has supported you

UBC Orbit is competing in the Canadian Satellite Design Challenge. This competition spans a two-year timeline, the first of which is ending in September 2011. The first year is the design year, where students gain expertise and design the satellite. This ends with the first stage of competition: Preliminary and Critical Design Reviews. PAF funding supported Orbit by allowing us to purchase a design computer to run the approx. $80000 in donated design software for space applications, as well as development boards, small components and a space-rated satellite frame. We also purchased reference books, allowing our members to quickly gain the expertise needed to contribute to the project. We are ready for Design Reviews this September thanks to PAF!

Outcomes

This project has allowed approximately 35 members, from first years to grad students, to gain expertise in space systems and design. Additionally, many of our members gained experience in project management and liaising with industry as they took on leadership roles or sourced critical information. UBC Orbit is poised to gain recognition to UBC in the Canadian Satellite Design Challenge, while in the longer term, they are engaged in revitalizing the spirit of space design that once thrived at UBC. Finally, our space mission with UBC PHAS’s CHIME project will show to the world that UBC Engineering produces students capable of engaging in space design and high-level research.

Amount of funding awarded

$507.05

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

The SNAME Annual Meeting is the most important event of the year for students interested in careers in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. It is a unique opportunity for students to attend technical presentations by industry leaders and then meet them in a situation amenable to building relationships personally and as a representative of UBC’s strong engineering program. There are many chances for students to showcase their capabilities, through the design competition and paper track, or as assistant presiding officers in paper presentations. The student governance elections also take place during the Annual Meeting, giving students the chance to play a significant role in the direction of the society as a whole. PAF’s funding money was put towards our hotel costs, making it possible for us to bring seven students at a reasonable cost.

Outcomes

We had a great conference in Bellevue this year. We participated in the design competition, where we met many of our student counterparts in the mixed teams. The networking at the meeting was by no means limited to other students, and our students made good connections with local and international professionals. Our chair Gaelen ran for the vice-chair position of the Student Steering Committee, and though defeated, was appointed to the national leadership committee to run the Student Section Standards Committee. Also, three of our students participated in sailing regatta this year, and the boats on which they sailed placed first, second, and third – cementing our reputation as agreeable and able sailors! These connections will ensure that UBC’s current and future students are known and respected in the international community of Naval Architects.

Amount of funding awarded

$4636.92

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you:

The 2010-11 Autonomous Sailboat team was comprised of ten students from Mech and Igen, who represented our school in the 5th Annual International Robotic Sailing Competition, at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Our program had stalled the previous year and we had a very ambitious goal: to build an entirely new boat and compete to win the Sailbot competition with an unprecedented 35 out of 50. This included construction of a new hull, entirely new rigging, sails, and a complex array of electronics. PAF funding allowed us to work with the highest-performing materials in the construction of Thunderbird 1, gaining for our students invaluable experience in high-end manufacturing techniques. It also payed for our two representatives to fly to Annapolis for the competition.

Outcomes

We achieved great success as a team this year. Thunderbird 1 is a very fine yacht, and we took second place in the competition by a very slim margin to the US Naval Academy, with 40.2 out of 50 available points. In previous years, no team had scored above 30 points. Our approach of attacking the problem methodically to maximize our competition points from the outset at the beginning of the project really paid off in the long run. We scored top marks in four of the five competition events – The fleet race, precision navigation, station keeping, and the presentation on design methodology and construction. Our reputation as a strong engineering school was bolstered internationally and all of the students involved learned a great deal. Often, these lessons involved facing the practical challenges in the designing of a system with the builder in mind or how to deal with the complexities of project management in this inter-disciplinary project. Our success in the this competition has earned UBC the privilege of hosting the 2012 International Robotic Sailing Competition, which will be held in mid-June in conjunction with Royal Vancouver Yacht Club.

Amount of funding awarded

$8,880

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

The UBC Supermileage Team’s 2010/2011 goals were to improve performance at the 2011 Shell Eco-Marathon Americas (SEMA), increase public awareness of sustainability and provide a mechanism for students to be able to apply classroom knowledge (such as project management, technical skills and public relations).

The team had increased its number of core members from approximately six people to twelve. PAF funding enabled the team to make core improvements to the Argo, involving more students on a higher level of participation than ever. The PAF fund had made it possible for the team to attend the SEMA in 2011, significantly improving fuel efficiency. This funding also allowed UBCST to more comfortably complete the Argo, enabling the team to attend more events. UBCST had represented UBC at over 12 events in the past year, and had seen an increase in media coverage over the previous year, including a photograph of the Argo on National Geographic.

Outcomes

The second revision of the Argo was overall a success. The UBC Supermileage Team had doubled in size and placed fourth in the 2011 Shell Eco Marathon Americas. Despite the engine computer failing days before competition, the team managed to implement most of their developments in 2011. The Argo’s official score improved significantly despite the carbureted engine, and the team now has a reliable vehicle to build upon.

Despite accomplishing a number of technical improvements in 2011, the Argo was still built slightly under budget. Students in UBCST are from a variety of departments at UBC, and are exposed to not only the technical aspects of design, but are involved in the management of the team: budgeting, sponsor and public relations and student mentorship have become opportunities open to all members of UBCST.

The UBC Supermileage Team also involved the public at over twelve events in the past year and celebrated its 10th Year Anniversary.

$9120

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

This year, in order to elevate the competence level of the competition and attract more teams, we doubled the amount of prize money and gave out more than $10,000 in prizes. In addition to that, we put more resources into organizing the competition this year in order to give it a better face. These improvements required a great deal of support from the university and community and we were extremely privileged to have the help of all of our supports, and explicitly, the help we received from the Faculty of Applied Science through the PAF program. This program was one of the most important factors in our great achievement. Below are some of the ways through which the program assisted us:

1. Helping us double the amount of prize money and thus introducing a much stronger initiative for new teams to attend the competition and for participating teams to increase their efforts in robotics R&D;
2. Providing us with the necessary financial resources to make improvements in organizing the event;
3. Allowing us to elevate the public face of the competition to an entirely new level and therefore attract more community members and families to the event through a strong approach towards promotion. Without the necessary financial resources this would have not been possible;
4. Providing us with the resources to represent UBC as the host of IARRC2011 in a way as to reflect its high standards and values.

Outcomes

Despite being the host of such a big robotics competition for the first time, UBC Thunderbird Robotics achieved a great success in organizing the event. We managed to attract two first-comer teams to the competition and hence increased the number of participating teams. In addition to that, we helped and guided four other start-up teams across the continent to prepare themselves for IARRC2012 and we are expecting to have them competing in the next year competition. Additionally, we were able to successfully engage a greater portion of the general public and community members in our event and steer their attention to this futuristic field of robotics. This was done through a detailed promotion plan and adding a family-oriented aspect to this otherwise tech-savvy competition.

Around 15 UBC volunteer students were directly involved with organizing the competition. We had 50 participants in the competition and around 350 students and community members visited our event during the day.

The most important short-term benefit is the great learning experience that this competition has brought to the students who were involved with it. On the other hand, the main long-term benefit is for the community and other students to look at this event as a model for future similar initiatives and take their own ideas and make the realities!

Amount of funding awarded

8400

Budget Report

View budget report.

How the program has supported you

The Civil Graduating Class of 2011 attended a field trip to Las Vegas, Nevada for the end of
October 2010. On this interesting and educational trip students were given the opportunity to tour facilities and projects that they would otherwise not have a chance to view in Vancouver. This was beneficial throughout the remainder of the school year as students were able to apply the knowledge gained while touring facilities and sites in Las Vegas. The trip also served as a means for students to grow together as a graduating class. The PAF funding allowed this trip to be attainable for those who would not otherwise be able afford this invaluable experience.

Outcomes

The 2nd annual Civil Grad Field Trip allowed 45 UBC Engineering students the opportunity see Civil projects unlike any in BC. Furthermore, relationships that were developed between students will last throughout their engineering careers.
This trip offered students an opportunity to connect with other students they otherwise may not have had the chance to in an otherwise overwhelmingly large class. These relationships helped interactions throughout the duration of 4th year where the assignment of group projects is highly emphasised.

Trip participants were also to able to view monumental projects such as the Hoover Dam and the CityCenter project, which has become known as the new standard in sustainable design. It has achieved LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Counsel. This inspiring example of how a large project can demonstrate such a commitment to sustainability is motivating to incorporate these ideas and principals into the future of BC designs.

Amount of funding awarded

$7800

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

As one of our main financial resources, Professional Activities Fund has provided us with the opportunity to continue advancing our research and development on autonomous unmanned ground vehicles. The means through which PAF has been beneficial to our team include:
1. Giving us the ability to purchase more advanced equipment and sensors to work with and construct faster, smarter and more efficient robots;
2. Allowing us to upgrade our software development platforms by giving us the necessary resources to purchase faster, more efficient computers;
3. Helping us expand our R&D through upgrading our testing environment;
4. Providing us with the opportunity to have enough material and resources for all of the team members to work on different projects at the same time;
5. Giving us the opportunity to publicize and promote our team further through the means that would require financial resources.

Outcomes

This year, competing against top-tier universities from across North America, UBC Snowbots won the 2nd Grand Award at the 7th annual International Autonomous Robot Racing Competition. In addition to that we finished 2nd in both races (Circuit Race and Drag Race) in the competition.
Throughout 2010-2011 we had around 30 students from 3 different faculties directly involved in our team working on different aspects of our projects. We believe that getting to learn first-handed knowledge and technical skills through solving a real-world problem is the most important short-term benefit for all the students who get involved with UBC Snowbots. Additionally, we are certain that the ongoing teamwork and group effort that is being practiced without our team is a great experience for our team members which will be especially beneficial to them in their future careers.

Amount of funding awarded

$8000

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

Formula UBC exists to give students hands-on experience designing and manufacturing a racecar in the context of the Formula SAE competitions. This is a valuable learning experience that complements the academic studies of the team members and allows them to develop practical knowledge and confidence for their future as engineers.

In the spirit of the competition and for the sake of learning, the students work to design and fabricate many components instead of buying premade parts and assemblies. Materials and manufacturing costs take a large part of the team’s budget; this is where PAF funding traditionally goes.

This year the funding went towards the suspension uprights, which were dramatically redesigned to save weight and improve suspension sensitivity. They were CNC machined from aircraft grade aluminum and were a highlight of this year’s car. Thanks to our funding, we are able to continue improving our cars and expanding our collective knowledge base.

Outcomes

This past year, Formula UBC culminated in the completion of a completely redesigned car and a trip to the Formula SAE competition in Fontana, California. A core group of 8 team members attended the competition and obtained a great deal of experience from participating in the events and interacting with the judges, peers, and automotive professionals.

Additionally, students gain an array of skills and experiences from making the car itself: research and development, designing to meet standards, manufacturing and assembly, testing, scheduling, and budgeting. The project provides an oppourtunity for employing technical and academic skills learned in the classroom.
Experience with Formula UBC is excellent material for a resume and is typically a focus of interest when our team members are in job interviews. Students learn networking and communications skills through working with sponsors and attending events, such as the Vancouver International Auto Show. During competition, our team also has to use our presentation skills and ability to justify engineering decisions for the Design Judging.

Our team’s structure and social aspect ensures that the experiences and knowledge of past and present members is passed on to new members; Formula UBC is growing and improving with every year.

Amount of funding awarded

$983.81

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

The conference was a large gathering of professionals and students in the field of transportation engineering. The conference is intended to bring members of the field together to share their experiences so that others can learn about them and expand everyone’s knowledge of issues in the field to better serve the public and improve transportation engineering as a whole. The conference also serves as an environment for members to socialize and create bonds that could potentially be beneficial in the future.
Thanks to the PAF, Brendan was able to get the required funding to attend this conference and enjoy all of these experiences. This conference was a tremendous way for me to gain a greater understanding of transportation engineering and what will be expected of me when I graduate and enter the field as a professional.

Outcomes

The conference helped Brendan gain a better understanding of transportation engineering, an understanding which he will now be able to pass along to members of UBC ITE when school starts in the fall. The conference also made members across the country more aware of the UBC ITE. With that, we will hopefully be able to get more corporate activity and funding at our events such as the annual industry night. This resulting increase in funding and corporate awareness should lead to an increase in student memberships as people start to notice some of the benefits that the UBC ITE can offer. This trend can create a lasting legacy for the chapter to become more active and hopefully sending more members to these types of conferences. These developments in the chapter will give members valuable insight into the field and prepare them for when they graduate.

Amount of funding awarded

$221.76

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

The PAF funding directly contributed to the success and growth of the UBC Thunderbird Toastmasters (UBCTBTM) club and its members. While the bulk of the club’s funding comes from membership dues, the PAF funds were strategically used to promote the service to prospective members, to run the administration of club affairs and to provide material for the proper running of weekly club meetings.

Outcomes

Regular meetings were held every week during the school term and were attended by up to 12 students. While many of the results of membership were intangible, members often saw growth in their confidence as effective communicators and as leaders.

Different aspects of public speaking are practiced at every meeting including: conversations, prepared presentations and impromptu speaking. Proficiency with these skills helps to prepare members for interviews. This often led to an increased opportunity for employment inside and outside of the UBC Engineering Co-op Program as many interviewers ask about Toastmasters involvement.

Non-members, primarily from the Faculty of Applied Science, also benefited from the presentation and public speaking workshops held and run by the UBCTBTM throughout the school year. These workshops provided attendees with simple tools and tips for presentation preparation and delivery and provided UBCTBTM members an opportunity to put leadership and public speaking skills into practice.

Amount of funding awarded

$9024.00

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

The objective of the team is to design a steel bridge that is light and simple to construct, but also minimizes deflection. Students work together and compete against teams from all over North America. Although the team has faculty advisors who are ready to help, the team prefers to do most things themselves to maximize the experience.

This year, the Pacific Northwest Regional Conference was hosted by University of Alaska – Anchorage. In this competition, UBC obtained 2nd place out of 13 schools and advanced to the National Competition. This year’s National Student Steel Bridge Competition was hosted by Texas A&M Univeristy in College Station, Texas.

PAF funding is vital to the UBC Steel Bridge Team, without it, despite our strong fundraising initiatives, it would be impossible to involve so many enthusiastic students on the team, and enable them to participate at the competitions.

Outcomes

The team provides students the opportunity to use what they have learned in class in a realistic environment. The competition is designed to mimic a real engineering project; students are to design and fabricate a bridge, given a scenario and a series of constraints specified by the committee/client. The bridge is judged based on construction time, weight, deflection, and aesthetics. The time required to construct the bridge is multiplied by a predetermined factor and is then added to the total cost of the bridge, thus mimicking construction cost in the real world. The weight and deflection (upon loading of 2500 lbs.) is also incorporated into the total cost in the same way.

Over 20 civil engineering students were involved and benefited from this team. The students learned life-long skills about real-world design considerations (such as constructability), drafting, steel fabrication and welding, and team-work skills.

Amount of funding awarded

2640

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

To send two junior fellows each year, UBC EWB must raise $6500 for each student. This cost covers all aspects of the project requirements, from living expenses and travel to insurance and training. PAF provides an important source of funding for this program. Other sources of funding include student fees donations to EWB, grants and fundraising events put on by the chapter.

Outcomes

Kaitlynn has been working in the Northern Region of Ghana this past summer in the water and sanitation sector at the district government level. She has been working with district water and sanitation teams to better understand the challenges that face districts and the barriers which can prevent effective water service delivery.

Elliot has been working with an agricultural-inputs company in Eastern Province, Zambia. Currently, there is an under-utilized network of half-trained agents which provide greater access to agricultural inputs for small-scale farmers. Elliot’s work was to investigate the challenges of these agents, identify the leverage points for improving the system, and design a support system for these agents.

Going overseas gives students a unique perspective on the issues at hand. They do hands-on, grass roots development work that gives them real world experience working in an area few engineers are able to access.

Amount of funding awarded

9,360

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

1. To compete at the US Open, participate in Robocup 2011 in Istanbul and in the Technical Challenge aspect of the Robocup for the first-time in the team’s history.
a. PAF provided us with the ability to travel and compete successfully in the US Open, placing 1st, and Robocup 2011 where we placed 9th overall with two additional 3rd place finishes in the Technical Challenges.
2. To create well-rounded UBC students by providing hands-on technical experience as well as mentorship, leadership and teamwork opportunities for team members.
a. PAF provided a means for us to participate in open houses, technical workshops and international competitions where we supplemented our learning and gained knowledge and valuable contacts.
3. To foster an awareness and interest for robotics at UBC, in Canada, and in the international community.
a. PAF provided a means for us to hold our Open House and to promote Canada and UBC Engineering at events in Georgia, US and Istanbul, Turkey, which had international media in attendance.
4. To maintain a solid foundation that allows the team to continue to grow and expand our project’s scope each year.
a. PAF allowed us to start off our next year with a positive budget which will allow us to grow and foster our technical advancements.

Outcomes

In 2010-2011, we had over 50 students from 6 different faculties working on our robotics project. All students have gained teamwork experience, learned about necessity for communication and documentation, learned about all aspects of design and had to push themselves to learn beyond the classroom in order to gain the vital technical knowledge needed to successfully complete this project. These new experiences allow the students that work on our team to better be prepared for their professional careers and real-life situations.

Through the MECH Capstone Projects, we partnered with UBC MECH students to work together to design and develop a new kicker that would improve upon our past technology. This was a successful project and has paved the way for more inter-department partnerships.

In addition to technical work, we also provide open houses, presentations, and booths in order to share our passion for robotics with UBC and the community. We have delivered many presentations to engineering students and have presented twice to younger student through the GeeringUp summer program.

Amount of funding awarded

$1156

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

Hosting a booth at SME, an internationally recognized conference, allowed for UBC’s reputation as competitive engineering school to reach a broad audience which was the goal of the UBC SME Chapter. Students from other universities in many different countries approached the students from UBC at the booth to inquire about graduate programs, the possibility of doing a year abroad at UBC, and research opportunities. Many companies also approached to ask about the different engineering programs, the UBC Co-op program and discuss the possibility of hiring co-op students from UBC. All of the UBC Mining and Mineral Processing Student Resume books were distributed.

Outcomes

The students that attended the conference to run the booth all received phone calls and emails with job opportunities. Many other students were contacted for job opportunities from employers that received their contact information and resumes from the student resume book. The professional development representatives received follow up emails from students from other universities that inquired about UBC’s graduate programs at the conference. Unfortunately we haven’t had the opportunity to discuss with international recruiting in the Engineering student service center about the number of students that they have been in contact following the conference as we did refer many of the students in this direction.

Amount of funding awarded

5680.00

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How the program has supported you

The funding has significantly supported us with our club’s relocation to a new workspace, specifically with the purchase of a MIG welder, a tool storage cabinet, and an assortment of shop tools and accessories. This permitted us to get well underway with the establishment of a significantly more self-sustaining environment for working on the car than previously. In addition to obtaining electrical hardware that will allow us to diagnose and log our car’s performance on or off the track, we allocated a portion of the funds to safety equipment. This will provide our drivers with the necessary certified gear meeting AutoCross II standards as well as safety equipment (ear, eye, face, lung, skin protection) for students in the workspace using anything from our welder to power and hand tools.

Outcomes

This project exposes UBC engineering students to a multi-disciplinary environment where mechanical and electrical skills can be developed in a hands-on manner; there is opportunity for interested students to gain experience in project management, fundraising and marketing, web development, and a variety of specialized skills such as welding, circuit design, and fabrication of materials. Since this project is based on continuous development in order to stay competitive, there is ample opportunity for students to engage in the design, planning, construction and testing of new ideas which the team may be able to implement on the track.
The number of students involved in these projects varies over the course of the year, but ultimately those with an interest in a particular area will be encouraged to pursue a defined objective for the team, with room for creative input and guidance from senior students.

Amount of funding awarded

410.48

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

The PAF funding made it possible for key members of our team to attend the iGEM Jamboree in Boston. This gave us the motivation to continue steady work on the project through the fall semester despite the demands of school and co-op jobs. Thanks to the the funding we were able to stay together as a team and make the entire summer of hard work worthwhile. Every member of the team agreed up on returning to Vancouver after the Jamboree that “attending the jamboree really showed what iGEM was actually about”. This passion directly led to the team continuing into 2011. With any luck this year the team will bring home a trophy.

Outcomes

Synthetic Biology and genetic engineering are blossoming fields that have applications across all engineering disciplines. The direct outcome of the project is an increased interest in synthetic biology and for some, a lifelong interest. As this field develops it would be a point of pride at UBC to have a well developed community of students, graduate students and professors who have worked together and have begun networking internationally in this important field. iGEM projects provide ample opportunity for every engineering discipline and we are going to recruit hard for next year to continue the team.

Amount of funding awarded

5880

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

The E-Beetle was to be the first electric vehicle to drive across Canada. This accomplishment proved electric car reliability and viability for long distance drives. The trip was completed using a borrowed set of batteries and when they were removed, some damage was done to the car. After the car returned, we secured a new set of lithium-iron-phosphate batteries, donated by Winston Batteries in China. The PAF funding covered the shipping and incidentals of installation. As the club was working on plans for this coming year, the beetle was being prepared for the Vancouver Auto Show. It needed a lot to improve reliability and safety. The PAF funding covered the cost of rewiring and replacement of aging parts. The show was a huge success. Our participation brought a great deal of notice to UBC Engineering as a whole. As a result, we were asked to participate in EPIC Sustainability Expo.

Outcomes

The rebuilding of the E-Beetle that our PAF funding covered this year allowed many students from a variety of disciplines to get hands on experience wiring and working on a full-scale electric car. By the end of the semester we had between 12 and 15 students working on the car in some way. One of our major subgroups built a computer program that brings together information from all the vehicle’s systems into one unified display to ensure accurate battery level readings and faster problem diagnosis. We also had students working on complex vehicle wiring and a battery heating system. These students have gained valuable skills and knowledge that will help the club continue to be successful in the year to come. Keeping the beetle on the road has also allowed us to gain notoriety for the club and secure tens of thousands of dollars of sponsorship for our next project.

Amount of funding awarded

2903

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

The project has six areas, including junior design, senior design, communications, impromptu debate, innovative design & consulting. As this competition is the culmination of the road starting at the UBC Engineering competition and only contains the top competitiors from the Western Engineering Competition, being able to fund the most skilled delegates from our school aids us in keeping UBC’s image as a top engineering school. This competition can be held at any CFES school in Canada, meaning transportation can become quite expensive, and PAF funding allows all of our competitors who have excelled and made their way through the various stages to compete and represent UBC at a national level.

Outcomes

As we are the host school for CEC 2012, main organizers for this event were sent to observe and learn more about what to do & what not to do when pulling off such an endeavour. We also sent two competitors for debate, who continued their run of excellence with a national level win for UBC. Both the CEC organizers and competitors benefited from meeting other students from across the country, but both groups also benefited either from a better idea of how to run an excellent competition on our home turf, or from honing their skills even further and showing their prowess across the nation.

Amount of funding awarded

2070.88

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

WESST Retreat is an important conference to attend, as it allows us to voice any concerns we may have, as well as our opinion on any important decisions. UBC has had strong representation in the WESST executive over the past years, which would not have been possible without constant attendance. Delegates benefit from this conference through an increased network, providing future industry contacts and sources of information regarding various roles in student societies. A main goal is to exchange ideas and increase openness between different schools, and by obtaining PAF funding, we are able to send more delegates, thereby increasing the information transfer between us and other engineering schools.

Outcomes

Six delegates were sent this year, one of which was a current WESST executive, with two more departing as future execs. As a society, the EUS has benefited with positive exposure to other schools, maintaining our level of involvement and showing our dedication to our regional CFES organization. Student benefited by meeting engineering students from across western Canada and sharing ideas. Round tables were run, where students with similar roles in each respective society met to talk about what sort of things worked & didn’t for them, which allows for increased foresight for all societies, improving efficiency and allowing for a beneficial impact for all members of the Engineering Undergrad Society.

Amount of funding awarded

2718.03

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

This program allowed us to send both active CFES board members, and first-time CFES participants to an important national conference. Without sending delegates, our school would forfeit the opportunity to voice our opinions on the direction of our national organization while allowing our students to form a strong, network with other schools and canadian engineering students. Many students have reported forming friendships that have lasted years, and have provided them with opportunities & experience they would otherwise have been without.

Outcomes

We were able to send 5 delegates, one of which is now a CFES Executive, and the other was the president of our regional organization (WESST). If we hadn’t sent delegates to these events over the years, such national involvement would have been greatly decreased, therefore decreasing the overall impact UBC Engineering has on canadian engineering students, and the impact industry exposure can have on our students. Valuable social networking skills are founded, which are improved upon during our local industry mixers and career fairs. Many students who return from these conferences have a renewed sense of community within engineering, as well as an increased desire to become involved at the local & regional level.

Amount of funding awarded

1294.30

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

This program supported us by allowing our delegates to meet new people, expanding their network, while learning valuable skills through the professional workshops. As many of the members are actively involved in the undergraduate society, they spent time discussing how to spread their knowledge back amongst other volunteers, to maximize the impact for us. Like many conferences, many delegates felt a renewed excitement over being an engineering student, as they had the opportunity to meet many professional engineers and hear about what they are working on or have accomplished. This conference also allowed us to send representative from the Engineering Student Center team, who were able to approach potential donors and help further the project.

Outcomes

By sending delegates to this valuable conference, we were able to build our contacts for the “Engineer your Career” fair, which in turn, benefits all Engineering students by expanding the breadth of the involved companies and the numbers that they can interact with. We had one of the most successful career fairs our society has ever seen, with companies all over Kaiser and plenty of students participating. Many students made professional contacts, which assist them in finding jobs & spreading UBC Engineering throughout industry.

Amount of funding awarded

$645

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

The main objectives of the project is to allow interested 2nd year students at UNBC the opportunity to meet other students in their program, and to visit the UBC campus and the rest of Vancouver in order to aid their transition into 3rd year. The retreat is also held during E-Week, so that the students have the chance to learn a little about the history and culture of the engineering faculty. The PAF funding partially covered the travel costs for 2 UNBC students to attend the retreat, the rest of which was covered personally. Without this funding, the cost of a return flight from Prince George to Vancouver makes the retreat unaffordable for some students.

Outcomes

The UNBC students attending the retreat this year took part in a tour of a filtration plant, a tour of a dam and watershed, and a UBC campus tour, as well as participating in several E-Week activities. This directly benefited the 2 UNBC students who attended the conference, as it allowed them to gain familiarity with the UBC campus and the functioning of the faculty activities, which will make them more likely to become involved in campus, faculty, and departmental clubs. It also directly benefited approximately 30 current UBC ENVE students, who had the opportunity to meet some of the students who they will be working closely with next year, which will improve club functionality.

Amount of funding awarded

1127.71

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

The NCWIE conference was held in Ottawa this year to spread its influence around the country. The conference is organized like a national forum to discuss issues surrounding female under-representation in the engineering profession, and some steps to take in solving these issues. The PAF funding gave UBC the opportunity to send two delegates to this national conference and take the information provided at the conference back to British Columbia (since we were the only ones from the west coast). The delegates received a lot of information at the conference and were driven to work with both the EUS and WIE to help spread its influence.

Outcomes

Two delegates in total were sent from UBC Engineering to attend this conference. They gained direct insight into the issues discussed at the conference. They learned about how the engineering societies across the nation have been dealing with the problem of under representation of females in engineering and what are some real world issues facing women in the engineering profession. Another important lesson learned at the conference is the importance of outreach to the young students about what engineering is really like and why it is suitable for academically prepared students to enter engineering. All the valuable information obtained at the conference can be passed on to the engineering students at UBC through workshop sessions to increase student’s awareness of the issues currently surrounding female under representation in engineering. Not only female students should be aware of the problems, the male students should also become involved in solving this issue together. The main objective discussed at the conference is that currently in Canada, women population in engineering is under 20% nation-wide, with some eastern provinces having higher representation numbers, the aim for us is to increase this percentage to 30%, which is the percentage when a cultural shift would occur. This is an achievable goal in the next decade. But this cannot be done just by a single person or a single organization, the words need to be spread and actions need to be taken by everyone.Our delegates have shown the drive to work towards this goal in increasing female representation over the next decade.

Amount of funding awarded

$1000

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

The PAF funding we received allowed us to run the largest Engineering Undergraduate Society event of the 2010/2011 school year. UBCEC involved approximately 180 students as competitors, organizers, volunteers, and judges. The Junior Design competition alone exposed 80 first and second year Engineering students to a design-focused task that challenged their ability to improvise with limited materials and time, while teaching team building, public speaking, and leadership skills. Because of the funding received from PAF we were able to run a competition that allowed for more competitors, and still were able to keep the competition free of charge for participants.

Outcomes

UBCEC served as the first step in determining the delegates that would represent UBC at the Western Engineering Competition (WEC). Because of the initial challenge of UBCEC, we were able to send delegates who were well-prepared and focused on representing UBC at the regional competition. The EUS was fortunate enough to be well-represented in all categories, and placed in 2 of 6 competitions at WEC. Our debate team even went on to claim first prize at the Canadian Engineering Competition (CEC). This past year’s UBCEC set a standard higher than any other local engineering competition, and will be a measuring stick for future competitions.

Amount of funding awarded

$2490

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

The Aerodesign team aims to help students develop qualities and skills of professional engineers that are difficult to learn inside of a classroom. Each year the team attempts to improve upon previous competition performances.

Project management skills, leadership, conflict resolution, and technical knowledge are all necessary to see the project through to completion. Positive improvements in these skills and traditional engineering knowledge are measured by our performance at the annual SAE Aero Design West competition.

PAF funding enabled the team to send four competitors, our plane, equipment, and our pilot to the competition this year where we demonstrated our skills. This included transportation and hotel costs for the group. This year’s generous donation by PAF has also allowed us to begin replacing old tools and equipment such as hand drills. The team is hoping to continue to with our commitment to improving our team in the coming year.

Outcomes

Despite a major transition of leadership within the team last summer, we were able to bring a team of mostly new members to 8th place out of roughly 30 teams in the Regular Class. Although this is a lower placement compared to previous years, it is quite impressive considering the majority of the team are junior members.

The UBC Aero Design team provides engineering students with a range of extracurricular development as well as motivation to pursue their passions while staying involved in school and academic activities. We provided valuable hands-on experiences that support their school projects, co-op experiences and future careers. Approximately 7 members gained substantial skills and knowledge from the project this year. A further 5 students benefited on an irregular or drop-in basis. Although our membership is down from previous years, we will be working hard this coming term to recruit additional members to compete in the Micro Class as well.

Amount of funding awarded

$8,200

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

The field trip is a part of a graduating mining engineering class (MINE 493) in which the students are required to plan, fund, and experience a research trip and write an extensive report on their experiences. In previous years, UBC Mining graduate classes have traveled abroad to China, Brazil, Chile, Poland, Australia, and Spain. This year, the class aims to fundraise $122,000 before May 2011. Each student (35) has committed a $750 deposit to provide for an initial balance of roughly $26 250. In addition, to show their commitment and dedication, students aim to fundraise $15,000 through methods alternate to corporate sponsorship.

Outcomes

1.0 Introduction

In the past decade Mine Engineering as a discipline has experienced drastic changes. Today, new graduates are expected not only to be highly experienced with technical knowledge needed to develop and operate world class operations but to conduct these actions in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. In addition cultural awareness and intelligence is becoming a fundamental skill for mining engineers. Unfortunately, it is very hard to teach cultural awareness in school and it is for this reason that we decided to organize the 2011 UBC Mine Engineering field trip to Brazil.

It is inevitable for a mining engineer to interact with people from different cultures around the world. By having the opportunity to travel to different countries and become immersed in their history and culture; mining students are able to learn firsthand what kind of attitudes people have towards mining and how to successfully interact with other cultures. This experience enables students to use such knowledge in their future careers. More specifically, we chose to travel to Brazil because of its importance to the mining industry. Brazil has 182 mining and mining related companies that operate within its borders producing and exporting minerals, some of which are different to those mined in Canada. By travelling to Brazil it allowed us to gain a broader perspective of the mining industry as a whole and at the same time experience its unique culture.

Brazil’s culture has many similarities with Portugal’s. This is because Brazil was a Portuguese colony from 1500 to about 1822 when Brazil achieved independence. The declaration of independence from Portugal on September 7th 1822 created a national holiday every September 7th. Since then, Brazil has gone though many government changes. The most recent one was in 1985 (to present) when civilian rule has once again come into place, with President Lula being re‐elected in 2006. Since Brazil’s was a Portuguese colony for a long time most of the holidays are catholic’s holidays such as Our Lady of Aparecida, Day of the dead, and Christmas. Our lady of Aparecida is Brazil’s patron saint and Day of the dead is referred to All Soul’s day from the old Catholic Church.

In terms of contemporary culture, citizens in Brazil are more people and family oriented with emphasis on the interactions between people. Food wise, Coxinha is a common snack with minced chicken, shaped like a drumstick, and deep fried in batter. Feijoada is considered a national dish of Brazil, which comprise of a thick stew of black beans with pieces of beef and pork added to it. It is traditionally prepared in a clay pot. Some desserts are: Arroz doce, a simple rice pudding made with cinnamon, Cuscuz branco, a tapioca pudding cooked in coconut milk with sugar, and Brigadeiro, truffles‐like balls made with condensed milk, butter, and chocolate powder.

Such an experience opens students to new cultures and ways of life. The more students are exposed to different kinds of cultures the more capable they will be in interacting with people from all over the world. The more students are immersed in different cultures, the less likely for them to develop culture shock, as they will be more equipped to handle the differences. Opportunities such as these are not only beneficial at an engineering level, but also on a cultural level as well. This experience will play an integral part in our development as mining engineers and is unique to UBC Mine Engineering program. We are proud to be apart of this opportunity. The following report provides a brief overview of our trip with specific emphasis on the mines we visited.

2.0 Belo Horizonte

Belo Horizonte is Brazil’s third largest city and capital of the state of Minas Gerais. With a population of approximately 2.5 million, the city is a thriving cultural center, with numerous Universities, historical museums, libraries and sports stadiums. The city was our first stop from May 4th to the 8th, and did not disappoint!

During the four short days we spent in Belo Horizonte, we had the opportunity to visit the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais and a number of Vale operations. Vale was extremely hospitable, as they provided us with tours of their Complexo Varagem Grande the Aguas Claras iron ore mine as well as their Nova Lima Research Centre. During these tours, we had the valuable opportunity to experience iron ore mining and processing, one of Brazil’s main mineral export industries. In addition to the research work completed, we enjoyed the unique nightlife and culture the city had to offer by visiting the local food markets and countless patio bars with live music.

2.1 Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

On May 5th, we visited the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG). It is one of two Federal Universities in the state of Minas Gerais that offer Mine Engineering programs. The University’s main campus is located 30 minutes from downtown Belo Horizonte but there are several satellite campuses located around the city. The Mine Engineering Department is located on the Pampulha campus, which was first establish in the 1940s. The University was federalized in 1965 after which a number of faculties were integrated to form the one school. Today, UFMG offers 48 different degree programs and is among the most prestigious Universities in Brazil.

Our tour of the University began with presentations from UBC and UFMG professors as well as students. Following the presentations, we were given a tour of the department’s facilities including the processing and rock mechanics laboratories. From the laboratory equipment to the undergraduate curriculum, it was surprising to see how similar the UFMG mining program was to UBC’s. However, after speaking to a number of UFMG students over a lunchtime mixer, it was interesting to see how different the work experience programs are. Unlike UBC, UFMG does not have a co‐op program. Instead, each student is responsible for completing a certain amount of work experience while at school. It is very common for a UFMG student to have class in the morning and then work in the afternoon throughout their 5‐year degree. This is very interesting as it presents the opportunity to apply the knowledge learned in class with actual industry experience. It also ensures that every student graduates with at least some work experience, which is not the case at UBC. Overall, it was an invaluable opportunity to see the similarities and differences between the program at UBC and UFMG and to network with students outside of Canada.

2.2 Vale’s Complexo Vargem Grande

Vale’s Complexo Vargem Grande is located in the Iron Quadrangle on the outer edge of Belo Horizonte. The complex is the main processing facility for a number of the mines in the Iron Quadrangle including the Paraopeba mining complex owned and operated by Vale. The processing of the Iron Ore at Vargem is both a wet and dry process. The process starts of with a jaw crusher followed by size classification, separating the iron ore into lump, fines, and ultra fines. The lump, large pieces of iron ore, is taken out of the feed and stored in the Lump Ore stockpiles for later transportation. The fines and ultra‐fines are also stockpiled before being sent through hydrocyclones to separate the Large Sinter Feed and the Fine Sinter Feed. Each sinter feed goes through its own concentration loop and then gets combined with the other to create the Final Sinter Feed. The Large Sinter Feed goes through more hydrocyclones and a Spiral Rake Classifier, while the Fine Sinter Feed is fed through hydrocyclones and magnetic separators before being combined into the Sinter Feed. The Sinter Feed is then passed through more hydrocyclones. The underflow is dewatered and stored as the Sinter feed, while the overflow is feed through a flotation and thickening circuit. The tailings are sent to the old open pits and the concentrate is filtered to obtain the Pellet Feed Fines. The products created at the processing facility are, Lump Ore, Sinter Feed, and Pellet Feed.

Material is continually stockpiled at strategic locations of the processing process to ensure a smooth and steady flow of material. The dispatch system used on site is ‘Smartmine’. It is used to optimize the feed and ore movements on, off, and around site. Ore is continually being trucked in from the mines and dumped into the crusher. The products from the processing are transported to a railway storage facility a few kilometers away by conveyor belt. The products are then loaded onto trains and taken to the port to be shipped to Vale’s customers.

The water obtained from pit de‐watering is recycled and used for the processing of the iron ore and as drinking water. Vale is able to do this because of the lack of chemicals and reagents used in the processing process.

2.3 Aguas Claras

Aguas Claras is one of the mines that are apart of the Paraopeba mining complex. The mine is located a few kilometers from Vargem and right next to a major highway and town. Mining is carried out using drill and blast followed by excavation and truck haulage. The mine employs excavators to load an army of 40 tonne trucks, which transport the ore to Vargem to be processed.

Due to the close proximity of a town to the mine site there are a few problems. The town’s people complained about the noise of blasting and the ugliness of the mine. Therefore, Vale was limited to blasting during certain hours of the day and having to reduce the size of the blasts. Vale also, could not expand the mine any closer to the town and had to create reclaimed berms to hide the mine from the towns view. Vale is currently looking at expanding the mine away from the highway and town.

This property also has a fertilizer grade phosphate vein that runs through it. Vale brings in an outside contractor to remove the sections of phosphate from the pit. Vale does this because they do not have the means to process the phosphate ore readily. It is cheaper for them to contract out the work, but more profitable than treating the phosphate as waste rock.

2.4 Vale’s Nova Lima Research Centre

The Nova Lima Research Centre was initially created in 1965. The centre has been through three main stages since it opened. The first stage was Process Development, the second stage was Product Development, and the third stage is Integrated Burden Solutions. The first stage focused on developing new and efficient processes for the beneficiation of iron ores. The second stage was centered around creating new products and better ways to transport the products to the customer. In the third stage of Nova Lima the researchers are focused on developing integrated solutions to maximize the asset value and value to the client. This means that the researchers are defining the characteristics of each individual ore and understanding their behaviour under different conditions, such as size, temperature, and composition to name a few.

Nova Lima has its own small scale testing plant, furnace, and pelletizer. The facility also had XRD, SEM, and radiation testing equipment on site. With this equipment the researchers are able to determine which of the iron ore deposits is best suited for a certain product or what blend of ores will give them their largest profit.

3.0 Paracatu

On the morning of May 8th we left Belo Horizonte for Paracatu. We stayed in Paracatu from the 8th to the 10th and visited Kinross’s Paracatu Mine on May 9th. That evening Kinross hosted a traditional Brazilian barbeque where the UBC students were able to meet some of the mine personnel.

3.1 Kinross Paracatu Mine/Mill Tour

Morro do Ouro (Paracatu Mine) is the largest producer of gold in Brazil. The mine is located a couple of kilometers north of the town of Paracatu and 230 kilometers southeast of the Brazilian capital Brasilia. Mining has occurred in this region since the discovery of placer gold in 1722. Artisanal miners primarily mined the area until Rio Tinto began exploration in the early 1980’s. Rio Tinto created the Rio Paracatu Mineracao (RPM) with Autram Mineracao and began production of the Paracatu Mine in 1987. Kinross then acquired the Paracatu Mine in two stages. First they merged with TVX, which was Autram Mineracao, in January 2003 acquiring a 49% ownership of Paracatu Mine in the process. Two years later in December of 2004 Kinross bought the remaining 51% of the Paracatu Mine from Rio Tinto.

The Paracatu Mine consists of an open pit, processing facility, tailings management facility, and surface infrastructure such as offices and maintenance buildings. In 2006 Kinross expanded the plant to a capacity of 61 million tonnes per year. The life of the mine is now predicted to be 2040. The price of gold used for the long term planning is $900/ounce and the current cost to mine is $600/tonne. The average grade of the ore is 0.4 g/t with the cutoff being 0.2 g/t.

The open pit operation used to be carried out using dozers, loaders, and haul trucks. This unique method of mining is due to the sedimentary characteristics of the deposit. The ore is soft enough that it does not need to be blasted. Cat D10 dozers are able to cut into the ore and pile it up where Cat 992 loaders scoop up the ore and load it into Cat 777 haul trucks. However, they are encountering some areas of harder rock where blasting is required. In these situations they use a 6 and ¾ inch tricone drill bit to drill 13.5 meter holes. They use 30 kg of explosives over 200 holes per blast, which is a powder factor of 0.2. Kinross only loads and detonates explosives during the daytime on weekdays. Four meters of limestone stemming is used to absorb energy and noise from the blast. Kinross uses a P&H 2800 cable shovel and a fleet of larger Cat 793 haul trucks to move the blasted material. The stripping ratio over the entire mine is 5:1.

The processing of this ore is quite complex due to the low grade, small gold particle size, minerals associated with the gold, and the two types of ore. 80% of the gold is free gold and 20% is associated with sulphides, such as Arsenopyrite, Pyrite, Chalcopyrite, Sphalerite, and Galena. 40% of the gold is below 45 microns making it very difficult to liberate and recover. Kinross uses a jig, Knelson, flotation, and luxivation techniques to recover the gold. The jig is used to recover the gold associated with the Arsenopyrite, because of the high oxidation rate of Arsenopyrite. The jig feed is the cyclone underflow, while the cyclone overflow goes to the flotation circuit. This process takes place in the sulphides plant, or Plant 2, while the oxidized ore is treated in Plant 1. Both plants use SAG and Ball Mills to grind the run‐of‐mine ore before the beneficiation process can begin. The grinding circuits of both plants use about 100 MWatts/hour of energy and account for 35% of the total cost of the operation. From the Gold concentrate, Kinross creates their own Dore Bars on site. Each bar weighs approximately 20 kg. Each week about 10 bars are produced and shipped via private helicopter to Brasilia and then on to Sao Paulo, where the bars will be refined even further to 99.99% pure gold bricks. Last year the Kinross Paracatu Mine’s revenue was $500 million.

Figure 7‐ Kinross Info session (top), Students at mill (left), Kinross leach facility (right)

4.0 Araxá

May 10th and 12th were spent in Araxá, a small town of roughly 85,000 people located 360km west of Belo Horozante. During our two‐day stay we visited two mines, Vale Fertilizante and CBMM Niobium mine.

4.1 Vale Fertilizante

Vale is a leader in both the Brazilian and international fertilizer markets. They own phosphate mines throughout Brazil, including one mine in Araxá, which they recently purchased from Bunge and Fosfertil in early 2010. We were fortunate to experience both the production operations as well as the processing facilities at this large open pit mine. The production equipment at the Araxá mine were surprising despite the relatively large production rate. The mine uses a fleet of 85 ‐40 tonne trucks and small excavators to produce 100,000 tonne/day. Problems with consistent tire supply in the past forced Vale to switch from large trucks to smaller ones for which tires are more readily available. In addition to the concentrates, waste ore containing high grades of titanium is being stockpiled for future use. Mining of the working face is done in 10m benches with a cut of grade of 5% and feed grade to the mill of 8%.

The milling facility processes material at a rate of 65,000 tonnes/day using a standard phosphate floatation circuit. Both oil and starch are used to depress the excess clay minerals. Water consumption for the entire plant is 12,000 m3/hr of which 82% is recycled. Due to the calcium and magnesium in the flotation wastewater, the amount of recycled water from this stage of the circuit is restricted. Currently, the mine produces both coarse and fine P2O5 concentrates at a final grade of 35.8%. The annual production rates for the standard and fine concentrates are 2 million tonnes and 165 thousand tonnes respectively. After processing, both the coarse and fine concentrates are transported off site for further refining. The coarse product is transported via pipeline whereas the fines are trucked. The total cost to produce the final concentrate including mining costs is approximately CDN $80/tonne.

4.2 CBMM Niobium Mine/Mill Tour

Niobium (Nb) is an element obtained from the minerals pyrochlore (most common source) or columbite. It is mixed with steel to produce high strength, low weight, steel alloys that have high temperature resistance. Today, niobium is used in the aerospace, automobile and medical industries.

Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineração’s (CBMM) Niobium mine in Araxá is the world’s largest Niobium mine. It supplies 80% of the world’s Niobium demand and has the resources to continue for at least another 200 years (460 million tonnes). For this reason, we were extremely lucky to have had the opportunity to visit this mine.

The mine itself produces a number of products from which niobium can be derived. These products include, pure niobium, nickel‐niobium, ferro‐niobium, niobium oxide, niobiumaluminium and pyrochlore concentrate among many others. Currently the total production capacity of all niobium products is 60,000 tonnes per year. The majority of the products utilize either chemical process techniques or flotation as a means of separation however an electron beam furnace is used to produce pure niobium at a capacity of 210 tonnes per year. Interestingly enough, the total world consumption of pure niobium is only 500 tonnes per year.

From an operations perspective, the mine is about as close to perfect as you can get. The ore is soft enough that it does not require any blasting and there are no water inflow or geotechnical issues. In addition, the difference in color between the waste material and the ore make it easy to visually differentiate the two. The residual ore (weathered ore) has a mean grade of 2.5 % and max grade of 9.5%. It is yellow in color and stands out compared to the Fe2O3 rich red‐orange waste material. The primary ore (unweathered ore) starts several hundred meters deep with a mean and max grade of 2.5% and 9.5% respectively. Currently, only the residual ore is being mined. The mineralogical makeup of the ores consists mainly of limonite, goethite, barite and magnetite.

CBMM plays an active role in building a sustainable environment both in and around the mine site. They fund the development of local rehab centers as well as housing developments for the mines employees. In addition, they have built a zoo on the mine property itself to help show their effort to make mining a sustainable industry. The visit to CBMM’s niobium mine was an invaluable experience as it may be both the first and last time many of us get to see a niobium mine. The cleanliness and meticulous care of the mine site also surprised many people.

5.0 Ouro Preto

Ouro Preto is a cool little town. It is built in a very similar way to towns in the Alps. We walked the cobbled streets of Ouro Preto from the 12th to the 14th. While in Ouro Preto we visited the Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto and an Artisanal Topaz mine.

5.1 Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto

The visit to Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP) was not as extensive as the visit to UFMG. As with the visit to UFMG, presentations were given by Dr. Bern Klein and Kyle Foster of UBC and by one of the professors from UFOP. The presentations described the programs offered at both UBC and UFOP. They outlined the courses and activities the students partake‐in for graduation from their respective programs. As with the presentations from UFMG the similarities between the UBC and UFOP curriculums are very similar. The students from both universities take almost identical classes, but the way work experience is gained is quite different. The students at UFOP start their work experience in their third year. They go and work for companies, normally in head office not on site, while they are still in school. The UFOP students are not only working on their school projects throughout the year, they are also working on projects from their jobs. This is in stark contrast with the way UBC operates its work programs. The students at UBC have their work and schooling separated. This means that they are working while they are not in school. Another difference between the two programs is that the UBC students normally work onsite and not in head offices.

After our visit to UFOP the students and professors from UFOP suggested we take a trip to an Artisanal Topaz mine just outside of Ouro Preto. That afternoon some of the UBC and UFOP students and professors went to visit the artisanal mine while others stayed behind in Ouro Preto to explore the town and visit an old underground gold mine in the middle of town. For the students who went to the Artisanal Topaz mine the UFOP students and professors gave us the history and an overall description of the site. Many of the UBC students took this opportunity to explore the site and try to decipher what the artisanal miners are doing and how they are going about it. On the stepper slopes miners employed a benching system. They created benches that are 1 to 2 metres high and deep. On flatter terrain the miners seemed to employ two types of methods. The first method the miners systematically dug away at the earth to create a large, flat working face. The other method the miners employed was to dig out a pocket or hole at the bottom of a slope. From the tool marks visible on the work faces, the miners are using small square spades, picks, and trowels. The miners used wheelbarrows and buckets to move material from the working face to a dirt walled area. It was determined that this dirt walled structure was some sort of wash area to separate the dirt from the stones.

While we were exploring the property some of the miners came across the road from their homes to try and sell us some of the stones they had extracted from the mine. With the help of the UFOP students many UBC students were able to negotiate good deals for precious stones, some cut and some uncut. Other students explored the site and got their own hands dirty looking for what ever they could find. Many of those students found amazing samples of quartz and some weathered hematite. For many UBC students the experience of coming to the Artisanal Topaz mine was a highlight of the trip. As many students had only been to full scale company owned operations.

6.0 Rio de Janeiro

May 14th – 18th was spent in Rio de Janeiro. Located on the Atlantic Ocean the city is the 2nd largest in Brazil with a population of over 14 million people. As past capital of Brazil, Rio has many historic sites. In the near future the city will be hosting both the final match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics.

6.1 Sugarloaf Mountain

Resembling a traditional sugarloaf this 396m tall mountain stands at the mouth of Guanabara Bay. Known for its spectacular views from the summit, which can be reached by either rock climbing or cable car.

6.2 Copacabana and Ipanema Beaches

Two of the most iconic beaches in the world are located amongst the 80km of beaches in Rio. Many students took time to enjoy playing soccer and volleyball along with surfing and snorkeling.

On May 16th the group went to go see the statue of Christ the Redeemer. Completed in 1931 the 130ft tall concrete and soapstone statue is considered an icon of Rio. Located at the peak of Corcovado Mountain, the statue and surrounding Tiijuca Forest National Park looks over the city and is a must see for any visitor. The statue is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and was enjoyed by all.

Amount of funding awarded

408.00

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

The PAF program supplies necessary funding for me to travel to Toronto and take place in the NBTC conference. Without PAF funding, I would not have been able to attend the conference. Without my presence, my teammates would not have been able to adequately explain the technical aspects of the project.

Outcomes

I presented, along with two commerce students, a business plan to a panel of judges at the conference. In the end, we did not advance to the finals, but we did gather a tremendous amount of feedback on our project and made several industry contacts. As a representative of UBC, I spoke to industry leaders about the exciting projects at our school, especially in the merging of business and engineering education.

Amount of funding awarded

$390

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

PAF funded WISE 2011’s initiatives this year and helped create UBC’s first networking event that brings female students from both the Faculty of Science and Applied Science together in a mentorship-driven setting supported by women from the community. Overall we had 27 female mentors and 145 students registered. The funds provided by PAF contributed to providing a professional venue, a light three-course meal, and mentor gifting.

Outcomes

Several students expressed interest in joining the Tri-Mentoring Program after discovering the benefits of a mentorship relationship. Many mentors expressed interest in becoming a mentor and being involved in future Women in Engineering projects either through sponsorship through their respective companies or devoting their volunteer support. Several partnerships were made with UBC Alumni Affairs in recruiting mentors, and UBC Career Services for providing students with how-to networking resources. E-Team and Sci-Team provided Planning Committee members as well as set-up and take-down help on the day of the event.

The link under the Student Recipients category, “post their final reports here,” for submitting reports does not work. Please have a look at this as there will be many reports coming in shortly, including mine!

Thanks,
John Luc

Amount of funding awarded

$704

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

The purpose of this project has been to expand engineering students’ knowledge of current research and development and possibly to inspire them to pursue research throughout their studies and their career. PAF Funding was used to print posters advertising the seminars, which helped spread the word to students.

PAF funding primarily went towards providing snacks and refreshments for the students. Foremost, the snacks provided an added incentive for students to attend the seminars. However, having snacks and refreshments served another purpose: it also created an atmosphere where students could mingle with the speakers after the seminar to ask more in depth questions.

To thank them for their time and effort, PAF funding was also used to buy small gifts for the speakers. These gifts showed the speaker the students’ appreciation and hopefully will encourage them to contribute to the seminar series in future years.

Outcomes

This year, with help from the Physics Society, we were able to organize seven seminars, and one student-run seminar. From local industry, Dr. Michel Laberge of General Fusion and Andrew Lau and Eliza Boyce of Zaber Technologies came to give a talk. Dr. Martin Laforest of the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo also presented. From UBC, Professors Donald Witt, Jeremy Heyl, Mark van Raamsdonk and Jaymie Matthews all presented.

Approximately 40-50 students attended each seminar. However, the group of students in attendance changed depending on the topic being presented. The intended outcome of each seminar is that students leave with a good feel for the fundamental ideas behind the presenter’s research or R&D work and will hopefully have developed an appreciation for it.

The main result of these seminars for students is the accumulation of information and ideas and a widening of their understanding of the scope and nature of their discipline. This is fundamental to the development of engineering students as professionals because one of the major tenets of professionalism is the knowledge of your field, in particular, knowledge beyond simply the scope of your work. Furthermore, these seminars have the potential to shape the path of students’ professional lives by enlightening them about areas of research and development that they may wish to pursue further.

Amount of funding awarded

3513

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

Delegates attended this conference in hopes to gain insight on career opportunities, innovative technologies and competition experiences in the chemical engineering profession. As the only Canadian student chapter in attendance, UBC was able to demonstrate its strong commitment for involvement in AIChE. The funding from PAF, together with funding from the CHBE department and CHBE Student Club, covered the registration fee, travel and accommodation expenses for the 18 students selected to attend the conference this year. Students were able to learn and network at this conference without worrying about the cost of travel and accommodation, which totaled to 80% of the cost of the trip. Members of the Chem-E Car team were able to attend the safety training session required for qualification at the Chem-E Car competition in April.

Outcomes

Many students will agree that this conference provided them with a better understanding of existing and future industries for chemical engineering. Final year students were able to apply their newly acquired knowledge on their design projects and problem-based laboratories. The Chem-E Car team were able to qualify for the competition and were crowned champions at the Pacific Northwest regional competition. They will be competing in the national competition against other finalists at the 2011 AIChE Annual Student Conference.

Amount of funding awarded

6885.00

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

The fundamental objective of organizing our field trip to southern Ontario was to illustrate how materials engineering theory and practice plays its role within the engineering industry. From the first stages of research and development to the automated production line and everything in between, we were able to witness the importance of material knowledge and how materials engineers fit into the larger picture of a company’s design and production. The premise for this focus was to correlate the learning in a classroom to having a genuine, realistic instance of methods or practices only until then read from a textbook.

By visiting and partaking in company tours of several large-scale production facilities and research laboratories, the students were able to receive first-hand information on the inner operations of these workplaces directly from company staff. It also gave us the prospect to network with industry professionals that may aid in our career decisions and/or opportunities further down the road. With the monetary support received from the Professional Activities Fund, we were able realize these possibilities of bringing the classroom into the real world.

Outcomes

The major contribution this field trip provided to the nearly 40 materials engineering students involved was the realization of the vast quantity of available areas of application for materials engineering that the industry presents to our generation. Having the opportunity to see companies dealing with the traditional major sectors such as transportation, construction and production, we were reinforced in our knowledge that these particular areas are dominated by metals and their alloys, ceramics and polymer composites, as demonstrated in Karmax Heavy Stamping and Vac Aero. We also reaffirmed our teachings of rare and valuable metal extraction and refinement with visits to the Barrick Gold Corporation and Vale Inco. However, we had the occasion to see newer forms of research not yet encountered in the classroom, particularly in the fields of biomaterials and biomedical engineering at the University of Toronto, as well as intensive research in Electron Microscopy at McMaster University.

In summary, being able to connect what we learn in a scholastic lecture to a practical application is a strong reinforcement to our learning. But having the opening to learn about things we may have not been interested in or even known about could become a very powerful tool in our academic future or our engineering career.

Amount of funding awarded

$366.10

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

The PAF has first allowed me to remain involved with the Canadian Federation of Engineering Students. Through my involvement with the CFES, I have been able to bring the CFES and all of its initiatives to students at various Canadian engineering schools. I have been able to maintain my leadership in the CFES by attending various meetings with a selection of motivated engineering students from across Canada. CFES presented me with a fulfilling opportunity and I felt compelled to take it. My past involvement with the CFES led me to hold the position of Charity Commissioner, and I presently hold the position of Vice President of Finance and Administration. Attending meetings in person is valuable for the success of the organization, so that in return it can provide and all engineering students with better conferences, services, activities, and programs.

Outcomes

Although CFES officers hold monthly teleconferences and are always in contact with each other, it is much easier to work on collaborative projects in person. CFES fall meeting’s main purpose is for officers to organize the contents of CFES Congress, which is held annually during the first week of January. The entire contents of CFES Congress are planned and organized, including educational sessions and guest speakers. Additionally, officers work on additional services and programs. UBC students attend Congress and other activities like CEC and NCWIE. The CFES works to support a well-rounded engineering education and having the time to develop programs for students means that they have tangible material to bring back to their students and implement in their respective engineering communities.
By attending this meeting, I was able to bring back information to the EUS about how to prepare for upcoming events like Congress and what to expect while in attendance.
A sustainable benefit of these services is collaboration between students at different schools, a direct result of services like Congress and CEC, in which UBC students participate.
Attending this meeting allowed me to finalize the particulars of the CFES Movember Campaign, which was a national engineering student initiative where we raised over $40,000. UBC was very well represented in the Movember campaign and made a very solid contribution.

Amount of funding awarded

7920

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

It was the goal of the team to increase its general membership and to increase awareness on UBC campus. More students on the team this year was especially vital considering a large number of returning members would be graduating by April 2011. PAF funding allowed the team to increase to 18 members, from the previous year’s 15. It is expected now that the younger generation of concrete tobogganers will continue the team where it left off.

Outcomes

The outcome of the project is to develop the technical, hands-on experience of engineering students, who are primarily in the civil engineering discipline. The project offers a level of technical development beyond the classroom. In addition, the project also allows the opportunity to manage others, and how to contact industry. 18 students benefited from this project.

Short term benefits achieved:
-increased team size
-tours of civil engineering industry sites

Long Term benefit:
-Increased awareness of project globally among all disciplines of engineering, paving the way towards UBC as host campus to the competition in the very near future.

Amount of funding awarded

$188

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

This program allowed me to travel to Montreal where Spring meeting was held without breaking the bank. In-person attendance is so important, because it allows the BOD of the CFES to establish a personal and working relationship that is utilized throughout the year to further the organization. As an outgoing member of the BoD, my attendance was important as I offered an advisory role to help teach and train the incoming BoD and ensure the transfer of knowledge is successful.

Outcomes

For the Spring Meeting, the main goal is to introduce the new Board of Directors, hired this January 2011, to the CFES internal operations. The effectiveness of the board will be enhanced if participation begins at an early stage in their terms. An effective CFES is beneficial to the EUS and thus UBC Engineering students because the CFES is our representation to the National Council of Deans and Engineers Canada, and can provide UBC Engineering students with a variety of services made better by the full participation of the BOD, such as professional development and leadership conferences. In the short term, attending this meeting allowed me to pass on the CFES’s progress to the executive of the EUS. The sustainable benefit lies in keeping UBC a major player within the CFES and ensuring the smooth transition of the new BoD. UBC is one of the largest engineering schools in Western Canada, representing a large percentage of students, and thus it is my duty to ensure these students are adequately represented now, and the bar is set for future UBC student participation.
Aside from my personal involvement, there was also the opportunity to inform many other UBC Engineering students of CFES activities and ongoings based off of my attendance at this meeting.

Amount of funding awarded

5503

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

Engineering competitions are a unique way for students to get involved outside of the standard curriculum. Competitions challenge students to apply innovative thought and creativity, something that is often lacking within the average student’s courseload. They are an important avenue for professional development and offer a steep learning curve to those who get involved. They also demonstrate to industry the capabilities of their future employees, as these events are often heavily externally funded.
UBCEC 2010 proved to be bigger and better than ever, with all six competitions running as a precursor to WEC and just under 200 participants. Of these participants, 37 were selected to compete in WEC 2011. The PAF money allowed the EUS to send all participants inclusively at a rate all the students could afford.

Outcomes

The expected outcome is that the students who attend WEC will be provided with an experience unlike any other. They learned an immeasurable amount during the three day competition, and furthered their professional development in a way that no other activity could provide. They networked with other motivated engineering students, as well as industry and academic representation who share the belief that the university experience extends far beyond the standard curriculum. On a sustainable level, this continued to demonstrate on a regional and national level the quality of the engineering program here at UBC and the support of our faculty and industry benefactors. The challenges presented through the competition topics are relevant to problems encountered in industry, such as the optimization of energy resources and municipal infrastructure. The support of the Professional Activities Fund towards our UBC delegation showcased the emphasis that UBC puts on finding unique solutions by supporting creative and talented engineering students.
UBC came away with placements in both the Impromptu Debate category (1st) and the Consulting Engineering category (3rd).

Amount of funding awarded

8800

Budget Report

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How the program has supported you

Our objectives were to provide a unique opportunity to visit engineering companies in Germany, learn about research projects, explore cultural differences between nations, learn about student life and build foreign contacts. During this trip, we visited Vodafone, ABB, Vossloh Kiepe, Bombardier, GE, BMW and Cologne University of Applied Sciences. While touring company facilities, we were able to observe the German work environments, learn about products and research, explore career opportunities, and network with representatives. We learned about German culture through May Day celebrations and experienced their high speed train systems through our travel across the country. The funding from PAF was crucial to subsidizing the cost of such an invaluable trip to Germany. Without PAF funding, it would have been difficult to meet objectives due to the high cost of the trip and inability to keep costs within an affordable range for the majority of UBC Engineering students.

Outcomes

During the twelve day trip to Germany, 19 UBC students were given the opportunity to develop their professional and communication skills in a foreign country as well as experience technology beyond what is typically offered in the classroom.

Students were exposed to different engineering solutions that German companies have developed to address global concerns. This has not only expanded the knowledge of our students, but also helped stimulate fresh ideas and innovative ways of thinking that may apply to research & development being explored in Canada. Students were able to experience German engineering first hand by riding their high speed train network and observe how trains and automobiles are engineered at Vossloh Kiepe, Bombardier & BMW. Students were also able to learn about power generation technologies at ABB & GE and wireless device testing at Vodafone’s Test & Innovation Center.

The exposure to a different culture, lifestyle, and work environment is important for our students to understand the diverse needs of others around the globe. This trip also offered students the chance to build a network of industry and academic contacts abroad.