Parisa Bastani named Wesbrook Scholar

UBC Mechanical Engineering fourth year student Parisa Bastani was named one of this year's Wesbrook Scholars. Reserved for no more than twenty students in the University each year, the prestigious Wesbrook Scholar designation recognizes outstanding achievement.

Wesbrook Scholars must rank in the top 10 percent of their class, and possess the ability to serve, work with and lead others. In addition to be an outstanding academic student, Bastani is the Captain of the Formula UBC student team, which builds an open-wheeled race car for the Society of Automotive Engineers' annual collegiate competition. She is also Chair of the Engineering Student Team Council, and a member of many student committees. Her recent achievements include winning, with her collaborators, the Best Engineering Track Paper at the Partners for the Advancement of Collaborative Engineering Education (PACE) Global Annual Forum.

The Wesbrook Scholar awards are sponsored by the Wesbrook Society, an organization of the university's major benefactors.

Department welcomes new Assistant Professor Dr. Srikanth Phani

The Department of Mechanical Engineering is pleased to welcome Dr. Srikanth Phani to the Department. Dr. Phani joins the Department following receipt of a B. Tech. from Nagarjuna University, a M.Sc. from the Indian Institute of Science (Bangalore) and a Ph.D. in Engineering from Cambridge University in 2004. While attending Cambridge, Dr. Phani was the recipient of several fellowships, including the Cambridge Nehru Fellowship and the Ford of Britain Fellowship. Following 3 years as a Research Associate at Cambridge, Dr. Phani joined the University of Bath for 2 years as an Academic Research Fellow, prior to accepting a position as Assistant Professor at UBC in November 2008.

Dr. Phani is author or co-author of 12 journal publications in prestigious journals such as the Journal of Sound and Vibration, the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, IEEE Sensors, and the ASME Journal of Applied Mechanics. Dr. Phani has research interests that encompass applied mechanics of materials, dynamics and vibrations, MEMS, and biomedical devices. The Department of Mechanical Engineering is extremely pleased to have a scholar of Dr. Phani’s calibre join our Department.

Faculty members awarded Strategic Grant from NSERC

Two Mechanical Engineering faculty members and their co-investigator have been awarded a Strategic Grant from the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) for their proposed work in improving human-computer interaction.

The project, entitled “HALO: Transparent Guidance of Networked Interactions through a Haptic-Affect Loop,” will be investigated by Drs. Karon Maclean (Associate Professor in Computer Science and a recently reappointed Associate in Mechanical Engineering), Elizabeth Croft (Professor in Mechanical Engineering) and Joanna McGrenere (Associate Professor in Computer Science).

The project will address a challenge many people face – sensory and cognitive overload from computers, phones, iPods and all of the other interfaces we deal with from day-to-day to receive networked information and communications. The core innovation is the Haptic-Affect Loop (HALO), which will sense the users reaction to an environment or situation to trigger positive changes while providing immediate, unintrusive feedback to the user about the change through vibro-tactile signals. Ultimately this will lead to devices that will automatically respond to our changing needs and interests – in a truly personalized way.

Pro-Neck-Tor named Popular Science’s Best of What’s New

A sports helmet invented by UBC researchers has been named a Winner of a 2008 Popular Science Best of What's New award in the Personal Health category.

The Pro-Neck-Tor helmet, co-developed by Mechanical Engineering Prof. Peter Cripton and PhD candidate Tim Nelson, has been shown in preliminary testing to reduce direct impact to the neck by up to 56 per cent.

Revealed every December, the Popular Science magazine's Best of What's New awards are presented to 100 new products and technologies spanning 11 categories.

Link to UBC Pro-Neck-Tor press release
http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/media/releases/2008/mr-08-086.html

Link to Popular Science article
http://www.popsci.com/bown/2008/product/pro-neck-tor

Link to Pro-Neck-Tor web site: http://www.pronecktor.com/

Professor Hill and Evans recognized for excellence

Vancouver, Canada—October 17, 2008—The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of B.C. (APEGBC) recognizes two UBC Mechanical Engineering professors with awards in recognition of their excellence in professional, technical and community service at its annual awards ceremony tonight.

Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering Philip Hill receives APEGBC’s highest honour—the R.A. McLachlan Memorial Award—for his outstanding professional and community service. Award Citation

Professor of Mechanical Engineering Robert Evans receives the Editorial Board Award for his article "Can We Make Our Energy Future More Sustainable" published in the November/December 2007 issue of Innovation magazine. This award is given for the best article written by an APEGBC member and published in Innovation during the previous year. As former Director of UBC’s Clean Energy Research Centre and author of the 2007 book Fueling Our Future: An Introduction to Sustainable Energy, Evans has played an important role in the research and development of energy conversion systems, particularly those that will be used to reduce our overwhelming reliance on fossil fuels.

APEGBC will be posting video vignettes on its website on Dr. Hill in the next few days. We encourage you to check back at: http://www.apeg.bc.ca/services/awards/prezawards/pastwinners.html to view the 2008 President’s Award videos.




Award Citation: Dr. Philip Hill
As visionary as he is humble, Philip Hill is a remarkable individual whose pioneering work on the use of natural gas in diesel engines has inspired generations of engineers. Phil has been an influence in the engineering community for more than 40 years as a professor of mechanical engineering at MIT, Queen’s and UBC; his exceptional leadership was recognized with the both the UBC Killam Teaching Award as well as the Walter H. Gage Award for Teaching Excellence. He has always strongly believed that his work should have a profound societal relevance, and began addressing our critical need for clean energy more than 20 years ago. His innovations in low-emission engine systems went beyond university research when they became the nucleus of Westport Innovations Inc., founded by David Demers in 1995. He went on to win several awards for his outstanding technical achievements, including the Province of British Columbia’s Minister’s Environmental Award. Phil has also been an invaluable presence in his community and has given much of his time to several faith-based organizations, including Regent College, a theological school association with UBC, and Langham Trust, a charitable society that provides financial support to third-world scholars. Phil is respected and admired not only as a visionary engineer, but also as an exceptional human being, and is an outstanding recipient of the 2008 R.A. McLachlan Memorial Award.

UBC engineers recognized for innovative new pulp screen technology

The British Columbia Innovation Council (BCIC) has awarded two Mechanical Engineering faculty members and their collaborators the 2008 Lieutenant Governor’s Technology Innovation Award.

The team was comprised of:
- Carl Ollivier-Gooch, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, UBC
- James Olson, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, UBC
- Robert Gooding, Vice President of Technology, Advanced Fiber Technologies
- Mark Martinez, Associate Professor of Chemical & Biological Engineering, UBC

From left: Keri Adams, CTV, presents the 2008 Lieutenant Governor’s Technology Innovation Award to Drs. Mark Martinez, Carl Ollivier-Gooch, James Olson, and Robert Gooding
(photographer: Jay Shaw).

"The Lieutenant Governor’s Technology Innovation Award recognizes new and highly innovative technologies that are based on applied research conducted in British Columbia," said Soren Harbel, VP Innovation Development, BCIC. “This team has demonstrated exemplary innovation with the new advanced pulp screen technology by taking an idea common in the field of aircraft design and applying it to the pulp and paper industry.”

The team’s advanced screen rotor technology is described in detail in the Award Citation.

“The highly innovated new pulp screen technology developed by this small group has had a substantial, nearly immediate, impact on the pulp and paper industry—one of Canada’s (and British Columbia’s) largest manufacturing and export industries,” says Dr. Elizabeth Croft, Professor and Associate Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering, UBC.

The team’s achievement is currently being featured on the Knowledge Network: video clip.

View the original BCIC press release and media kit.

About the British Columbia Innovation Council
British Columbia Innovation Council is the lead organization charged with advancing innovation and commercialization in British Columbia. It is focused on accelerating the growth of our science and technology communities and competitively positioning British Columbia in the global science and technology economy in order to provide significant employment opportunities and a high standard of living for British Columbians.

Mechanical Engineering professor recognized for industry collaboration

Pratt and Whitney Canada (P&WC) has recognized Mechanical Engineering professor Yusuf Altintas as one of six P&WC Research Fellows across Canada for his academic excellence and outstanding contribution to P&WC technology programs in the field of manufacturing.

(Image) From left: Walter Di Bartolomeo, Yusuf Altintas and Hany Moustapha, senior manager of Pratt & Whitney Canada Technology Programs
(photographer: Jean-Claude Belanger).

"Dr. Altintas is playing a vital role in advancing the position of Canada's aerospace industry through his valuable work in developing new technologies in high-speed manufacturing," said Walter Di Bartolomeo, vice president, Engineering at P&WC. "We are proud to recognize his contributions and look forward to continue working with him in breaking new ground in aerospace technologies.”

The award was presented to Altintas during a special ceremony at the Annual General Meeting of the Aerospace Industry Association of Canada in Ottawa on September 17, 2008. View the original PW&C media release.

Earlier in the month, Altintas was also honoured when PW&C chose to renew his NSERC/Pratt & Whitney Chair in Virtual High-performance Machining for an additional five years. In addition UBC Mechanical Engineering associate professor Steve Feng was appointed Associate Chair. Learn more about this industrial research chair.

About Pratt & Whitney Canada
Based in Longueuil, Quebec, PW&C is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines powering business, general aviation and regional aircraft, and helicopters. The company also offers auxiliary power units and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., USA, is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and building industries.

UBC engineers receive ALSBC Awards of Excellence

UBC Mechanical Engineering’s Brace Team—students Paul Hahto, Angela Melnyk, Liz Arnott, Isaac Herscovitch and instructor Mike Van der Loos—has won the inaugural ALS Society of British Columbia’s Excellence in Engineering Design Competition for Flexi-Brace, a dynamic neck brace.

UBC's Flexi-Brace team pictured with ALSBC representatives.
Back row: Mike Van der Loos, Angela Melnyk, Isaac Herscovitch
Middle row: Dr Andrew Eisen, Richard Tang, Caroline Chen, Mickey Pun, Jeramy Wu, Elizabeth Arnott, Wendy Magee
Front row: Dr. Jim McEwen, Les Hart, Paul Hahto

Flexi-Brace, developed within a fourth-year Mechanical Engineering capstone design course, gives those suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS—aka Lou Gehrig’s Disease) increased mobility and freedom. The team also addressed issues of aesthetic appeal and comfort in its award-winning design.

The ALS Society of BC gave the team first-place and $5,000 for winning its first design competition, which seeks innovations to improve the quality of life of people living with ALS. A neurodegenerative disorder that affects motor neurons that carry messages from the brain to muscles, ALS results in weakness, atrophy and immobilization; upon initial diagnosis, typical life-expectancy is two to five years.

The Flexi-Brace team also placed second in the 2008 Canadian Design Engineering Network student design competition, which endeavors to enhance the capacity for design and innovation in Canada.

The ALS Society of BC was founded by ALS patients, their family members and health care professionals to meet the physical and emotional needs of people with ALS and their caregivers. To learn more about ALS BC, visit: http://www.alsbc.ca/

Collaboration wins International Recycling Conference Best Paper Award

Congratulations to James Olson, Sean Delfel, Carl Ollivier-Gooch and their collaborators for winning the Technical Association of Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) 2008 Wayne Carr Memorial Award for Best Paper, for their paper “High performance Foil Rotor Improves De-Ink Pulp Screening”, that was presented at the International Recycling Conference, Niagara, 9-pages, Sept. 2007.

The award is presented by the recycling committee of TAPPI for the best paper given in the past year in the area of fibre recycling. The paper deals with a mill trial of new pulp screening technology, a Multi-Element Foil rotor, that demonstrated a 50% energy reduction over state-of-the-art technology and an increase is debris removal efficiency. The trial was conducted at Catalyst Paper Recycling Division in Coquitlam and the new technology is patented by UBC and licensed to AFT.

Mechanical Engineering wins international PACE awards

Vancouver, Canada—August 8, 2008—The UBC Department of Mechanical Engineering has won four awards at the Partners for the Advancement of Collaborative Engineering Education (PACE) Global Annual Forum held recently in Detroit, Michigan U.S.A.

UBC won the first-annual PACE Laboratory Competition. Entries were evaluated on visual appearance of the outside entrance and interior of the laboratory; laboratory layout for student use; equipment; network and infrastructure; PACE software; and student and faculty usage.

PACE, a corporate alliance between General Motors, Autodesk, HP, Siemens PLM Software, EDS and Sun Microsystems, has worked together since 1999 to support academic institutions worldwide with computer-based engineering tools to prepare industrial/mechanical designers, engineers and analysts with the skills to compete in the future.

In 2003, PACE gave UBC Faculty of Applied Science an in-kind contribution worth approximately $240 million, consisting of computer-aided design, manufacturing, and engineering software, hardware and training, to form the UBC PACE Laboratory.

“I knew our lab would score well and I knew we had a chance of winning, but it was still a bit of a shock when they started to present the details of the wining lab and I realized they were talking about our lab,” said Alan Steeves P.Eng, Manager Computing/Electronics, Department of Mechanical Engineering.

In addition to the PACE Laboratory Competition, Mechanical Engineering also won three other awards at the forum.

Fourth-year student Parisa Bastani and her collaborators at the University of Toronto won the "Best Engineering Track Paper,” selected from a field including faculty as well as students.

Alan Steeves took home the "Best Curriculum Paper Award" and he was also recognized with the "Distinguished PACE Integrator Award” for setting up a global collaborative design network.

“I am very honoured to be recognized with both awards,” said Steeves. “The Integrator Award is not given out annually and has only been given twice before.”

In addition to international recognition, UBC Mechanical Engineering will receive generous gifts from PACE partners including Hewlett Packard, Siemens, Sun Microsystems, Autodesk and GM.

Mech 2 recognized for improving student learning

UBC Mech 2 received the 2008 Alan Blizzard Award for its “collaboratively designed and delivered program,” presented today at the 28th Annual Society of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education conference. Established to encourage, identify, and publicly recognize exemplary collaborations in university teaching that enhances student learning, the award seeks to make visible and disseminate scholarship of teaching and learning, based on values and practices of collaborative teaching.

UBC researchers invent helmet that significantly reduces forces to neck during head-first impact

University of British Columbia researchers have invented a sports helmet that reduces direct impact to the neck by up to 56 per cent, according to preliminary tests.

Dubbed Pro-Neck-TorTM, the patent-pending technology features a movable inner shell that guides the head to tilt slightly forward or backward in a head-on impact, thus allowing dissipation of direct loads to the cervical spine. The inner shell mechanism is deployed only when the wearer lands head-first with a certain speed and angle at impact. It works otherwise like existing sports helmets.

For an animation of how the helmet works, visit www.pronecktor.com.

"Existing helmets are not designed to protect the neck and the cervical region of the spine, which happens to be the weakest," says co-inventor Peter Cripton, a Mechanical Engineering assistant professor in the Faculty of Applied Science.

"Pro-Neck-Tor is designed to address potentially debilitating injuries to the neck and spine that often accompany head-first impacts," says Cripton, who is also director of the UBC Injury Biomechanics Laboratory, with facilities at the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute.

Applied Science announces new engineering department heads

Vancouver, Canada—June 30, 2008—As of July 1 several UBC Faculty of Applied Science engineering departments will undergo a change in leadership. The Departments of Civil Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Materials Engineering and the Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering will each have a new department head.