National Engineering Month

 

The engineering profession is ever evolving and each year schools throughout Canada add new programs to their curriculum. Over the last few years Western has introduced Green Process Engineering, Civil Engineering with International Development and more recently, Mechatronics Engineering. Despite the exciting possibilities, many high school students are still unclear as to what engineers actually do.

National Engineering Month is an initiative run by Engineers Canada to promote the profession to high school students. This past week was National Engineering Week in Ontario and Western Engineering hosted two events. On Thursday the Western Engineering Bonanza program invited 75 students to our campus. They participated in interactive learning sessions, a student panel and afternoon design competition.

On the provincial scale, our Undergraduate Engineering Society pooled together to make a Rube Goldberg machine. This over complicated, just for fun, machine was trigged by a cell phone call from McMaster University. Our final signal was sent to Conestoga College and the final machine light up the CN tower purple, the traditional engineering colour.  Since this happened just this past Friday I’ll have to leave you with the video from last years for now!

 

 

Alternative spring break

 

As winter drags on, we are lucky enough to get a week break for some much needed rest and relaxation. While some professors prefer to put students to work during  “slack week”, others have more realistic expectations. Regardless of the work at hand students typically enjoy warm breaks, winter getaway trips or some down time at home.

For students looking to make a difference during the week, Western offered the Alternative Spring Break program. This week long adventures allow student to volunteer in a variety of fields including health care and disaster relief. Destinations range from Winnipeg to Peru and groups ranging from 10 -30 people embarked on trips. Within recent years the program has gained momentum and financial assistance is now available. For more information on these volunteer opportunities visit the ASB website.

 

Student support services

 

Often times students overlook the support services available during times of stress or sickness. A few days ago, I woke up with a tickle in my throat and after no improvement decided to visit student health services. This on campus resource offers a staff of 22 doctors and nurses and allows students to make same day medical appointments.  For obvious reasons student health wasn’t too keen on me taken a picture of them.

From medical to counselling services and everything in between, Western, partnered with the University Student’s Council offers six unique services for students.

• Ally Western – Training program that educates students about LGBTTQ2 issues and creates a supoprt network.

• Ethnocultural Support Services – Promotes cultural inclusivity on campus.

• Evirowestern – A sustainable living social action group.

• Food Support Services – Anonymous food hamper distribution service.

• Pride Western – Hosts speakers, events and provides support for the LGBTTQ2 community.

• Women’s Issues Network – Recognises, represents and rectifies gender inequalities through guest speakers and other events.

One of the major reasons my university experience has been so enjoyable is the support system I have created. With this in mind, it is important to recognise the need for these external services and the extreme value to students they provide. For more information on any of these services visit http://www.usc.uwo.ca/.

It's midterm time again,

 

Popular themes in student's lives around this time are midterms, lab reports and assignments. As the temperatures rise and stress mounts, it's important to refocus on both school and life. Lately, Western's campus has been buzzing with student government elections, hosting the Ontario Engineering competition and selections for next year’s orientation leaders. With such a diverse range of opportunities to get involved, students can balance the stress of school with fun, engaging activities.

This weekend our student council took distressing to the next level and planned a three-day extravaganza. Some of the events were an inter-engineering school social on Friday, a charity concert on the Saturday and a dodge ball tournament today.

 

Things I wish I knew back then...

 

This is perhaps the most cliche blog post title but now that I'm getting ready to graduate and trying to find a job I love, I thought it was imporant to share some things I've learnt along the way. Like any typical university student I spend many nights "burning the midnight oil" as my mom puts it. This expression orginiates from pre-electricity times where any late night work had to be done by oil lamps, either way I digress.

Last week, while grabbing a midnight snack and reflecting upon my university experience I took a closer look at this brochure I grabbed from the Musuem of Modern Art in New York last summer, it currently decorates my mini fridge and is held up by none other than Western fridge magnets. While originally I was drawn to the bright colours and words that resonant aspects of my personality it was only last week that I realised theses words also reflected my Western experience.

If I could pick one thing to know "back then" when I was picking a university and something I will hold true to in the future, is to pick an environment that fosters these characteristics. It's easy to tell someone, to "do what they love, and love what they do" and that "the choices you make are the one's you live with" but far understated is the stress for growth, development and opportunity a new environment fosters. Reflecting on these words, specific memories flash through my mind but the line that, in my opinion, is the most impactful is "belong to something". Throughout the next stage of your life, whatever it may be, look for these experiences. I am fortunate enough to say I've enjoyed these at Western so let's hope I can find a job that continues these opportunities.

Time flies when you're having fun,

I remember, my residence experience like it was just yesterday. Our first floor dinner, our elegantly formal study parties and just lazing around piling as many people onto one bed as possible. Yes, my floor did have some strange times but all in all, we survived our first year experience.

Last summer, those of us who stayed in London welcomed back our returning floor mates, with a sense of both nostalgia and excitement for the year ahead. As this is my fourth and final year at Western, we have shifted our focus to creating lasting memories with our time left. Over the weekend we attended charity ball, an annual Western wide formal supporting a local london charity. Making friends along the way, we've welcomed others into our group and will continue to enjoy a phenomenal last semester. Hope you enjoy the glamorous picture of us, earlier in the night of course, when we were getting ready.

 

From the Western Community, to the London Community

 

Often times university students are perceived as detached from the world. Our mundane schedules centre on school and we live life from assignment to midterm. Thankfully this isn’t actually the case. While I find it a struggle to keep up to date with the happens of the world and get most of my world news form the tv’s at the gym, I’ve found the easier approach is the Engineers Without Borders philosophy of think global act local.

Community involvement and outreach is such an important factor in personal development but rather than interpersonal interactions, I want to focus a bit on personal lifestyle choices. This weekend I visited the Western Fair Farmers Market. Off the typical student path, the market boasts local produce, fantastic deals and a community feel. Making local food choices and supporting the residents of the ‘Old East’ area of London is a simple, rewarding, socially aware choice that’s just one short bus ride away!

London, more than just a university city

 

As the temperature drops, classes pick up and motivation to “be a better student” drift off, I continue to enjoy my Sunday adventures down town. Typically when students think down town, the flashing lights of Richmond Row, a popular bar strip, and the numerous restaurants and cafes that litter the street come to mind.

Instead, I want to paint a different perspective of the down town cityscape. To me, the beauty in downtown London centres along Dundas street. While this area isn’t the most glamorous or necessarily attractive, the charm of the downtown core speaks to London’s history.

Numerous coffee shops, art galleries and boutiques line the major street. From comic book stores, to the public library and even and Art for Aids centre there’s something for everyone on this often overlooked street. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can hop on the bus from campus with some friends to do some exploring.

Brilliant minds battle it out

The Western Engineering Competition is an annual event that highlights creative, innovative and cost effective projects.  Held over one weekend, competitors form teams and compete in junior and senior design as well as consultancy. Each team is given four hours and a unique problem to solve with limited resources, minimal budgets and in some cases, no external communication. 

This year, junior design teams were tasked with creating an irrigation device that allowed the least amount of water to span the greater surface area. The winning design boasted a motorised, circular top, with a guided nozzle to concentrate the water.  Stepping up the challenge for senior design, participants were required to build an 80mm, full retractable bridge.

Steering away from the typical design scenarios, categories such as Parliamentary debate and engineering communications focused on nontechnical skills. The final category, innovative design, showcased undergraduate student projects. This competition qualifies teams for the Ontario Engineering Competition, which will be held at Western this year.

 

Fitness First!

 

Two weeks into the new year, the zeal for resolutions start to dwindle. One such example, is the flock of students using Western’s Student Recreation Centre. Built in 2009, this $34 million facility boasts and Olympic sized pool, five gymnasia stacked over two levels, two studios and four internationally regulated squash courts. This amazing facility has become a place to meet on campus. Wireless Internet is available in the lobby and food services are available on site.

If the typical “pumping iron” work out isn’t for you, the gym offers drop in sport such as basketball and volleyball as well as an array of fitness class from Yoga to Sleek and Strong. This year, I’ve enjoyed the facilities more then ever and tonight I’m going to venture into the unknown territory and try a Zumba fitness dance class.

Check out the gym, campus intermurals and varsity games at http://www.westernmustangs.ca.