In a recent article in The Globe and Mail, Professor Kim Pressnail (CivE) discusses his team’s latest study that shows affordable ways Canadians can reduce energy consumption and save money on their energy bills.
Some of his tips, which include insulating attics, sealing air leaks around baseboards and raising the thermostat on air conditioners to 24 degrees, could save households hundreds of dollars.
The Engineering Student Societies’ Council of Ontario (ESSCO) has elected its new President – U of T Engineering student Mauricio Curbelo (CivE 1T3).
The announcement was made at the organization’s Annual General Meeting, which took place at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, from May 26-29.
“As President, I’ll be responsible for facilitating constructive dialogue between engineering-student governments in Ontario and working with member schools to establish the strategic direction of the organization.
I’ll also be representing 20,000 engineering students in Ontario to several student and professional organizations,” said Curbelo.
In addition to leading ESSCO, Curbelo has been an active member of the U of T Engineering community, as he is also the VP, External, of the Engineering Society.
“On behalf of the Faculty, I congratulate Mauricio on his new leadership role,” said Dean Cristina Amon, “We are very proud that one of our exceptional U of T Engineering students will be leading such a large and essential organization.”
ESSCO brings together 17 engineering student societies across Ontario, including U of T’s Engineering Society, to share best practices. It represents the province’s engineering students to the Council of Ontario Deans of Engineering and the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers, just to name a few.
Professor John Hadjigeorgiou (CivE), Director of the Lassonde Institute for Mining and Claudette MacKay Lassonde Chair in Mineral Engineering, was recently elected to the Council of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM).
Professor Hadjigeorgiou was also elected as Chair of the Rock Engineering Society (RES) at its Annual General Meeting in Montreal on May 22, 2011.
Founded in 1898, CIM is the leading technical society of professionals in the Canadian minerals, metals, materials and energy industries. Its Rock Engineering Society, a constituent society of CIM since 1984, promotes the development and application of mining industry geomechanics to support safe and economically viable extraction.
Alumnus David Poirier (IndE 8T1) was named the recipient of the 2011 Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE) Medallion Award.
He was honoured for his exceptional leadership as an advisor in developing and promoting young engineers, creating a body of knowledge for the practice of industrial engineering, as well as organizing educational materials that advance the development of industrial engineers. This award was conferred at the IIE annual conference in late May in Reno, NV.
“The Faculty is extremely proud that the Institute of Industrial Engineers has recognized David Poirier for his many contributions to the engineering profession,” said Cristina Amon, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. “This award is a reflection of the extraordinary reputation of our U of T Engineering graduates.”
Poirier is the Chief Executive Officer of his company, The Poirier Group, a member of the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering’s (MIE) Industry Board of Advisors and the Industrial Engineering 50th Anniversary Committee. He was also a 2010 University of Toronto Arbor Award recipient.
Founded in 1948, IIE is an international, nonprofit association that provides leadership for the application, education, training, research and development of industrial engineering.
Professor Murray Thomson (MIE) was quoted in a recent Toronto Sun news story on whether or not peat moss is to blame for a costly house fire in Clarington, Ontario.
Fire officials believe a flowerpot that contained the organic product spontaneously combusted under the sun’s rays.
Professor Thomson says that spontaneous combustion of peat moss isn’t likely to cause fire in flowerpots and then explains why.
Read the full story here.
A U of T Engineering crew was one of only two Canadian teams to win gold at RoboGames in California, North America’s largest robotics competition with its mix of engineering, motorsport and boxing.
“We are really proud, because we were the only Canadian university team [in our weight class],” said team member Wee Sheng (Wilson) Tan (MechE 1T2 + PEY). The team behind TSA Inspected went into the big battle undefeated, with an 11-0 record, and battled 23 teams to win the gold.
Winning the 120-pound category for the second year in a row, the remote-control robot called TSA Inspected was built by Paul Giampuzzi (MechE 0T8 + PEY). It may look like an upside-down hibachi on two wheels, but don’t be fooled by the simplicity. TSA Inspected defended its title by flipping opponents and avoiding any costly battle scars. Giampuzzi attributes it to “constraint-based engineering.”
Other members of the crew, from the University of Toronto Robotics Association (UTRA), were Wen Cheng Chong (EngSci 1T2 + PEY) and Rehman Merali, (UTIAS PhD Candidate).
Read the story in U of T eBulletin and learn more about the team on the Utra website.