Spring 2015
Welcome to the spring 2015 issue of Benchmarks!
S P R I N G 2 015 Editor Jackey Locke FINAL PROOF Moira Baird Graphic Design Mike Mouland Contributing writers Deirdre Greene Javad Hashemi Cheryl Keough Jackey Locke Dr. Cecilia Moloney Jinghua Nie Dr. Janna Rosales Victoria Ward Photography Micah Brown Adrian Dobre Chris Hammond Geoff Holden Kathryn Hong Cheryl Keough Jackey Locke Jinghua Nie Benchmarks is published by the Division of Marketing and Communications for the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland. Please address any questions, comments or suggestions to: Jackey Locke, editor, Benchmarks, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University, 240 Prince Phillip Drive, St. John’s, NL A1B 3X5 email: jackey.locke@mun.ca or telephone: 709 864 8287. Faculty-of-Engineering-andApplied-Science @MUN_Engineering
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007-15004-500
www.engr.mun.ca
$18
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S u n c o r C e n t r e r e s e a r c h t e a m s d i s c u ss their work with visitors during the o f f i c i a l o p e n i n g d ay c e r e m o n i e s o n Dec. 5, 2014.
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It has been 40 years since Memorial University graduated its first class
“We had three disciplines – civil, electrical and mechanical – with a design
of engineers. On May 25, 1974, 76 bright, eager students convocated,
course in every semester. This didn’t go over well with the accreditation
each with a bachelor of engineering degree in hand.
board, but, ultimately, they accredited our programs.”
Dr. Angus Bruneau was the first dean of engineering and applied science
Dr. John Molgaard was one of the first faculty members that Dr. Bruneau
and he remembers that first convocation with great pride.
hired.
“It was an exciting time,” he said. “We worked very hard to keep
“There were many demands on our time and energy,” he said. “While
them engaged. It was important to me to see that first class through to
existing courses were taught, the new program was designed, course
graduation.”
content was developed and facilities acquired.”
Memorial had an engineering diploma program from its very beginning,
Dr. Greg Naterer, the faculty’s current dean, has been enjoying hearing the
but graduates went to other institutions to complete their engineering
stories about the early days from Dr. Bruneau and other faculty members.
degrees. S.J. Carew, dean of the Faculty of Applied Science, which was the faculty name back then, proposed to expand to a full degree program in
“Our highly regarded reputation of excellence has been built on a
the mid-1960s.
proud history and legacy built by tremendous visionary leaders – Dr. Bruneau, other former deans, faculty, staff and alumni,” said Dr. Naterer.
Dr. Moses Morgan, then vice-president (academic), strongly supported
“Since the first graduates, we’ve grown to over 1,100 undergraduate
the idea to develop a degree-granting engineering program at Memorial.
students, six accredited undergraduate programs, 18 graduate programs,
He solicited concepts and opinions from engineering deans at Ontario
approximately 500 graduate students and about $16 million in research
universities and, ultimately, it was Dr. Doug Wright, University of
funding per year. We’re proud of our rich legacy and I look forward to
Waterloo, who impressed him the most with his enthusiasm and new
steering ahead to many more future successes.”
concept in engineering education, a co-operative program that he had recently developed at Waterloo. Ultimately, it was Dr. Wright who
While the faculty’s principles have remained the same, today there are
recommended Dr. Bruneau, a young, energetic faculty member at the
five departments in civil, electrical and computer, mechanical, ocean and
University of Waterloo, as the best person for the job.
naval architectural and process engineering. The faculty is undergoing major growth and a new building is on the horizon. Dr. Bruneau sees
While the new program was modelled after the program at the University of
many parallels to his time as dean.
Waterloo, it was an opportunity to prepare a new curriculum at Memorial. “I see a lot of similarities between what the current dean is doing and “I knew why everything was in that curriculum,” said Dr. Bruneau. “If
what I did 40 years ago,” he said. “He has to sort out what the patterns
no one could explain why something should be in there, it didn’t get in.
are and the values that need to be emphasized.”
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The Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of
“No one demonstrates the fabric and form of Tetra
Newfoundland and Labrador (PEGNL) and the
more than Leonard Lye,” said Pat Tweedie, Tetra
Tetra Society of North America have honoured
Society of North America. “His contributions to
Dr. Leonard Lye, associate dean, graduate
Tetra reach far beyond the years and numbers
studies, in the faculty.
required for the award. Dr. Lye is one of Tetra’s most valuable assets and to me the personification
Dr. Lye is the 2014 recipient of PEGNL’s
of a Lifetime Achievement Award.”
Community Service Award for his outstanding service and dedication to society through
Dr. Lye started volunteering when he was 14
voluntary
years old and 40 years later, his volunteer work
participation
organizations,
in
community
government-sponsored
has become a part of who he is.
activities or humanitarian work. He also received Tetra Society of North America’s
“I feel good, of course, that what I have done
Lifetime Achievement Award for his significant
means something to some people,” he said. “But
contribution to the success of the Tetra program.
I don’t do it for the recognition. Some things
The society helps people with disabilities to live
just have to be done. Seeing the happy faces on
independent and fulfilling lives through the
people after solving their seemingly challenging
creation of devices that help overcome a barrier
problems is good enough. I really enjoy solving
in the physical environment.
some of these problems.”
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The life of a young boy will be a little easier
“I was very impressed by some of the designs
and more enjoyable thanks to Dr. Leonard
they showed me,” said Dr. Lye. “Some of the
Lye,
the
final designs were very creative and detailed.
Newfoundland and Labrador branch of the
The students were very motivated by the fact
Tetra Society of North America, and some
that there were working on a real project that
first-year engineering students.
someone is waiting on.”
As part of a first-year design course, students
With the final design completed, Dr. Lye
form teams and tackle design projects –
will meet with the client and fabricator to
projects that can’t be purchased and need to
review the design and to discuss any necessary
be customized for individuals’ needs. In the
modifications. The customized wheelchair will
winter 2014 semester, engineering students
be fabricated over the summer and, hopefully, the
worked on an all-terrain wheelchair for a boy
little boy who wants nothing more than to enjoy
with a neuromuscular condition called Spinal
the outdoors will finally be able to do just that.
co-ordinator
and
founder
of
Muscular Atrophy Type 2 as their design project. “Each semester, I am very impressed with the “Currently,
none
wheelchair
dedication and professionalism of some of
manufacturers make anything that is suitable
the groups,” said Dr. Lye. “It shows that our
for his needs, and all this little boy wants
young engineers are creative, motivated, and
to do is to be able to enjoy the outdoors,”
have a great desire to help others with their
explained Dr. Lye.
engineering skills.”
At the beginning of the semester, Dr. Lye
Another group of students worked on a boccia
met with the students and showed them
ball release system for a man with cerebral
some commercially available wheelchairs
palsy, who wants to participate in organized
and explained why none were suitable.
boccia ball competitions. A design hasn’t yet
Throughout
been finalized.
the
of
the
semester,
the
students
consulted with Dr. Lye as they worked on the design to ensure that their ideas were
The Tetra Society is a charity that designs
practical and reasonable.
and builds assistive devices that are not available
commercially
for
people
with
The students were told to keep the design
physical disabilities. For more information
simple, to use easily accessible materials, and
on Tetra Society and the local chapter
to keep the cost down.
and how you can become involved, visit www.tetrasociety.org.
On March 8, the Professional Engineers
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recruit enthusiastic students.”
and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador held its annual Model Bridge Day
Bridges were judged by a panel of practicing
at the Johnson GEO CENTRE. Hundreds
civil engineers for quality of construction
of grade 7-12 students from all across the
and application of engineering principles,
province brought their model bridges to be
followed by Memorial engineering students
tested at various testing stations in hopes
testing each bridge for strength.
that theirs was the strongest among their peers.
Testing
locations
Clarenville,
Grand
included
St.
John’s,
Falls-Windsor,
Corner
“The objective is to design and construct the
Brook, Labrador City/Wabush and Happy
strongest model bridge, made from Popsicle
Valley-Goose Bay/Labrador Coast.
sticks and glue,” said Cheryl Keough, student
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liaison officer, Faculty of Engineering and
Memorial’s
Faculty
Applied Science. “It’s great to be a part of
Applied Science is an annual proud sponsor
this event and to have an opportunity to
and exhibitor.
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of
Engineering
and
“For the project we developed, implemented and evaluated new diversityattracting integrative pedagogies intended to tap into the motivations and values that engineering students bring to their work and study,” explained Dr. Moloney. “We created the course to study the relationships between diversity, identity and professional success.” The course, called the Lead by Design Institute on Leadership, Diversity and Dialogue For Graduate Students in Engineering, was oriented in the first instance towards benefiting women in engineering, while also fostering other diversities in engineering in addition to gender. A central element of the Institute’s curriculum was a team-based, globally relevant, locally informed, mini-project that challenged participants to communicate Dr. Cecilia Moloney, a professor in the Department of Electrical
engineering solutions to a lay audience in a non-traditional format.
and Computer Engineering, along with complementary studies engineering professor Dr. Janna Rosales, Dr. Cecile Badenhorst in
“With additional funding from the Quick Start Fund for Public
the Faculty of Education, and Jonas Roberts, a then PhD candidate
Engagement at Memorial, and in collaboration with Words in Edgewise,
in civil engineering (since successfully completed) – designed a five-
we organized a public salon as the venue for these presentations, in
day co-curricular course for engineering graduate students called the
order to create a broader conversation about technological literacy
Lead by Design Institute. The course was held April 23-29, 2014 and
and the public’s stake in engineering challenges in the 21st century,”
was a huge success.
explained Dr. Moloney. “Our research findings will make contributions to the burgeoning field of engineering education research, as well as the
The success of the program was marked by the lively atmosphere in
research about women in engineering.”
the Institute’s sessions, by the collaborative engagement of graduate students from across the engineering disciplines in discussion and
Dr. Moloney and her co-investigators are hopeful that the course design,
problem-solving, and by positive feedback on a post-Institute survey.
methods and materials may have impacts on teaching and learning at
But most significantly, the researchers saw
the Institute’s success
Memorial, both in engineering and in other disciplines. “We made a
most clearly in the consistent attendance by 14 graduate students in
presentation last August at the 11th International Workshop on Higher
a voluntary but intensive five-day program.
Education Reform that was held in St. John’s. We noted in our presentation that the pedagogy of the Lead by Design Institute can contribute to
The course was developed as part of a research project funded by
reform in higher education, for engineering in particular, because it
a Hebron Diversity Research Grant awarded to Dr. Moloney and
fosters the growth of process skills that are sought by employers and that
co-investigators Drs. Badenhorst and Rosales in 2013 to study the
are important to solving engineering ‘grand challenges.’ It encourages
participation of women and other under-represented groups in math,
students to be self-reflective, socially aware and inclusive, key attributes
science and engineering.
in contexts of increasing diversity and globalization.”
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The President’s Award for Outstanding Teaching
Dr. Rideout is also described as a teacher who has
recognizes
faculty
the unique ability to view the curriculum from
member. Dr. Geoff Rideout’s passion for teaching
outstanding
teaching
by
a
the students’ perspective, simplifying concepts
and concern for his students have earned him this
and always keenly aware of who his audience
distinguished award.
is and adjusting his approach accordingly. He regularly encourages feedback from his students
The
mechanical
engineering
professor
has
demonstrated exemplary dedication to his students.
on ways to improve their learning experience in the classroom.
His approach to teaching is one of self-reflection and is student-focused. Dr. Rideout uses his personal
For Dr. Rideout, this award is all about the success
experiences as an individual and as a professor in his
of his students.
teaching, as well as his time as a student. He teaches his students that learning is a lifelong process that
“I’m very impressed by the success of our
starts with classroom interaction.
graduates, and I’m moved by the support I have received from former students. Despite this recent
“Among my graduating class, Dr. Rideout was always
recognition, I find myself at a crossroads when it
known as a candid, caring and effective professor
comes to teaching. I’m looking into doing some
who put the students first. His unique and creative
things fundamentally differently in pursuit of
teaching style makes him such an effective professor.
deeper learning and increased student ability to
He uses a variety of methods to keep students engaged,
use course concepts when they get out of here,”
most notably his props and demonstrations,” said
said Dr. Rideout.
former student Laura Pittman.
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The deep waters of Smith Sound, Trinity Bay, hold many mysteries. Why did Smith Sound have a strong and vibrant cod stock during the moratorium? What happened to vessels that sank in the 1890s during an ice storm? Are there really internal standing waves, or seiches, in the waters and what drives them? These are questions surrounding one of the longest fjords along the coast of the island, questions that no one has been able to answer. A team of researchers from Memorial’s Marine Environmental Research Laboratory for Intelligent Vehicles (MERLIN) is searching for the answers in hopes of uncovering the mysteries of Smith Sound. MERLIN researchers from the faculties of Engineering and Applied Science, Science and Arts are using an explorer-class autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) called DORA (Deep Ocean Research AUV). DORA the Explorer provides 3D images of the seafloor, information on the seafloor topography and can even detect shipwrecks on the ocean floor. During phase one, the AUV conducted a preliminary multi-beam survey from the surface. The survey provided an accurate map of the bottom of the Sound. “Existing charts for the area only provide soundings, or depth measurements, at point locations,” explained Dr. Dan Walker, lead researcher of the project. “That’s fine for a ship or boat at the surface because it’s not in danger of hitting anything in 150 or 200 metres of water.” For phase two, the AUV dove to the bottom of the ocean and mapped the seabed from approximately 20 metres altitude. “We used the multi-beam sonar again and improved the bathymetric map developed in phase one,” said Dr. Walker. “The closer the sonar is to the sea floor, the higher the resolution so we were able to see images or obstructions very clearly.” The MERLIN team wants to get a clear picture of the Sound’s seafloor. They want to know if it’s rocky, sandy or muddy, and if it’s rocky, they want to know how big the rocks are. This knowledge will help them understand why codfish were plentiful in Smith Sound during the moratorium. “The principal goal of our research was seafloor characterization, which tells us what type of sediment is on the sea floor, for example mud, silt, rock or sand,” said Dr. Walker. “Based on differing acoustic responses, we can determine patches of mud or rock. “However, some members of the team have an interest in archeology and were able to use the data we collected to establish potential locations of shipwrecks that may have occurred during the late 1800s, shipwrecks that remain a mystery today.” While the results of the survey are still being compiled and more work needs to be done, multibeam results, along with a subsequent bottom ground-truthing program using grab samples, which involves taking, or grabbing, actual samples from the sea floor to determine type of sediment, have allowed the team to develop a preliminary habitat map. Initial side-scan results have highlighted potential ship wrecks that can be explored using remotely operated vehicles and future programs will, hopefully, increase their knowledge and expertise when using AUVs to explore deeper locations.
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Gilbert Bennett
Melissa McComiskey
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On April 11-12, 2014, more than 200
parents had an opportunity to view the
regional
projects followed by the awards ceremony.
junior-high
and
high-school
science students came together at Bishop’s College for the 34th annual Eastern Regional
Members of the Eastern Newfoundland
Science and Technology Fair. In order to
Science Fair’s Council volunteered their
qualify for the regional fair, students would
time to organize the regional fair. Organizers
have competed in their school’s science
included teachers, university researchers
fairs. As with previous years, members of
and instructors, as well as other members of
the Faculty of Engineering and Applied
the local community.
Science served as judges. In addition to judging duties, the faculty On the first day, participants were treated
donated prizes and had a booth set up to
to tours, which included the Faculty of
answer any questions about engineering
Science’s departments of earth science and
programs that students and parents had.
chemistry, the faculties of engineering and
Andy Fisher, associate dean, undergraduate
medicine, C-CORE, and CREAIT, and their
studies, presented the awards on behalf of
projects were judged. On the second day,
the faculty.
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Team Memorial Baja finished 52nd out of 90 universities at the Baja
“The highlight this year was watching the car go around the
Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) competition in Peoria, Ill.,
manoeuvrability track,” he said. “It had been moving under its own
June 4-7, 2014.
power for approximately 15 minutes at that point, and we watched a lot of cars experience technical difficulties on the track. Our car
While it was the fifth consecutive year that Team Memorial competed
completed the entire course twice without incident.
at this international racing event, it was the first competition for this year’s vehicle.
“The car really is fundamentally well-designed,” he continued. “This is the strongest car yet. All the adjustments they made from last year
Baja SAE consists of three regional competitions that simulate real-
and all the forethought that went into it made for a sound car that
world engineering design projects and their related challenges.
with a little more testing and development should finish in the top
Engineering students are tasked to design and build an off-road
20 next year.”
vehicle that will survive the severe punishment of rough terrain and sometimes even water. The event also included competitions
The outgoing captain, Calvin Holloway, is equally pleased with this
in acceleration, hill climbing, manoeuvrability, suspension and
year’s performance both in terms of the new car and how the team
traction and endurance.
pulled together.
“We redesigned the entire car and were literally putting it together
“After a productive year, the team succeeded in producing a car that
on the way to the competition,” said Alex Clark, 2014 team
improved on the previous year’s design and performance,” he said.
member and 2015 co-captain. “We redesigned the front and back
“It was a great learning experience for everyone involved and the
suspensions, chassis, gear box, brakes, frame. With the new design,
minor setbacks that hurt the car’s placement will be easily rectified.
we were able to decrease the weight of the car by 20 pounds which
This will position the team for a great year of testing and optimizing
means it’s capable of going faster.”
that gives Memorial Baja a strong competitive stance for the 2015 competitions.”
Despite delays in the redesign process, the team is pleased with how the car performed. The team’s best event was acceleration with a
The team wishes to acknowledge and thank the following sponsors:
29th place finish.
Atlantic Trailer and Equipment, Cimetrix Solutions, Cliffs, Dovre Group, Hickman Automotive Group, Memorial’s Faculty of Engineering
“It was a big learning experience for us to set the goals of when we
and Applied Science and Technical Services Division, Mile 1 Harley-
needed to design it and when we needed to start fabricating,” said
Davidson, Memorial University of Newfoundland Student Union
Jumana Joury, 2014 team member and 2015 co-captain. “We also case
(MUNSU), Newfoundland Distributors, NAPA Auto Parts, The Angus
hardened our own gears – a process we learned about in class. It was a
Bruneau Student Leadership and Innovation Fund in Engineering (LIFE)
great experience to be able to apply it.”
Program, PAL Airlines, Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador (PEGNL), Quality Transport Component,
Dr. Geoff Rideout, a mechanical engineering professor and teacher
Rideout Tools and Machine Inc., Russell Metals and Women in Science
sponsor for the team, says the team members came together leading
and Engineering (WISE).
up to the event to produce what he believes is the strongest Memorial Baja to date.
For more about Team Memorial Baja, go to www.memorialbaja.com.
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For the second year in a row, two undergraduate engineering
Andy Fisher, associate dean, undergraduate engineering, believes
students from Memorial are the recipients of the Peter Kohler
that scholarships like the Peter Kohler Scholarship have far greater
Scholarship.
impact than just a financial one for students like Mr. Loveless and Ms. Jerrett.
First-year students Skyler Loveless from Seal Cove, Fortune Bay and Toni Jerrett from Clarke’s Beach were chosen from 39 applicants
“We are very proud of Skyler and Toni. For students from Memorial
from Atlantic Canada to receive this substantial award. Mr. Loveless
to win this scholarship two years in a row speaks to the calibre of
will receive $50,000 over four years, while Ms. Jerrett will receive
our students,” he said. “We believe it is important for all of our
$5,000 for the 2014-15 academic year.
students to aim for excellence and to have confidence in themselves. Financial awards like the Peter Kohler Scholarship not only enable
The students, who both plan to study mechanical engineering,
students to become more financially independent, but they also
are very grateful to Mr. Kohler for the awards. While they say the
teach the value of hard work and self-confidence.”
funding means eating better and increased time for their academics, it’s also about working hard at everything they do.
Last year’s recipients were Mark Elliott and Brandon Fitzpatrick.
“I was thinking about getting a part time job but was afraid of
The
how it would impact my studies and now I don’t have to,” said
Community Foundation of Nova Scotia. It is a scholarship fund
Mr. Loveless. “I work really hard to get good grades. When some of
for engineering students in Atlantic Canada, and to be eligible,
my friends were playing sports, I was inside studying to try and get
applicants must be enrolled full-time in an engineering program
accepted into engineering.”
at a university in Atlantic Canada. The scholarship is based upon
Peter
Kohler
Scholarship
is
administered
through
the
academic standing and financial need, and eligible to be renewed “I feel all the dedication and hard work I put in throughout high
by the award winner for up to four years, provided that the
school and with other activities really paid off,” said Ms. Jerrett.
student maintains a reasonable standing in his/her program.
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