City of Oshawa awards Certificate of Recognition to UOIT for on-campus high school robotics competition
February 6, 2007
University praised for encouraging teamwork and introducing youth to careers in engineering
OSHAWA, Ont. - Because push came to shove at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) last December, the City of Oshawa has honoured the university's Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science with a Certificate of Recognition for hosting an on-campus robotics competition that encouraged dozens of high school students to be creative, work in teams, and learn all about the amazing world of engineering.City of Oshawa Mayor John Gray presented the award to organizers of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science's first Engineering Robotics Competition during the February 5 meeting of Oshawa council. Mayor Gray noted the hard work that went into the event held December 3, 2006, including the opportunities afforded to the young students, and the positive community outreach.
"It truly is a wonderful honour to receive this Certificate of Recognition from Mayor Gray and the City of Oshawa," said Dr. Marc Rosen, dean of UOIT's Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science. "Organizers of the robotics competition worked long hours to make the event a truly valuable learning experience for dozens of young students across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Thanks to those efforts, these students learned the importance of teamwork in striving towards a common goal, were introduced to the vast range of innovative and challenging career opportunities that come with studying engineering, and most importantly, achieved all this while having a great time and meeting new friends at our Oshawa campus."
The competition featured teams of high school students facing off in a battle of Sumobots, robots that utilized stealth technology to evade and detect opponents during a tournament of one-on-one battles. Match winners were decided when one robot was able to push another out of the ring or into a pit. In the weeks leading up to the competition, fourth-year UOIT Manufacturing Engineering students worked with each high school team as they built their Sumobots.
"What truly made this competition a success is the mentoring that UOIT's faculty, students, and staff provided to the high school students," said Dr. Ramiro Liscano, an associate professor at UOIT and the project lead for the competition. "This will have a long-term impact on the students in their studies and potentially in their choice of career paths. Young students are often not aware of the possibilities and opportunities that come with a career in engineering or applied science. From the birth of an idea, to design and implementation, engineering impacts every aspect of our lives. The robotics competition helped introduce a new generation of students to the potential life-altering work that can come with a career in engineering."
UOIT Faculty of Engineering team members honoured by the City included Dr. Rosen; Dr. Liscano; Dr. Scott Nokleby, an assistant professor; Dr. Mikael Eklund, an assistant professor; and Cliff Chan, an engineering laboratory specialist. In addition, Joe Stokes, an admissions liaison officer with UOIT was also recognized.
Along with introducing students to the world of engineering and associated career possibilities, the competition served to strengthen UOIT's ties with educational partners and the community at large. A crowd of approximately 200 people, including family members, friends, faculty, and other UOIT leaders, were all on hand to encourage the participants during the event which was held in the Science building. In addition, guest judges from such businesses as General Motors, Three Wise Men, and event sponsor BRIC Engineered Systems Limited took part as well.
"The City of Oshawa is very pleased to recognize UOIT's Engineering Robotics Competition and its organizers for delivering a fun and academically challenging event to high school students in Oshawa and across the GTA," said Mayor Gray. "The City places high value on activities and events that are geared towards providing the youth in our community with the experiences and tools that will help them become our leaders of tomorrow."
Mayor Gray also presented a Certificate of Recognition to members of the robotics competition's winning team, seven students from Oshawa's Eastdale Collegiate and Vocational Institute. The students, their teachers and school leaders proudly accepted recognition for their terrific teamwork.
UOIT's Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science strives to become one of the foremost Engineering and Applied Science faculties in Canada through high-quality and innovative programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, high-calibre and value-added research, excellence in education and research, and exceptional students and graduates who are prepared to be productive professionals and leaders of tomorrow.
The university expects to expand the competition in 2007, offering even more opportunities for high school students to learn about engineering in a fun and informative format.
About UOIT
As an innovative university, UOIT delivers a leading-edge learning environment that uniquely combines academic knowledge, research opportunities, hands-on skills and a vibrant student life. UOIT's 4,300 students are taught by professors who are experts in their fields from around the world. As Ontario's first laptop-based university, UOIT offers more than 30 challenging undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the fields of Business and Information Technology, Criminology, Justice and Policy Studies, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences, and Sciences. UOIT's commitment to research excellence has resulted in millions of dollars in grants and awards, including several Canada Research Chairs. To find out more, visit www.uoit.ca or call 905.721.8668.
About Ontario Tech University
A modern, forwarding-thinking university, Ontario Tech advances the discovery and application of knowledge to accelerate economic growth, regional development and social innovation. We inspire and equip our students and our graduates to make a positive impact in a tech-focused world. For us, it’s not only about developing the next tech breakthrough. Understanding and integrating the social and ethical implications of technology differentiates us as university. Learn more at ontariotechu.ca.
Media contact
Allison Rosnak
Communications and Marketing
Ontario Tech University
905.721.3111 ext. 2513
allison.rosnak@uoit.ca
