UOIT student engineering team receives national award for safety innovation
April 17, 2007
Students place second in Minerva Canada James Ham Safe Design Awards contest
OSHAWA, Ont. - The University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) announced today that members of a UOIT student engineering team have been recognized with a second-place finish in the Minerva Canada James Ham Safe Design Awards contest. The team, comprised of fourth-year engineering students Mark Bernacki, Matt Van Wieringen, Mike MacLeod and Ben Fagan, received the award for their design of an innovative automatic door opening mechanism that stores energy in the form of compressed air each time the door is manually opened.
"As fourth-year engineering students about to embark on exciting careers in the wide-ranging field of engineering, my teammates and I are thrilled to receive this award," said MacLeod.
The goal of the Minerva Canada James Ham Safe Design Awards is to encourage the development of new, innovative designs that will eliminate or reduce potential hazards, and the creation of tools to help manufacturers and workplaces integrate safety into new or retrofitted designs. The long-term goal of the awards also includes a reduction in workplace illnesses and injuries as a result of safety-conscious planning and design.
"While the energy stored from the mechanism could be utilized in many different ways, our prototype uses it to power the automatic opening function of the door for physically challenged users," added MacLeod. "The door will not only remain functional to individuals who would otherwise be confined within the building during an emergency situation or power loss, but also provide energy savings during normal use because it does not rely on electricity for operation."
Dr. Remon Pop-Iliev, an associate professor of Mechanical Engineering with the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science and NSERC-GMCL Chair in Innovative Design Engineering, was the project's academic sponsor. The project was originally a part of his fourth-year Capstone Design course. When Bernacki, Van Wieringen, MacLeod and Fagan won an internal competition among their peers for their automatic door mechanism, Dr. Pop-Iliev suggested that they submit the design to the Minerva Canada competition.
"We regard design engineering as the central focus of the engineering profession because it provides practical solutions to tangible problems," said Dr. Pop-Iliev. "Our design strategy is founded on creating a strong design engineering focus and providing the basis for training students in both critical thinking and engineering competence. This approach ensures our students are prepared to be the outstanding professionals and leaders of tomorrow, as evidenced by this award."
The Minerva Canada contest, which honours well-known engineer James Ham, was made possible through funding from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario. Ham's Royal Commission Report on Health and Safety led to the creation of Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act and to the adoption of the Internal Responsibility System in Ontario workplaces. Trained as an engineer with a secondary field of study in sociology, he was awarded the Order of Canada in 1980 and died in 1997.
"James Ham believed that the engineering profession should serve society by the creation, management and maintenance of systems, processes and products to meet human needs," said Dr. Marc Rosen, dean of the UOIT Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science. "I am proud that our engineering students have been recognized for their leadership role in practising safety-conscious planning and design and this honour confirms that UOIT's leading-edge programming is achieving our faculty's goals of innovative education, student success, and research excellence for the betterment of society."
UOIT's Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science strives to offer excellence in education, high-calibre and value-added research, and innovative market-driven undergraduate and graduate programs in areas such as Mechanical, Manufacturing, Automotive, Software and Electrical Engineering, and Engineering and Management. Many programs are unique to
Ontario and even Canada.
UOIT engineering students were also recognized with first- and third-place finishes at the Ontario Student Engineering Competition held in Ottawa in February 2007.
About UOIT
As the province's newest university, UOIT provides a unique combination of academic knowledge, vibrant student life, leading-edge research, and hands-on skills. As Ontario's first laptop-based university, UOIT offers career-focused undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the fields of business and information technology, sciences, engineering, nursing, social science, and education. The university is committed to research excellence and has attracted significant research grants and awards including five Canada Research Chairs. Sharing facilities and selected services with Durham College, UOIT has attracted over 4,000 students since its inception in 2003. To find out more, visit www.uoit.ca or call 905.721.8668.
OSHAWA, Ont. - The University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) announced today that members of a UOIT student engineering team have been recognized with a second-place finish in the Minerva Canada James Ham Safe Design Awards contest. The team, comprised of fourth-year engineering students Mark Bernacki, Matt Van Wieringen, Mike MacLeod and Ben Fagan, received the award for their design of an innovative automatic door opening mechanism that stores energy in the form of compressed air each time the door is manually opened.
"As fourth-year engineering students about to embark on exciting careers in the wide-ranging field of engineering, my teammates and I are thrilled to receive this award," said MacLeod.
The goal of the Minerva Canada James Ham Safe Design Awards is to encourage the development of new, innovative designs that will eliminate or reduce potential hazards, and the creation of tools to help manufacturers and workplaces integrate safety into new or retrofitted designs. The long-term goal of the awards also includes a reduction in workplace illnesses and injuries as a result of safety-conscious planning and design.
"While the energy stored from the mechanism could be utilized in many different ways, our prototype uses it to power the automatic opening function of the door for physically challenged users," added MacLeod. "The door will not only remain functional to individuals who would otherwise be confined within the building during an emergency situation or power loss, but also provide energy savings during normal use because it does not rely on electricity for operation."
Dr. Remon Pop-Iliev, an associate professor of Mechanical Engineering with the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science and NSERC-GMCL Chair in Innovative Design Engineering, was the project's academic sponsor. The project was originally a part of his fourth-year Capstone Design course. When Bernacki, Van Wieringen, MacLeod and Fagan won an internal competition among their peers for their automatic door mechanism, Dr. Pop-Iliev suggested that they submit the design to the Minerva Canada competition.
"We regard design engineering as the central focus of the engineering profession because it provides practical solutions to tangible problems," said Dr. Pop-Iliev. "Our design strategy is founded on creating a strong design engineering focus and providing the basis for training students in both critical thinking and engineering competence. This approach ensures our students are prepared to be the outstanding professionals and leaders of tomorrow, as evidenced by this award."
The Minerva Canada contest, which honours well-known engineer James Ham, was made possible through funding from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario. Ham's Royal Commission Report on Health and Safety led to the creation of Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act and to the adoption of the Internal Responsibility System in Ontario workplaces. Trained as an engineer with a secondary field of study in sociology, he was awarded the Order of Canada in 1980 and died in 1997.
"James Ham believed that the engineering profession should serve society by the creation, management and maintenance of systems, processes and products to meet human needs," said Dr. Marc Rosen, dean of the UOIT Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science. "I am proud that our engineering students have been recognized for their leadership role in practising safety-conscious planning and design and this honour confirms that UOIT's leading-edge programming is achieving our faculty's goals of innovative education, student success, and research excellence for the betterment of society."
UOIT's Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science strives to offer excellence in education, high-calibre and value-added research, and innovative market-driven undergraduate and graduate programs in areas such as Mechanical, Manufacturing, Automotive, Software and Electrical Engineering, and Engineering and Management. Many programs are unique to
Ontario and even Canada.
UOIT engineering students were also recognized with first- and third-place finishes at the Ontario Student Engineering Competition held in Ottawa in February 2007.
-30-
About UOIT
As the province's newest university, UOIT provides a unique combination of academic knowledge, vibrant student life, leading-edge research, and hands-on skills. As Ontario's first laptop-based university, UOIT offers career-focused undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the fields of business and information technology, sciences, engineering, nursing, social science, and education. The university is committed to research excellence and has attracted significant research grants and awards including five Canada Research Chairs. Sharing facilities and selected services with Durham College, UOIT has attracted over 4,000 students since its inception in 2003. 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
Tony Doyle
Communications and Marketing
Ontario Tech University
905.721.8668 ext. 2209
tony.doyle@uoit.ca
