Ontario Tech University student team takes checkered flag at OCE Discovery Showcase

Ontario Tech University Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) team has won top honours in the province at the prestigious 2010 Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) Discovery Showcase held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

UOIT's Formula SAE team of automotive engineers designed and built a scaled-down Formula style car that helped them capture top prize in the Best Connections Project (university level) at OCE. During the two-day event, members of the Ontario Tech University team presented the findings of their project entitled Mechanical Property Enhancement of a FSAE Body Structure Utilizing Composite Materials, an effort generously sponsored by industry partners Multimatic Technical Solutions Inc. of Markham, Ontario and Durmach Tool and Die of Bowmanville, Ontario.

In addition to receiving the accolades of John Milloy, Ontario Minister of Research and Innovation (MRI) for their student project, Ontario Tech University's winning entry also received a $2,000 cash prize. Earlier in May, the esteemed panel of judges for OCE Discovery Days had narrowed down the field of Connections projects from 15 universities to just five entries for the final competition.

"This is an amazing achievement by our students and represents yet another huge milestone for both Ontario Tech University Motorsports and our entire faculty," said Dr. Ahmad Barari, a lecturer with the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (FEAS) who is also the SAE team's faculty advisor. "Our students have put in countless hours designing and building a new and improved chassis for the car. It is wonderful that the team's innovative ideas and technological advancements are being recognized by OCE."

OCE is the pre-eminent research-to-commercialization agency in Ontario. Each year, OCE invests up to $3,500 per team in individual university and college Connections projects. The projects connect students with industry partners who then work together to create, innovate and solve existing technological problems. This year, the Ontario Power Authority joined with OCE to encourage the incorporation of energy-conserving technology among the projects.

"Winning at OCE Discovery Days is a perfect way to thank everyone who has supported our team," said Sam Ashtiani, a fourth-year automotive engineering student at UOIT. "We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the help of everyone, from Dr. Barari, Hidayat Shahid and others in FEAS who helped us with mechanical testing, to Multimatic and Durmach and Magton for allowing us to use their shop and state-of-the-art tools and machinery. In addition, for those of us who are graduating, it is very satisfying to leave with the team capturing an award like this.

"For Ontario Tech University to be recognized for excellence and innovation in front of about 2,500 individuals who had come together strictly for those purposes is very impressive," said Dr. Ann Dulhanty, manager, Office of Technology Transfer and Commercialization at Ontario Tech University. "What also distinguished Ontario Tech University's Connections team was an acknowledgement during the presentation that the experience has helped all of them learn how to work with industry, which is a huge challenge in industry-academic collaborations."

With the victory at OCE Discovery Days under their belts, members of the Ontario Tech University Motorsports team will head to the United States to test their new vehicle model on the racetrack at the next Formula SAE competition, scheduled for the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California from June 16 to 19.

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.