Tour Builds Awareness of World's Landmine Problem

BY MARY GRACE DE GUZMAN University of Calgary Student Contributor

The effects of landmines have plagued war-torn countries for years, and their devastating results of human casualty and injury are still very much a reality. To educate and create awareness about this horrific problem, Engineers Without Borders, Calgary Chapter, and Lynn Dickson (youth mine action ambassador for the Canadian Red Cross, Southern Alberta Region) organized a tour of the Canadian Centre For Mines Action Technology in Suffield, Alta.

About 15 students from the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta visited the site on Nov. 12. They were educated on the various types of landmines and the current technology available to de-miners, and witnessed demonstrations of actual landmine detonations.

Tara Dorscher and Carl Roett accept their first-place award for their design of the Intellicharge Solar Battery Charger to help international demining programs (above); and a student tries on demining equipment during a Canadian Centre for Mines Action Technology tour.

Since 1997 and the ratification of an historic treaty in Ottawa - where more than 120 countries agreed to ban the manufacture, distribution and use of anti-personnel land mines - Mines Action Canada has been holding a design competition. The objective of the competition is to engage the ingenuity and creativity of Canadian engineering students in generating new solutions to the practical problems of removing landmines.

Last year, teams from the University of Calgary's Engineering Faculty placed first and second in the competition. The winning teams were honoured at the EWB Project Night on Nov. 17.

Tara Dorscher and Carl Roett placed first and won $5,000 for their design of the Intellicharge Solar Battery Charger. Second prize and $2,500 was awarded to Brian Lim, Michael Moriarty, Katrina Brandstadt and Kristjan Gottfried for their Demining Mat.

Calgary Branch Executive Committee 2001

Both teams received a cash prize from the Canadian Auto Workers Social Justice Fund. Also, the faculty was presented with a special plaque, donated by the Canadian Mine Explosive Ordnance Security Organization and in recognition of the faculty's ongoing support of the competition.

Various teams have already registered for the next competition and are currently hard at work.

Pie Throw Update
The Squad - students armored in white coveralls bearing markings of the symbol for Pi on their backs - were in full force again this year, Nov. 27 to 29. To honour this annual event, Dean of Engineering Dr. Chan Wirasinghe, P.Eng., and University of Calgary President Harvey P. Weingarten kicked off the opening ceremonies of Pie Throw Days - by getting pied themselves.

This year, the engineering students made various stops around the city. Besides stopping at classrooms all around campus, the students visited various high schools such as Western Canada, Lord Diefenbaker and Henry Wisewood. Some of the participating companies were SNC Lavalin, Baker Petrolite, Consumer Rentals, Direct Energy, several dental offices and Worldlink Transportation Ltd. In the end, 400 pies were thrown in three days!

"It is a creative way for engineering students to give back to the community by raising money for a local charity and having fun too," says Curtis Sim, president of the Engineering Students' Society. During the three days more than $3,500 was raised for the Calgary Urban Projects Society.

The success of Pie Throw can be attributed to many people. Thus, the Engineering Students' Society would like to thank all volunteers, faculty members and industry supporters who participated. As for those of you found yourselves the target of the ? Squad, the Engineering Students' Society reminds you that retribution is yours - next year.

Scary Days
A thick fog hovered just over the ground. Faint screams echoed and resonated through the corridors. And every once in a while, undertakers, mummies, mad scientists and even witches were spotted scurrying through the building. Despite the terrifying scene, a line of children waited outside eagerly - and a little anxiously - to get in.

In October the University of Calgary Engineering Students' Society held its annual Halloween Haunted House fundraiser at Northland Village Mall. Children were guided through a maze of rooms, which were decorated as graveyards, experimental laboratories and dungeons. Each day students from each department volunteered their time to raise money and have some fun.

All the donations made from those visiting the haunted house went to UNICEF - a total of $1369.69.

GUSS Says Thanks
The University of Calgary Geophysics Undergraduate Student Society thanks the following sponsors for their donations:

· Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.
· Burlington Resources Canada
· Dominion Exploration Canada Ltd.
· PennWest Petroleum Ltd.

Their generous contributions to the society will significantly enrich the geophysical undergraduate experience for GUSS members. The financial aid will go towards the costs of GUSS members attending the Western Inter-University Geology Conference in Regina in January, and towards other educational field trips.

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