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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.
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| 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. |
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.
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.
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Calgary Branch Executive Committee
2001
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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.
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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