Debate | Issue 2 | The Tech Issue

DEBATE Issue 2 | March 2018

the tech issue 1

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Contents

Dating Glitches :: Page 20

Explain Like I'm Five: Foils Page 10

It's Not Rocket Science Page 14

AI: Is It Really That Smart?

Page 22

MEGA-Burger-BYTE Recipe Page 32

C OV E R I L L U S T R AT I O N BY H O P E M C C O N N E L L

EDITOR Julie Cleaver debate@aut.ac.nz DESIGNER Ramina Rai rrai@aut.ac.nz ADVERTISING Samuel Hames samuel.hames@aut.ac.nz

CONTRIBUTORS Angel Chen, Benjamin Matthews, Eleanor Macfehin, Hope McConnell, Jean Bell, Kurt Schmidt, Lydia Burgham, Majdi Khamis, Melissa Koh, Sarah Pollok, Shivani Rajan, Simran Singh

PRINTER Nicholson Print Solutions DISCLAIMER

Material contained in this publication does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of AUTSA, its advertisers, contributors, Nicholson Print Solutions or its subsidiaries.

Debate is a member of the Aotearoa Student Press Association (ASPA).

This publication is entitled to the full protection given by the Copyright Act 1994 (“the Act”) to the holders of the copyright, being AUT STUDENT ASSOCIATION (“AUTSA”). Reproduction, storage or display of any part of this publication by any process, electronic or otherwise (except for the educational purposes specified in the Act) without express permission is a break of the copyright of the publisher and will be prosecuted accordingly. Inquiries seeking permission to reproduce should be addressed to AUTSA.

PUBLISHED BY

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Editor’s Letter

Although Musk is infamous for underestimating his timelines, still, the fact that he is even thinking about going to Mars and actually taking steps towards making this happen is nearly inspirational enough to make me quit journalism and start studying engineering (nearly…).

Welcome to The Tech Issue!

It’s easy to be negative towards new technology. Smart phones stop us from ever truly being able to switch off, computers and desk jobs are depressing and ruin our minds and bodies, and don’t even get me started on social media and the mammoth trigger word that is ‘Facebook’.

I get it. Some new technology is created with the sole purpose of making money and its inventors don’t consider the impact their product will have on people’s lives. But, on the other hand, there is a lot of insanely cool new technology out there that could make the world, or the universe, a hell of a lot better.

Take SpaceX. This company was founded by Elon Musk, who cocreated PayPal, Tesla and The Boring Company, among others, and who, in my opinion, is a modern-day Einstein. Musk’s mission with SpaceX is to get humans to Mars – not just to walk on Mars, but to actually live on Mars. He wants to create a ‘multiplanet species’ in the near future. By the 2060s, Musk says he will have put one million people on Mars, which is sort of the craziest ‘new year new me’ goal I have ever heard.

His reasoning for wanting to do this? There are several, but I heard him say in an interview once that he just wants to create a future that doesn’t suck. As well as ensuring humankind’s survival (minor goals), he also wants to inspire the human race and help get us out of bed in the morning, which, I think, is rather beautiful.

There’s a lot of other inspiring stuff happening with technology, like a New Zealander who created a rocket company, artificial intelligence, new apps that make it easier to study and more, and you can read about all of these topics in this issue of Debate.

We’ve also got info about how and where engineering students can find internships, news about what’s up with the new engineering building, a personal piece on online dating, as well as our usual stuff, like blind dates, puzzles, a student-created recipe and more.

I hope you enjoy your week, and good luck with those first assignment deadlines that are probably creeping up!

Julie

Can't get enough of Debate? Check out our website, like or follow us on social media, or email the editor to get involved. www.debatemag.com

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What's On?

Cheap, free and koha events around town

Pasifika Festival

ICT and Engineering Careers Fair

Where: Western Springs Park When: 24 March at 9am – 25 March at 4pm (two days) What: Experience the culture, food and festivities of 11 different Pacific Island nations all at the same time. This family-friendly event is a great way to experience the diversity of our Pacific whanau and celebrate what makes Aotearoa and its inhabitants unique and special. It’s also a lot of fun with a lot of great food available to buy.

How much: Free

Where: WA224 – The Conference Centre, City Campus When: Wednesday 25 July, 11am – 2pm What: Meet a bunch of employers keen to hire budding ICT and Engineering professionals like yourself, including Fiserv, Xero, ASB, NZ Defence Force, FAstNZ, TechCommNZ, DXC Technology and more. Open to all first, second, and third year and postgraduate students. Some of them even have part-time positions to fill, summer internships and graduate programmes on offer.

How much: Free

Google Event ‘Kaggle Codelab’

Air New Zealand ‘Design Thinking’ Event

Where: WA224A When: Monday 26 March, 11 – 1pm What: In this ‘Kaggle Codelab’ event you will complete an introduction to machine learning by predicting house prices using a Kaggle Kernel and submit your predicts to a Kaggle Competition. It will be a fun event with lunch included. This event is held by She#, which is an initiative designed to bridge the gender gap in STEM professions for women. Open to all female STEM students and males if you come along with a female. Register on their website. Places are limited: www.shesharp.co.nz/upcoming-events/.

How Much: $5 for students and $10 for professionals

Where: The HUB auditorium, Air New Zealand Ltd Head Office, 185 Fanshawe Street, Auckland When: March 20, 5pm – 8pm What: Get an insight into how Air New Zealand develops world class experiences for its customers. This event is held by She#, which is an initiative designed to bridge the gender gap in STEM professions for women. The event is open to all female STEM students and males if you come along with a female.

Register on their website. Places are limited: www.shesharp.co.nz/upcoming-events/.

How much: $5 for students and $10 for professionals

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o'week :: by the numbers Twice a year, AUTSA’s incredible events team put together a killer O’Week and Re-O’Week for all AUT students. Find out how this year’s O’Week went, according to the stats.

2100 people served free food (Campus Kai) throughout the week 2100 people served free food (Campus Kai) throughout the week 1050 free burgers 1050 free burgers 1050 freefree sausages 1050 sausages 200 servings of couscous roast 200 freefree servings of couscous andand roast vegveg 200 people competing in 33 pub quiz teams 200 people competing in 33 pub quiz teams 150 people in the doors on comedy night 150 people attended comedy night 1200 through the door on Friday night for AUTSA’s gig, Hikuwai Sounds 1200 through the door on Friday night for AUTSA’s gig, Hikuwai Sounds Got ideas about events you would like to see around campus?

Contact AUTSA’s Event’s Manager, Imogen, with your thoughts: imogen.brade@aut.ac.nz

news

Engineering Building Scheduled to Open Semester Two Construction of the new Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences building, WZ, will be complete in April and open for classes on day one of Semester Two, according to Professor Enrico Haemmerle, the Dean of Engineering and Head of School of Engineering, Computer & Mathematical Sciences.

The pedestrian path connecting St. Paul Street and Mount Street will also open day one of Semester Two. Although the building was planned to open Semester One this year, Professor Haemmerle says the project was delayed due to challenges with demolishing the carpark that was there originally.

“There was a small delay with decommissioning the carpark.

Initially we hoped to have it open first semester, but it just took longer to take down the carpark than anticipated.”

According to Professor Haemmerle, WZ is the biggest investment AUT has made on one building. He says this investment reflects the department’s growth and need for a more collaborative space.

The growth in the department arises from the engineering, computer and mathematical sciences faculties joining together two years ago. In recent years, the school also introduced several new programmes, including construction and architectural engineering, as well as mechatronics and software engineering.

Professor Haemmerle says these new programmes and steady growth in general has made the faculty the second largest school in the university.

“We have over 3,000 EFTS (Equivalent Full-time Students), and in terms of revenue, we’re likely the largest at AUT. Also, about a quarter of all PhD students at the university are in our School.

“This is why we needed the new building; to provide space for these students and also bring some of the different students together in one location.”

The new City Campus building is road-facing on both Symonds Street and St. Paul Street. Professor Haemmerle says the position, as well as the special design of the building, will open the classrooms up to the public and showcase what the university does.

The building will have a café and new workspaces for students.

The level 3 project room will also have a digital ceiling that allows every light point to be monitored individually, providing a range of user and environmental feedback about the building.

In regards to the name of the building, WZ, Professor Haemmerle says it has no significance, but was the only letter left on the City Campus that could be used.

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AUT’s Engineering, ICT and Math Students Only 20% Female This year only 20 percent of all students studying Engineering, Computing or Mathematical Sciences are female, according to Jenny Bygrave, Assistant VC Strategy, Students and Marketing at AUT. In engineering degrees, the proportion of females is lower than the school overall, at 18.1 percent.

The number of females studying tech is significantly lower than the demographic of the university, as AUT’s overall student population is 61 percent female and 39 percent male (as of 31 December 2016).

However, Bygrave says the number of females studying in these fields is on the rise.

“In 2013, female students constituted 12.9 percent of total, but the proportion has grown steadily,” says Bygrave.

Dr Mahsa Mohaghegh, an AUT lecturer in Information Technology and Software Engineering Department, as well as the founder and director of women’s tech

initiative She#, says there were not many females studying STEM when she was at university and still aren’t many today.

some people like you out there that are working in these fields – you can’t really imagine yourself being that person.

“When I was a student, I was always part of the minority, and during my Master’s Degree, I was the only female out of 50 guys in the class,” says Mahsa.

“And I think providing more role models and connecting girls, especially early on, is the best solution. I even think high school is too late. The 2015 OECD survey shows that in New Zealand, only three percent of 15-yearold high school girls consider tech as a career. Only three percent!”

She then moved to Massey to do her PhD and was the only woman studying once again out of a class of “five or six” guys.

“Then I started lecturing and saw that there is exactly the same problem happening because in a class I was teaching first semester last year, which was around 200 students, I had less than 10 girls in my class.

This is less than 10 percent, and I’m just noticing things not getting any better.”

As to why Mahsa believes there are so few females compared with males in STEM fields, she believes young girls have not had enough female role models in the past.

“You can’t be who you can’t see. If you don’t have a role model – if you can’t really see

Mahsa created the initiative She#, which aims to bridge the gender gap in STEM professions by providing networking events for women.

“And for high school girls, it’s just really to find out about what’s going on in this field, so maybe we can inspire them; maybe we can change their minds. But for me, it’s really giving them the opportunity to make informative decisions.”

Find out more about She#: www.shesharp.co.nz

Engineering Internship Opportunities

By Sarah Pollok It seems like just yesterday you were a passionate first-year Engineering student, armed with limitless grid paper and newly installed Matlab software as you tackled the fundamentals of fluid mechanics. Yet, all too suddenly, third year has rolled around and your biggest challenge isn’t group assignments, practically applying thermodynamics, or testing how little sleep you can function on… it’s internships. As seemingly overnight everyone – even that one kid who never shows up to class – has a position lined up and ready to go. So if you’re yet to get yourself a foot in the door, check out our handy hit list of companies hungry for bright young things, just like you!

PureDepth Based in New Zealand, PureDepth is a company that specialises in optics, imaging, software and content creation.

After their Multi-Layer Display technology

domineered global markets, they’re making an exciting move into automotive vehicle displays. So if you’re gunning for a future in mechatronics engineering, software engineering, graphics or UI/UX, then head over to puredepth.com and drop them an email!

Auckland Council Free next summer? Auckland Council’s three-month internship programme might be for you! Running from November to February, you’ll get the chance to develop your skills and establish your career all while getting paid! So if you’re in your second to last year of a bachelor’s degree, or currently in postgrad study, then get your application in before 18th March!

EY So you’re going to graduate with an ICT/ Engineering degree, but what is gonna

make you stand out? Ernst and Young reckon it’s their internship program. Taking a hands on approach, EY upskill you, then allow you to apply what you’ve learnt to current client projects. As added bonuses, you’ll get the chance to attend their Intern Leadership Conference in Florida and a potential full-time position for those who impress. All students in their penultimate (second-to-last) year are welcome!

Fletcher Building If ‘invaluable real life experience’ sounds like the goods, then maybe the Fletcher Building Summer Internship Program is for you! Tailored for students in their second or third year of study, you’ll gain hands on experience over the summer, with impressive applicants often invited to stay on as trainees. With applications opening in June, keep your eye on the careers page on their website.

Well, there you have it! So polish up that CV, iron out that power suit and get applying, because these programmes won’t be open for long!

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Explain Like I'm Five How do foils generate lift?

Every issue our resident engineer and all-round smart person Kurt Schmidt explains complex stuff so a five-year-old could understand it (admittedly, a pretty smart five-year-old). Illustrations by Hope McConnell.

What is it?

How they work

You may have never heard of foils, but they’re used in heaps of things, like aeroplanes, windmills and sea vessels. Put simply, a foil is an object that generates lift when it moves through a liquid or is placed in a moving liquid. Foils have recently become a buzzword in water sports: just think of the recent America's Cup yachts, hovering the Kiwis to a first-place podium finish.

The modern realisation that the drag caused by a vessel’s hull (the bottom of a boat) is significantly larger than the drag created by a foil has caused enthusiasts to capitalise on this effect by adding them to all sorts of sea vessels, like surfboards, kiteboards and even kayaks. One just has to watch Kai Lenny surfing 11 consecutive waves without stopping to question how the heck do these things work. So how is it that these foils can lift an object out of the water or off the ground?

Here’s how they work: every object gets pulled towards the earth by a force called weight, which is a product of both gravity and mass. Weight’s opposing force is something called lift, and foils generate lift (as in, they make things fly).

Lift therefore cancels out the effects of gravity. Lift can only occur in the presence of a moving fluid, so no fluid means no lift. (Remember air, water and Vodka Cruisers are all considered fluids.) It doesn’t matter if the foil is stationary and the fluid is moving (as with a kite on a windy day), or if the fluid is stationary and the foil is moving through it (as with a soaring jet on a windless day). What really matters is the relative difference in speeds between the foil and the fluid. That’s because if there is no motion, there’s no lift. We’ll cover that very soon.

We have lift off!

There are two ways of describing how lift occurs. For the first way of describing lift, let's imagine a paper plane being thrown in the air. The flown plane moves through the fluid (air) and as this happens the air then turns downwards to get out of the way of the plane. Since the air is turning downwards, it is lifting up the plane, hence how the plane can fly. Remember that guy Newton? Probably not, you are five, after all. Anyway, he said for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. So in this case, as the fluid (air) turns down, the equal and opposite reaction is that the plane goes up. And voila, we have lift! Also, fun fact: for an aircraft wing and some other foils, the upper and lower surfaces both turn the fluid, and hence contribute to lift.

A little confusing, but another way we have lift off Continuing with the paper plane analogy, for the second way of describing lift, we can look at why the fluid (in this instance, air) follows the shape of the foil (in this instance, a wing) instead of moving in a straight path. So, if a fluid is travelling in an arc (like the air travelling over a paper aeroplane wing), to do this the outside of the arc must have a higher pressure than the inside of the arc. In the case of our foil (the paper plane), the air flowing over the top of the wing curves downwards, meaning the pressure at the wing’s surface on top is lower than atmospheric pressure. On the underside of the wing, the air flow is also curving downwards, meaning that the pressure at the wing’s surface here is higher than atmospheric pressure. Because the pressure is lower than atmospheric pressure on the top of the wing and higher at the bottom of the wing, the wing generates lift. A bit confusing, but that’s probably the simplest definition you will find anywhere.

Here’s something for the engineers: Looking at a computational fluid dynamics analysis one can see this pressure distribution more clearly. The net pressure over the foil is upwards and when this acts over the entire surface area of the foil it generates lift.

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Study Hacks Eleanor Macfehin from Student Services shares some study tips and tricks to help you make the most of AUT’s free tech offerings and your device.

Read to me Squeezing in time to do course readings is always a challenge.

Here’s a tip: by downloading your course resources off Blackboard and using a ‘text to speech’ (TTS) app, you can listen to your readings on your phone when walking to class or on that hour-long commute. Most apps also highlight the part of the document as it is being read aloud., which is handy.

You can start with TTS, which is an artificial voice that reads rendered text and can be configured with options of voice, speed, and pitch. Another good way to get started is to try an app like NaturalReader, which has a free version for Mac and Windows.

Picture this Taking a photo of a page in a book, the whiteboard, a webpage or a mind map can be used to great advantage – but the possibilities are greatly increased if combined with MS OneNote and MS Office Lens.

MS Office Lens is available as a free download on the app store and has both document and whiteboard capture features, which help translate the image into useable text with autocorrection for perspective (useful when photographing at a slight angle) and OCR (Optical Character Recognition) which creates an editable text document. If you have MS OneNote open, an image

captured through MS Office Lens is saved automatically to a OneNote folder.

I hear you Need to go over an explanation? (Think maths.) Record it! MS OneNote has an audio-recorder, so capturing an audio file into OneNote is automatic.

Don’t forget the basics Have a look at the ‘Accessibility’ category under general settings on your phone. Customisation includes options for vision, hearing, interaction, text formatting, subtitles and audio descriptions. If you have specific vision, hearing or other requirements, you may find settings here which improve your phone experience.

Online training It is free for AUT students to use lynda.com online training videos. Enter ‘aut.ac.nz’ in the ‘use your organisation’ option and log-in with your AUT username and password. Training videos cover a huge range of topics. Check out ‘Monday Productivity Pointers’ – the weekly series for tools and tips to help make today’s software and devices work more efficiently and powerfully for you.

Need help? Contact the Student Hub: City Campus: Level 2, (ground entry) WA Building, North Campus: Level 2, AS Building (through the food hall), South Campus: Level 1, MB Building, ph: 0800 AUT UNI (0800 288 864), email: studenthub@aut.ac.nz

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feature

It’s not Rocket Science Julie Cleaver talks to the Vice President of Global Operations and three AUT grads working at New Zealand’s only rocket company, Rocket Lab, to find out how they got there, and where they’re going. Illustration by Hope McConnell.

When thinking of space technology, my brain immediately goes to the 1960s. Back then, space tech was heavily invested in by both the US and the Russian governments. War-mongering motivations aside, it’s pretty cool to think that in 1969, before we even had the internet, humans walked on the moon. It’s now been nearly 50 years since Apollo 11, and it’s easy to think that space technology has continued to improve, just because it’s technology and of course it’s always getting better because that’s what it does. But it hasn’t. As a collective, the world has lost interest in space technology, hence funding has decreased and hence our understanding of it has barely increased. That’s why when I heard of Rocket Lab, a New Zealand-based company that doesn’t explore outer space but sends satellites into earth’s orbit, I was inspired and intrigued, to say the least, and needed to know more.

A Lightening Fast Introduction Founded by Kiwi engineer Peter Beck back in 2006, Rocket Lab is a start-up that launches small satellites into earth’s orbit.

Although the company has been around since 2006, it only put its first satellite into orbit this year. Because of this and its startup status, the company has relied on investor funding to keep it afloat, as it hasn’t been making money. In the past 12 years, it has managed to round up an impressive $148 million USD of funding to date, making the company worth a total of $1 billion (USD).

If you talk to people who have tried making start-ups, they will often complain about how difficult finding funding is, especially in New Zealand. But it’s easy to see how Beck gathered so much money, as saying “I’m inventing a rocket company” and then actually doing it is pretty damn cool, and something that would gather attention.

With this investment money, Rocket Lab has been working on creating smart and cheap ways to put a satellite into orbit. To do this, it came up with a technology called the ‘Electron’ rocket, which was the first battery-powered rocket used for commercial launches to space. A lot of major global players have taken a shining to this invention, and Rocket Lab’s customers now include big wigs like NASA, and also a bunch of small start-ups.

In general, organisations will purchase satellite launches if they are looking to either conduct scientific research, such as collecting weather or marine data, provide internet, position (GPS) or collect images of earth for whatever reason.

Starry-eyed Inspiration I spoke to the Vice President of Global Operations for Rocket Lab and one of its first employees, Shaun O’Donnell, on the phone. He has a background in electronic and avionics engineering and was working as a contractor when a work colleague, Peter Beck, came to him with the idea to start a rocket company. “And I thought, sure, that sounds like a fun thing to do!” Shaun and one other person jumped onboard, and the three of them worked together.

The company then grew from the three of them to six people and stayed at that number for several years. However, the company grew substantially after 2013 (the start of the Electron project) and it now has around 220 employees around the world.

Shaun was nice to talk to and had an altruistic outlook, and he told me about some of the positive stuff Rocket Lab was capable of achieving, including enabling companies to map methane levels to constantly monitor climate change, monitor deforestation through images, and more. “There’s a lot of great ideas out there and it’s really about enabling those people and giving them the opportunity to get their devices on orbit,” he said.

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Rocket Lab is New Zealand’s only rocket company

fun facts To Infinity and Beyond In terms of the company’s vision, Shaun said it’s all about making space available to a wider pool of players so that more positive and awesome stuff can be achieved. They also hope to advance the technology in general for the greater good of humankind.

It was started in 2006 by a Kiwi, Peter Beck

Software Engineer and Ritankar Chakraborty works as a Production Manufacturing Engineer.

Over the Moon

“It all comes back to achieving that main mission statement which is to democratise space and enable humanity. It’s all about what we’re gonna achieve in the greater world, it’s not directly what we’re doing here and now, it’s about creating that capability and actually achieving that and working with a great bunch of people to make that happen.”

The first overwhelming similarity I noticed in the graduates' perspectives was their absolute passion and excitement about the company and their jobs. Chloe said, “When you help launch rockets for a living, nothing else can really top that!” In terms of why, she said working towards an altruistic goal that will better humanity is difficult to beat. “Being part of a journey so much bigger than you, changing the way we access space and using it to better the lives of everyone here on earth – it’s pretty exciting.” Pretty exciting indeed.

On a less grand level, they also hope to start making some money, ideally soon.

When asked what motivates Jonathan to be part of Rocket Lab, he gave this epic answer: “What we do makes history, literally.”

A Galaxy of Opportunity – AUT Grads

For Ritankar launch day is easily the most exciting part of his job.

He also said name-dropping your position is a bonus. “Casually slipping your profession as an aerospace engineer in a conversation is fun – as long as you’re not obnoxious about it!”

Rocket Lab’s positive goals, innovative technology and the pure fact that it is a rocket company makes it seem like a pretty ideal place to work. And luckily for you, they like hiring AUT grads. Although Shaun said he doesn’t have a preference as to what university people come from or whether they even have a university education at all. He did state that: “I think AUT has certainly got a background of producing people with a lot of practical skills, and as an institution you guys focus on that side of it, which I think is really helpful.”

I got in touch with three AUT graduates who currently work at Rocket Lab to find out about what it’s like and how they got the job. One of the grads, Chloe Lamb, is a design graduate and works in the position of Brand and Digital Media Development. The other two graduates are engineers; Jonathan Currie works as a GNC

Company Culture – A Black Hole of Time?

Positive and grand aspirations are what drives many tech companies to success, as its employees can’t help but get crazily inspired. However, this style of company can also be associated with working massively long hours, having no work-life balance and in some cases turning a bit cult-like (Google, anyone?). When asked if Rocket Lab had anything like this going on, Shaun said people are not forced to work long hours and only put in the extra time if they love it and want to do it.

The company is a start-up and relies heavily on investor funding They’re headquartered in the United States, with operations in Auckland and on the Māhia Peninsula (near Gisborne)

“Really the kind of hours are generated by the people. We do not demand that people work these long hours. People are really enthusiastic about their work – they want to make Rocket Lab successful, and they do whatever it takes. So I think that’s more the culture. It’s not forced labor, it’s an enjoyment thing as well. People want to do it.”

When hearing about the AUT graduates' different work schedules, it seemed to reflect this sentiment, with Jonathan saying he starts at 7:30am and works until 6:30pm most days, and Chloe saying she starts a little later at around 8/8:30am. Also, the culture of Rocket Lab was described using the word ‘fun’ by all the graduates. Ritankar said something similar to the others, which is: “Knowing you helped put a rocket in space – it’s a feeling that can’t be described. We’re all working towards the same goal of putting a vehicle in space, so the team is very supportive, approachable, friendly and fun.”

An Atomic Level – What They Do Every Day In terms of what they do while at work, Chloe said her job involves all things brand-related, which could be anything from designing merchandise and the website, through to organising a photo shoot and video collateral. In terms of what Ritankar’s role involved, he said that as a manufacturing engineer, he is responsible for acting as a bridge between the designers, assembly technicians (the folks on the production line building the rocket) and the suppliers. This year he said he is focusing on building infrastructure and implementing procedures around the Electron to allow for a smooth process without too much human interaction.

And for Jonathan’s role, he said his typical day involves, “Developing new software modules, analysing flight data, testing numerical models, optimising deployment strategies, problem-solving

Its mission is to make it cheaper and easier for companies to get satellites into earth’s orbit

simulation results, and many more challenging and rewarding tasks.”

Shoot for the Stars The one piece of advice I heard from everyone I spoke to at Rocket Lab was to get involved in your own projects. As Shaun mentioned, the company looks for super smart people, but grades are not necessarily a prime indication of that. “A big part of what I think is successful for people applying is those who attach portfolios with their CVs, so it’s not just ‘hey I’ve done this’ it’s ‘hey, this is what I do in my spare time, I’ve created this project, I’ve made this website’. ..

It’s great to see those sorts of things.”

Additionally, Jonathan said for AUT students wanting a job at Rocket Lab, industrial experience is a must. “You need good grades, but also to demonstrate application of the knowledge you have gained.” And Ritankar recommended reading about the ideologies and principles of existing space programmes around the world. He also said subscribing to tech magazines and reading about what’s happening and keeping up-to-date with engineering principles is a good idea.

Finally, he gave a solid piece of advice that the engineering students will love: “Learn the nitty gritty principles of engineering that you don’t learn reading reports or designing parts on Solidworks in the office. Get out in the field and work with the technicians who understand the woes and challenges of building something in real life, which is easily achieved on CAD Softwares or in an instruction booklet.”

Finally, and this is a special piece of advice for you, for making it to the bottom of the feature: Rocket Lab hire interns. Contact them through the ‘General Applications’ page on their website (www.rocketlabusa.com/contact/). Internships typically open in August and will be advertised on their website around then.

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treat yo'self

Treat Yo'self Student life can be tough, which is why we search the city for the snazziest stuff to give away. Like the look of something below? Read the details below then like Debate’s Facebook page (facebook.com/autsadebate) and message that page to win. Entries to the AUTSA page or any other page will not be counted. Winners will be drawn on March 26.

50 Buckets of Cookie Time Up for Grabs!

This issue we’re giving away 50 (!) buckets of Limited Edition Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies to 50 different students. You heard me: 50. Buckets. Of. Cookies. These delicious bite sized treats are the perfect study snack to share with your family, friends, or to not share at all. To win a bucket, like Debate’s Facebook page and message us saying: ‘COOKIE TIME PLEASE’.

Also, if you love Cookie Time as much as we do and need to make some extra cash, you’ll be stoked to know that applications are opening on April 30th to become a Christmas Cookies Seller. Run your own business, reap the rewards and spread the goodness of cookies while you’re at it!

Free Burgerfuel Vouchers

Paintball Prize Pack!

Love the taste of a succulent Hamburgini between your lips?

Or what about a juicy veggie or vegan burger, stuffed with fresh produce? Plus having it served with crispy spud fries dipped in sweet aioli? We do, and if you do too, today’s your lucky day. Our pals at BurgerFuel Queen Street have given us 10 ‘Any Burger on Us’ vouchers and 10 ‘Free Fries’ vouchers to give to you! To win one set of both vouchers (one burger and one side of fries), like Debate’s Facebook page and message us with your campus and ‘BURGERFUEL AND FRIES PLEASE’.

International Paintball Group (IPG) are hooking Debate readers up with 10 paintball entry tickets, valued at $45 each ticket!

That means the whole pack is worth $450! These tickets will get you and your mates full sessions of paintball (up to eight hours), a free semi-automatic gun each and free protection equipment hire. You don’t need to use all your tickets at once; as IPG say “bring a mate or bring an army!”. To win the lot, like Debate’s Facebook page and message us with your campus and ‘PAINTBALL PLEASE’.

Merry (late) Christmas from Lush One of our favourite environmentally friendly and ethical cosmetic stores, Lush, are giving readers a late (or early?) Christmas present! We’ve got one ‘Merry Christmas’ gift box (valued at $44.90 NZD) to give away, containing four deliciously-scented bath bombs. These include the magical ‘Shoot for the Stars’ bath bomb (perfect to use while reading all the spacey stuff in Debate this issue!), the adorable ‘Christmas Sweater’ bath bomb, the ‘Thundersnow’ bath bomb and the ‘Golden Wonder’ bath bomb. To get your luscious fingers on the lot, like Debate’s Facebook page and message us with your campus and ‘CHRISTMAS PLEASE’.

‘Booch Me Up

Best Face Forward

Kombucha is a drink that used to only be found in hip cafés or hippy ‘kumbaya’ circles. However, the health benefits and goodness of this fermented tea have made its way into more mainstream circles. Good Buzz Kombucha is helping spread the word, and this week we’re giving away 12 bottles of it! The flavours on offer are Feijoa, Green Tea, Lemon Ginger and Jasmine, and trust us, they’re all tasty as heck. To win a bottle, like Debate’s Facebook page and message us with your campus and ‘GOOD BUZZ PLEASE’.

Sick of greasy skin caused by too many late nights watching movies and eating pizza? Formula 10.0.6’s new Daily Foaming Cleanser ‘Best Face Forward’ has you covered. It’s designed for people with oil-prone skin, as it removes oil and leaves your skin feeling rejuvenated and fresh. It’s also passionfruit and green tea flavoured, leaving your skin smelling scrumptious. To win, like Debate’s Facebook page and message us with your campus and ‘CLEANSER PLEASE’.

19

Dating Glitches

By Lydia Burgham | Illustration by Angel Chen

About a year ago, hopelessly single me made a reckless decision. I decided I was going to do my upmost to remove the ‘hopeless’ from that equation. I wasn’t going to sit around pining for love shut away in my room, desperately wanting my life to follow the plot of a 90s romantic comedy.

(Meg Ryan, I love you.) Instead, I bravely decided as a second-year university student to give this dating phenomenon a proper attempt. I downloaded the appropriate apps, haphazardly filled out a profile and began a journey down a rabbit hole of traumatic experiences and awkward encounters. I didn’t know that would be the case during that naive moment though – a person never does.

Modern dating is aided with the convenience factor of an app. I don’t need to reiterate the shallowness of swiping left or right through possible candidates, with only a picture of said suitor with a probably borrowed dog and an eye-roll inducing pick up line to go by. I’ll leave that to the daily anti-millennial think piece in the national newspaper. That being said, it is a definite struggle to get to know someone through a screen. If you match with someone, great.

But what do you open with, and moreover, what happens after a conversation actually gets going? It’s a guessing game where the stakes are high and reading between the lines is a necessary skill.

As a heterosexual female, I’ve received my fair share of inappropriate messages on

Tinder. No matter how selective I am with the profiles I swipe right on, the creeps keep on creepin’. One of the most horrific trends I’ve come across is the strategy of ‘negging’.

Bear with me folks, we have to dust off The Urban Dictionary for this one. ‘Negging’ is defined as “a low-grade insult meant to undermine the self-confidence of a woman, so she might be more vulnerable to your advances”. On dating apps, this usually translates to a guy messaging someone a backhanded compliment about their profile, or a direct insult. Usually, any such behaviour would warrant an automatic ‘unmatch’ on my behalf, but on one occasion, curiosity got the best of me.

Someone I had unfortunately matched with messaged me and insulted my bio. I should note that I am one of those weird people who can’t be funny in a bio to save my life, so essentially they were just insulting my interests. How this is meant to make me actually like the guy is a mystery to me.

Here’s how the conversation went down: “You would think a journalist student would have a better bio” (note his incorrect grammar – as a journalism student it is my job to know this).

I was in the mood to make a point, so I responded with: Me: “You’d think a guy on Tinder would open with a better line than an insult.”

Him: “It’s almost as if insults elicit an emotional response and a far faster reply than anything else, slut”.

Despite the pure rudeness of this dude, he did provide some field notes on negging.

His justification was that it angers his recipients so much that they feel compelled enough to reply. It did work in my case admittedly, but he caught me in a bad mood.

A strong case against dating apps is that they allow for anonymity, and even encourage an environment whereby people can get away with treating others horribly.

Negative or offensive messages in any context can be damaging. Everyone has a right to date without feeling like receiving degrading comments is inevitable. However, it is widely accepted that being a female on a dating app means it’s open season for guys to say whatever the heck they want.

Tinder’s alternative, Bumble, resounds this feature, as girls have to message first, which is an attempt to mitigate this. Even so, there’s something about this that makes me feel like the problem is cultural instead of technical. Apps can add features all they want, but there are still real people behind the messages. In the meantime, unmatching and reporting the users are the only options.

I’m optimistic though, maybe online dating will get easier eventually. If not, there’s always real life.

21

feature

Artificial Intelligence: Is It Really That Smart?

By Jean Bell | Illustration by Hope McConnell

It’s the US National Governors Association Meeting in July, 2017. Icy blue light washes the wall behind Elon Musk as he sits on a stage, garbed sleekly in a suit. Leaning forward with hands held before him, he assertively looks at a member of the questioning panel.

“You said that artificial intelligence is the fundamental existential risk facing civilisation?” his questioner asks.

“In my opinion, it is the biggest risk that we face as a civilisation.”

Musk fidgets in his chair as he says this, aware of the weight of this statement.

He goes on to recount how an artificial intelligence (AI) programme recently beat the world’s top human player at the challenging game ‘Go’. “People thought a computer would never beat the best player or that it was 20 years away, and last year AlphaGo, which was done

by DeepMind, [a] Google subsidiary, absolutely crushed the world’s best player,” recalls Musk.

“Now that it can crush the top player, it can play the top 50 simultaneously and crush them all.” He intently gazes at his questioner and no further explanation is demanded.

Aside from Musk, Stephen Hawking is one of many scientists who has voiced concerns about AI’s impact. With heaps of predictions that AI will become more intelligent than humans, calls for more thorough research have reached a roaring chorus.

AI and Us - What Does the Future Hold?

and thus deem humanity to be doomed. Yikes, how’s that for cheery news? However, there are many experts who roll their eyes at this.

One of these challengers is Greg Cross, who works as the Chief Business Officer at Auckland-based artificial intelligence company Soul Machines. While talking with him, it became super clear that he doubts that it’s possible to predict our future with AI. “It’s nearly impossible to judge what society and humanity will look like when it occurs, because there will have been a world of change in all other aspects of society by that time,” Cross explains.

Others think it’s the way AI might be used that is the problem. Tom White, a Senior Lecturer in Media Design at Victoria University, reckons that, “The main existential threat to humans is not from software systems with suddenly emerging autonomy, but from existing institutions that use AI capabilities unethically.”

White points out how China is using AI to create a national surveillance system and also Facebook’s programming that allegedly induces social media addiction. Only a little bit shady, right? “The long term existential threat to humans from AI systems is an interesting philosophical debate. But focusing on this remote possibility is an irresponsible distraction in the face of more clear and present dangers to humanity enabled by current AI systems being used irresponsibly by people and organisations in the present and very near future,” he says.

So at the end of the day, there’s no point worrying about AI leading to the downfall of the human race when we’ve got more than enough on our plate right now.

Some academics predict AI will soon surpass human intelligence

23

The Job Factor The most immediately concerning impact that AI will have on our society is probably the effect it could have on our job market.

Ridiculous numbers of low-wage roles are being automated away.

Self-service supermarket checkouts are just one pretty obvious example of automation, and it won’t be the only sector affected, according to Tom White. “Thanks to more powerful AI-based software systems, we will see similar shifts in the coming years across broad swaths of the labour market, such as taxi drivers and radiologists,” he predicts.

And it’s not just going to be blue collared jobs that are out of the game – for anyone in a white collar profession, this will have an impact on your industry, too. However, some optimists reckon new jobs will be created as others are lost, in effect replacing these roles.

Additionally, history has shown that new employment opportunities arise after technological revolutions. New Zealand Law Foundation Director in Emerging Technologies Colin Gavaghan points to the role of a blacksmith as an example. “When steam locomotives displaced horses, there was a lot less demand for blacksmiths. But new jobs were created for people who were good with metal and good with their hands,” he asserts.

But is it realistic, or just plain flakey to assume history will repeat itself? While new jobs may be created, Benjamin Liu, Senior Lecturer in Commercial Law at the University of Auckland, doesn’t believe the amount will be sufficient to match lost jobs, and upskilling may prove tough. “If a taxi driver loses his job to autonomous cars, it would probably take years for him to retrain for the new positions created by AI, such as data scientists and AI system developers.”

On the other hand, there is huge potential for AI to do all the mundane and repetitive tasks while people are left to focus on more important and fun work. Soul Machines’ Greg Cross says that: “AI will augment many tasks in the workforce that should be done by machines which will provide humans with the time to spend being creative… The net result of this will be an uplift in productivity in the economy.”

However Tim Dare, Head of Philosophy at the University of Auckland, says it may be hard to replace that ‘human touch’. “There may still be jobs for humans – computers are unlikely ever to be very good at providing emotional support, and sometimes that is what people are looking for from their lawyers and doctors,” he says.

“The main existential threat to humans is not from software systems with suddenly emerging autonomy, but from existing institutions that use AI capabilities unethically.”

The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence One aspect of AI that has caused tons of controversy is the topic of ethics. Professor Dare, who teaches ethics at The University of Auckland, says it’s difficult to identify ethical truths as people can’t

There are heaps of concerns about AI being biased or racist in some form, whether intentionally or not. agree on what is ethical. “It’s not that there are none, but we can’t agree on what they are, and ethics requires us to cooperate,” he explains. So while it’s definitely possible to programme an AI with set behaviour that some people might call ethical, us humans are never going to all agree and have a consensus on what is ethical.

Just look at religion, gun control or any other hugely divisive issue, and you get the idea.

Mercedes has caused a lot of controversy over their claim their cars will be programmed to prioritise saving the car’s passengers first before pedestrians or other road users, even if that means more people die over all. This obviously is really ethically problematic.

NZ Law Foundation Director in Emerging Technologies Colin Gavaghan points out the many unanswered questions regarding AI programmed cars like this. “Should we allow companies to sell a product that will kill more people than necessary? Will this prioritise the lives of the rich – who can afford these sorts of cars – at the expense of more ‘disposable’ poor lives?” he asks.

Aside from the whole ethics thing, there are heaps of concerns about AI being biased or racist in some form, whether intentionally or not. AI will have a huge and wide ranging impact on our lives, from finances to employment to the criminal justice area, so it’s vital that AI makes decisions that are fair. “At first glance, it might be hard to see how an algorithm can be biased,” says Gavaghan. “But algorithms are only as good as the data that informs their decisions.”

AI is Here to Stay According to the experts, AI is set to be a make or break factor for us. It will either help speed forward technological development that will help us with things from cancer research, to finance and education. Then again, it could also be one of the most silently

destructive forces we have ever encountered. To help rein in any negative impacts, really thorough research and well-considered governmental intervention are going to be an absolute must.

Victoria University media design lecturer Tom White warns, “Left unchecked, current advances in AI software will continue to exacerbate income inequality and concentration of capital as those with the means of production are able to do increasingly more with fewer labour resources.”

Could a universal base income be a possible solution to this? Colin Gavaghan says, “If AI is going to produce benefits overall, but at the cost of real harms to some, then it seems right that those gains should be shared around to compensate those who lose out.”

As far as work goes, it’s clear that it’s going to be drastically different in the future. Flexibility and some kind of IT-know-how is going to be key for us. Gavaghan believes, “People will need to become more adaptable in the workforce and we should explore as a society how we support people during times of change and reskilling.”

While people will have to compete with machines in the job market, this doesn’t mean all hope will be lost and we should throw up our hands in despair. “As long as we are willing to keep improving ourselves, we will still have a place in this world,” says Senior Lecturer Benjamin Liu. This may seem daunting to us students, but Greg Cross from Soul Machines reckons it isn’t as hard as you may think. “Information has been democratised by the internet. Preparing for change in the world has never been easier, provided one is curious and has the initiative to learn about it,” he says. “There’s no need to wait for permission in the future.”

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Five social media tools that will change the way you study

By Majdi Khamis We are in the social media era, and these online networks impact almost every aspect of our lives – including our studies. No one can deny the fact that social media has a great influence on today’s education: it makes studying easier and more accessible, manageable and sharable than ever before. It’s a great tool to aid and support your university study, and using it right may improve your grades. Here are some cool apps and websites that could greatly enhance your university learning experience.

Stunited – Get connected to a network of students and tutors Need some help in your study, like someone to tutor you or review your paper? This app is designed to connect students and tutors who are willing to help each other out for free. Just create a profile outlining your papers as well as your strengths, needs and requests for help. Then, you would get the assistance you need from other students.

Price: Free Available on: IOS Website: https://www.stunitedapp.com

TedEd – Create and share If you are in love with Ted Talks then you can’t miss the amazing TedEd (Ted Education), Ted’s new educational tool. The TedEd website helps students create and share educational video lessons for free. There's already a huge library of lessons created and shared by other students and educators, ready for you to use.

Price: Free Website: https://ed.ted.com

Evernote – Organise your notes Do your lecture notes get scattered or disorganised? This app will assist you in capturing and organising your lecture notes in one place. You will be able to share your lecture notes with other students and synchronize notes between your devices. The app also has many features, such as an ability to arrange your notes in different formats, attach docs, PDF, audio and photos, scan using your camera and more.

Price: Free Available on: IOS, Android Website: https://evernote.com

There's already a huge library of lessons created and shared by other students and educators, ready for you to use.

StudyBlue – Create Flashcards notes Transforming your lecture notes into flashcards is a smart way to study. On StudyBlue, you can create digital flashcards and share them with your classmates. It also has different studying techniques, such as quizzes, study reminders and ways to customise your notes. You will have access to over 400 million study materials, such as flashcards that have been created and shared by other students around the globe.

Price: monthly subscription plans Available on: IOS, Android Website: https://www.studyblue.com

Quora – Sharing knowledge Have you got a question in mind and need some answers? This cool website’s got you covered. You can join millions of open minded people who will answer your questions. University students can benefit from the website by asking any question related to their subject of study. Your questions will be answered and verified by other members for accuracy. But always fact-check any answer you receive, just in case.

Price: Free Available on: IOS, Android Website: https://www.quora.com

27

clubs

AUTSA's got a club for just about everything

Dan Lee

Amritpal Kaur

“During my first year at AUT I seriously didn’t get involved in anything. I would show up to class, stay and listen, then go straight home. Then I started struggling with my work, but I didn’t know anyone in my classes. So I reached out to ASE for help and went along to one of their study sessions. I met a few people there I am still tight with today and also got some good advice and help.

“Everyone knows that in the Engineering Degree, the number of women is quite low. But it was during the transition to second year when I noticed that some of the girls dropped out. So I decided to start a student run club called ‘STEM Women’ to bring all the girls together!

Third year Mechanical Engineering Honours Student Club: AUT Student Engineers (ASE)

The club has around 400 members and grew by around 100 members in the last two years, so we’re doing well. We have our own club space in WD403 where we meet every Wednesday evening after 5pm. We also hold steins, pizza nights, pub quizzes, study sessions and other social events. This year we want to hold more social/academic events, so we're trying to get in touch with companies to set up mock interviews, CV checks and things like that.

I would recommend everyone in engineering to come along because you don’t want your uni years to be like high school, where you look back and didn’t get involved. You want to meet new friends and make the most out of the years you spend at university.

The club can also offer you support from people who know exactly what you are going through, probably even more so than other services or even tutors. We also have couches in the club room where someone is normally napping, so there’s space for everyone.”

Get in touch with ASE via email: aseaut@gmail.com or check out their Facebook page: 'ASE – AUT Student Engineers'

Third Year Mechatronics Engineering Student Club: AUT STEM Women

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, and the club brings together all the females in those areas who may sometimes feel left out or intimidated in their degrees. It gives us a space to talk, support one another and know we aren’t alone. It’s not just for students either – older members and graduates can get involved as well.

While we’ve had to turn away a few guys wanting to join, STEM wasn’t started from a negative place, but more because, at the end of the day, we’ve all felt awkward and unsure of what we’re doing and wished there were more women to connect within the industry. STEM provides that connection.

This year’s events will involve an early semester ‘mix and mingle’, networking evenings and industry visits to Auckland companies. STEM gives women industry experience, which is essential to get when studying. We also visit offices and have a snoop around and see if it’s where we want to work. Alongside that, every month we do ‘soft skills’ series, helping upskill members on CV writing, interview practice and communication skills.”

Interested in joining? Find them on Facebook: ‘AUT STEM Women’.

For more info, email clubs@aut.ac.nz with your name, AUT ID number, phone number, email address, and the club(s) you would like to join.

They’ll forward your details to the appropriate club leaders.

What is an Exchange Programme?

It’s an opportunity to study overseas for a semester at one of AUT’s partner universities.

You remain enrolled at AUT, and once your exchange is complete, your points will be transferred to your AUT degree.

Where can I go?

Travel while you study Wish you could combine travelling with your degree?

Shivani Rajan, AUT’s Exchange Coordinator, tells you what you need to know.

AUT have over 70 partner universities around the world!

Depending on your degree, you have host universities to choose from that specialise in your studies. If you want to find out where you can study, check out our website, or Google ‘AUT partner universities’.

Am I eligible to apply?

You must have completed two semesters before going on an exchange. You must also be a full-time AUT student and have a B average across all papers.

So, first-years, make sure you hit the ground running!

Will I still receive StudyLink?

Yes. If you are currently receiving student living costs or student allowance, you will continue to receive this while on exchange.

To find out more, email: aut.student.exchange@aut. ac.nz

EDA-for-AUT.qxp 26/02/18 8:49 PM Page 1

Learn to code in 18 weeks!

Join New Zealand’s premiere web development bootcamp course. Find out more and apply at www.devacademy.co.nz 29

reviews

Judge, Jury & Cookie Monster Comedy show Reviewed by Simran Singh

Black Panther Movie Reviewed by Benjamin Matthews

Being possibly one of the most important films recently released, Black Panther tackles its subject in a subtle yet nuanced way. Africa is the forefront of Marvel’s latest flick. The film follows T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) as he ascends the throne of the technically advanced nation ‘Wakanda’, granting him superhuman abilities.

Devoid of clichés, the film subverts expectations. Perceived as a poor African country, Wakanda is secretly highly advanced. Conflict between tradition and modernisation is highlighted in the score, with tribal music and modern hip-hop battling one another.

While the action scenes are played by the book – the film’s weakest aspect – thrilling sword fights, an epic car chase, and war rhinos (seriously… armour-plated rhinos charging into the fray of battle) tick all the boxes. Black Panther mightn’t have reinvented the wheel, but it sure does come close, making it, in my opinion, the best Marvel film to date.

This interactive new comedy show opened with a monologue from an invisible Cookie Monster, followed by an hour of food puns, ginger-snapping fingers to the ‘Cookie Song’ and gut-crumbling laughter. The actors were a batch made in heaven and are definitely raisin' the bar in the minimum props/maximum entertainment category.

What made this show unique was the way the audience chipped in to make the show special, without even realising it. Prior to the show, cue cards saying: ‘Who stole the _____ from the cookie jar?’ were filled out by everyone.

So, for example I wrote ‘Trump's nuclear weapons’.

Innovative answers were later whisked into the trial in the form of an audience-engaging game.

This was a one-of-a-kind show which you could witness and partake in at the same time. To end things on a sweet note, the culprit was punished and the jury sent home with gluten-free cookies.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Movie Reviewed by Benjamin Matthews

Although there are unpopular opinions about this film among media critics in general, in my opinion The Last Jedi might be the best film in the entire saga. It succeeds both with its beautiful cinematography, exciting action scenes and theme – you don’t have to be special to wield the force.

Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) delivers possibly his best performance yet, as a washed out recluse. Adam Driver (Kylo Ren) continues dwelling deeper into the dark side, proving the new Darth Vader wannabe is an intriguing villain and a great addition to the saga. And to see Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) one last time might just well put a tear in your eye.

The movie mightn’t be perfect, but what Star Wars movie is? The seven (or eight) films that’ve proceeded it have had major plot problems. Why these should affect The Last Jedi now is baffling. But taking those issues into account, the latest Star Wars is a blast.

blind

date

Every issue, we bribe singletons with free food and bevvies to go on a blind date, organised by us. The only catch – they have to write about it after.

Wonderwall

Sangria Supernova

When my date walked in I was pleasantly surprised. She was pretty, petite and had a lovely smile. She was confident and talkative, which made sense when she said she was a Wellingtonian, who I typically find more friendly and personable than the average Aucklander.

Searching up drinks menus on Google is not usually my go-to pass time, but before a blind date, preparation is key. I don't mean the ‘I want my lippy to match my underwear’ preparation, but the ‘I need to avoid taking an hour at the bar to decide what I want’ preparation.

We proceeded to spend the entire $50 voucher bestowed on us on booze, in true student fashion. We talked about our lives, our middle names and star signs. I’m a Virgo. We’re callous assholes. She was a Scorpio. I don’t know much about them.

Now let me tell you something: walking into a busy restaurant attempting to look like you know exactly where who-the-heckyou're-looking-for is takes work. Finally, I found my date after a slow motion walk into Burger Burger. Sliding into the seat opposite, I decided to play the confidence card and kiss him on the lips. Ah, not quite. Don't be ridiculous, no one does that.

As the drinks begun to soak in, and my featherweight frame started to sway just a teensy bit, I asked her what music she liked. Oasis was her first answer, which took me by surprise, since What’s the Story, Morning Glory has been my anthem of life lately. I’d listened to it on the way there. It’s an ordinary coincidence really, but it felt kinda special at the time.

Eventually the glasses were empty and we went to leave. I offered to take her home, but she said she’d get an Uber. Probably for the best, since I was still a little tipsy. We had a hug and then said goodbye – as quick and casual as a blind date in a burger joint probably ought to be. Maybe I should have asked for her number, or given her mine. I did like her and would have been happy to see her again. Maybe I should have risked rejection and reached down into that bottomless wellspring of self-esteem and resilience men are supposed to have. But I didn’t, and I don’t. I’m too fleshy and wounded for that, having been beat up by a fistful of failed relationships. My Disney sensibilities don’t seem to line up with the whole hook-up culture… and she didn’t seem that interested anyway.

As I drove home, listening to Oasis, I convinced myself it was fine.

But I did wonder what if. Who knows, she could have been my next big adventure. My champagne supernova in the sky.

Deciding on ditching dinner for rounds of drinks was probably the point I knew the night wasn't going to include me escaping out the back door. The Googling of drinks paid off as we decided hard and fast that we'd dive into a sangria and then began talking about everything from astrology to personal quirks. Conversation was so easy, and man was it fun finding someone who doesn't belittle your old school music choice.

His sleeves were short, but he sure had a lot of sentence starters crammed up them. Not just conversation-starters either, but even a good hand massage (that probably put the whole restaurant off their burgers). I think the drinks had gone to our heads at that point.

Eventually the mint was eaten and the ice was melted. Just like free drinks, the night couldn't last forever, so after politely declining a ride home, I sought out the comfort of a surcharged Prius (Uber) to drive me home. A very fun night of conversation ended briefly but politely, with no expectation to keep in contact. Neither of us felt that Cameron Diaz chick-flick movie spark, but Leonardo DiCaprio is still out there and single – just saying.

To get involved, email us with your name, age and sexual preference: debate@aut.ac.nz 31

recipe

MEGA-Burger-BYTE Recipe and photography by Melissa Koh Makes four MEGA-patties or six regular patties

Ingredients

Method

Beef patty • Cooking/olive oil • 1 Onion, peeled and chopped into small bits • 2 Bacon strips, chopped into small bits • 750g Beef mince • 100g Wholemeal breadcrumbs • 50g Milk • 1/2 tsp Ground paprika • 1 tsp Garlic powder • 1/2 tsp Dried parsley • 1 tsp Salt • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce • 1 tsp Pepper

1) Sauté chopped onion over medium heat with a teaspoon of oil for about 20 seconds without browning. In the same pan, add chopped bacon and sauté for another 10 seconds. Turn off heat and set aside.

2) In a large mixing bowl, moisten breadcrumbs with milk before adding beef mince, onion and bacon bits.

3) Add seasoning (ground paprika, garlic powder, dried parsley, salt and pepper) and mix well with clean hands. Give it a good massage, divide into four portions. If you don’t intend to cook immediately, shape patties, place in cling wrap, and refrigerate until you are ready to cook. Best used after 30-60 minutes of refrigeration, and within two days.

4) To shape the patty, form a round shape using your hand before flattening it. Use your fingers to press in the edges and close up gaps.

5) Pre-heat oven to 150°C for 20 minutes before cooking.

6) Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to a non-stick pan. When oil is heated, sear patty (2 minutes on each side) over medium heat.

Place patties on a baking tray, cover with aluminum foil, and pop them in the oven for approximately 15 minutes for mediumdoneness. Adjust timing (+/- 5 minutes based on your preferred doneness.

7) While the patties are cooking in the oven, season salad greens with pre-mixed dressing of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper.

8) Place pineapple slices on a pre-heated pan and let them cook for about a minute on each side ‘til slightly charred.

9) After 20 minutes, remove aluminum foil, add cheese on top of each patty, and bake for another 5 minutes until cheese has melted.

10) To serve, stack patty, grilled pineapple and salad greens in between burger buns.

Salad mix • 200g mixed salad greens • 1 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil • 1 tsp Balsamic vinegar • 1/4 tsp Sugar To serve • 1 can of pineapple slices • Cheese slices (I used low-fat Edam cheese slices) • Burger bun (I used Nature’s Fresh King Burger Buns with sesame)

Melissa Koh is a third year BA student double majoring in Culinary Arts and English & New Media. Follow her dining and cooking adventures on Instagram: @melicacy

33

WORDFIND

puzzles

A Ver y Techy GoogleWord Search

ArtificialIntelligence

Cryptocurrency

Engineering

Cyber

Google

Wifi

Science

SocialMedia Database

Apple

Bing

Efficiency

Technology

Rocketship

Hydrofoils

Windows

Microsoft

Apps

STEM

Broadband

Circle all the words in the wordfind, tear this page out and pop it into the box on the side of the red Debate stands. Do it and you could win a motherflippin’ sweet prize!

Name:

Email:

sign up or nominate for your student representative council Check your university email to vote

Nominations open 5th March, close 16th March

STUDY? WORK? WHY NOT BOTH

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CH C H LU CH L H L UNC LU NCH NCH UNC H H L L L U UNC LUN NCH NCH UNC HALLLU H LU LUN LUNCALLING AUT STUDENTS N – WE NEED YOUR VOICE! N CH C C C H H LUN LUN LUN H LUN C C H LU CH L C H H ARE YOU FREE FOR LUNCH? NCH UNC LUNC LUNC HAUTLisUlooking atHtheLway H LUN LUN scholarships are structuredU and N N C C C C H H H we need your feedback!

H LUN LUN LUN L U N CH C C C H H L LUN H L UNC UNC LUN C C H LU H H H L L L UNC U U U N N N C CH H LU H LU CH L NCH NCH NCH UNC LUN H LUN LUN L L U U N N CH C C C H H LUN LUN LUN H LUN CH C H LU CH L C H L L U U U N N N C C H LU H LU H LU CH L NCH NCH NCH NCH UNC H LUN LUN LUN L U N CH C C C H H L LUN H L UNC UNC LUN CH CH H H AUT have scholarships to support you during your course of study.

If you are, OR want to be a high achiever in areas such as: - academia - leadership - community service - national sporting …then we want to chat with you over lunch.

Bring a friend and come join us for a casual lunch and tell us how your scholarship experience has gone OR what you would like to see if you were to apply for a scholarship.

Select from four dates at each AUT Campus: Weds Weds Weds Tues

21 March 28 March 04 April 10 April

12.00pm – 1.30pm 12.00pm – 1.30pm 12.00pm – 1.30pm 12.00pm – 1.30pm

City South North City

Confirm your lunch spot and preferred date to lisa.warner@aut.ac.nz

WB101 MB317 AG127 WB101