OCTOBER 2019
lebrating Ce 1919
Y E AR S
2019
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In this Edition Engineering Our Future……………………………………………..…….3-4 Engineering Students’ Society Grants ……………………………………..5 Meet the 2019-2020 First Year Engineering Club…………………………6-9 Engineering Horror Stories…………….…………………………………10-11 Things to do For Halloween 2019………………………………………..12-13 What Halloween treat are you based on your zodiac sign? .…………….....14 October Photo Highlights………………………………………..……….15
Our Publications Team Abby Paul Bryana Ruggia Devkaran Dhillon Gurbani Baweja Joanna Bibangco Mohammad Abdullah Hashmi Mokshita Sharma Roanne Andaya
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Engineering our Future
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By : Gurbani Baweja As Patrick Dixon said, the key to understanding the future is one word: Sustainability. Keeping this in mind the sustainability team of the Engineering Students' Society hosted a four day-long event: Engineering our Future. The event began on October 7 with a Beeswax Wraps DIY and ended on October 9 with a professor panel. A brief description of the four-day activities is as follows:
Day 1: Beeswax Wraps DIY A DIY activity was organized between 12:00-2:00 pm on October 7, at the ETLC Solarium. It was aimed at making DIY beeswax food wraps to reduce plastic waste caused by using plastic wraps and Ziplocs. The materials required to make the wraps were provided by the team.
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Day 2: Sustainability Clubs Fair
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On October 8, seven clubs working towards sustainability in engineering participated in a clubs fair held at the ETLC Solarium. The clubs fair was open to anyone interested in practising sustainability. Clubs like the Eco Car discussed their projects with students and signed in any interested new members. Free snacks and coffee were also provided at the Clubs Fair.
Day 3: Industry Panel On October 9, industrialists from different disciplines in engineering were invited for an industry panel to discuss their fascinating work in the field of sustainability. They also answered questions about their volunteering experiences and gave a few tips about how engineering students can practice sustainability. They also discussed various career opportunities in sustainability. Free vegan dinner from Fillistix was also provided at the event.
Day 4: Professor Panel A similar panel was organised on October 10 for the professors in the faculty of engineering who recently received grants for their research in sustainability. They discussed their research and the necessity of incorporating sustainability in an engineering field of work. Alongside they also discussed various ways of addressing climate change as a student. A free vegan dinner from Fillistix was provided at this event as well. Engineering our Future (EOF) definitely helped students explore how they can be more sustainable in terms of engineering practices and the team hopes that they'll get more participants for the next EOF.
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Engineering Students’ Society Grants
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The Engineering Students’ Society (ESS) offers monetary grants to students and clubs who wish to pursue academic or development opportunities beyond their regular undergraduate degree. As part of the Faculty Association Membership Fee (FAMF) mandate paid by on-campus undergraduate engineering students in the Fall and Winter semesters, $1.90 of every $10 goes towards the Engineering Student Activity Fund (ESAF) and $1.90 of every $10 goes towards Engineering Student Groups Fund (ESGF). The 2 funds are distinct each with their own purpose, however both are administered by the undergraduate funding committee which consist of the 3 board of director members and 2 students at large. The committee holds meetings to review applications, each applicant will be given the chance to attend and present their case to the committee as to why it would benefit them and the student body. ESAF is available to all undergraduate engineering students who wish to pursue further academic opportunities they find. Its purpose is to help financially support undergraduate engineering students who wish to attend conference, competition, professional development, workshops, or any other opportunity they find to enhance their undergraduate degree. Each undergraduate engineering student can only be granted funds once an academic year and may be approved for a maximum of $500 for events in Canada or $800 for events outside of Canada. The application will be judged on the merits of student impact, both on the applicant and the general student body, economic feasibility, and willingness to share what they’ve learned during the activity. If you are interested in applying for ESAF, application form can be accessed here (https://drive.google.com/open?id=1bANm1m7a3Rl-m348VwwhLOAYibwG337P). Once you’ve completed the form please email it to essfin@ualberta.ca and you’ll be notified when the next funding committee meeting will be held. Applicant attendance is optional, but it is encouraged as it allows the committee to ask questions and gain more insight before we approve or deny your application. If granted funds, the applicant will be reimbursed after the event up to the agreed upon amount after they submit post-event package which include a reimbursement form and blog post. ESGF is offered to registered Bearsden student clubs and groups that are associated with the ESS or engineering to help support them grow, attend conferences, host events, or any other activity that would be beneficial to the engineering student body. Clubs and groups can submit a custom proposals to essfin@ualberta.ca and will be judged on the merit of their request, applicant organizations are required to provide a complete annual budget, representative contact information, a detailed budget for the specific request, disclose any affiliations with other groups, and other sources of potential or actual income including labour and material. If you are interested in applying for either funds or have any questions, please contact me at essfin@ualberta.ca for more information.
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Meet the 2019-2020 First Year Engineering Club By: Roanne Andaya Last month, the first years had their election for the First Year Engineering Club (FYEC)--a club dedicated to providing support for the first years and to represent them within the faculty. Get to know the new members of the FYEC, and see what they have planned this year for the club!
Connor Povoledo, President Q: What’s your favourite thing about Engineering so far? A: The community. The engineering faculty is extremely cooperative and keen to support anyone with an idea and some ambition. This creates a welcoming environment for sharing ideas, meeting people, and executing on what would normally seem out of one's league. As a first year, I feel this connection most strongly between myself and my fellow classmates as we are not only bonding over common interests and general desires, but also struggles. We are all still adapting to the new university lifestyles while running into mostly the same problems. What I have noticed is instead of allowing ourselves to overcome stress and responsibility, we all lean backward, pressed back to back against one another in a sort of battle formation as we storm every homework assignment, quiz and exam with determination and excitement. This allows us to easily empathize with each other, and draws us closer together. Q: Why did you decide to run for the FYEC? A: I spent the summer doing research here at the university. During this time, I had the opportunity to speak to many engineers in the higher years, gathering information regarding their experience as a first year students. I spent a lot of time thinking about their responses; I wanted to make sure I entered university with my best foot forward. As time went by I began planning out how I meet new people, prepare for my classes, and take care of myself (I just moved out), I put together detailed models and spreadsheets to keep track of my schedule, finances, and so forth. Once finished, I felt far more secure and optimistic about the year ahead of me. I started sharing my ideas and spreadsheets with my friends, who also benefited from them. When I heard about the FYEC and the student government, I thought I could hopefully help my classmates in a similar way. Q: Have you done anything like the FYEC before? A: In high school I ran a few clubs and participated in debate and model united nations, but never really participated in anything quite like FYEC. My experience in debate and student groups did contribute to my interest in the FYEC, however, as my time spent in these organizations was always centred around contemplating hypothetical problems, but never actually solving them. This makes me all the more interested in student government as it will allow me to actually make the difference I feel I could not make in previous groups. Q: What are you looking forward to most this year as part of the FYEC?
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A: I have two answers to this question. The first is meeting a large number of the first year students. I really like talking to anyone interested in having a conversation. I like hearing people's ideas, complaints and stories. I know that as president it will be my job to do all of these things. The second thing I am excited about is working on something that can directly have a positive impact on my friends and classmates. In my campaign video I shared a few ideas about things I wanted to accomplish during my time in the FYEC, which I won’t get into here for timely reasons, but nonetheless I am confident that those points will contribute to a better quality of life for the first year engineers.
Delaney MacIntosh, VP Communications Q: What’s your favourite thing about Engineering so far? A: My favourite thing about engineering so far is all of the amazing people I have had the opportunity to meet. The engineering community at the UofA is incredibly strong and supportive; I could not have hoped to be part of a better group for my first year. We work together, encourage, and support each other to be the best versions of ourselves. I can’t believe how lucky I am to have found the people that I have. I can honestly say that between the new friends I’ve made, the challenge of the course material, and the incredible opportunities I foresee, all that I value is truly is satisfied, and I have never been happier. Q: Why did you decide to run for the FYEC? A: I decided to run for the FYEC because I saw it as an excellent opportunity to become involved in the engineering community and hopefully have an impact on what goes on during my first year. I hope to make the most of my university experience and feel that being a part of the FYEC is not only going to be an exciting and personally fulfilling experience, but will also give me the chance to help make the first year a great experience for others as well. Q: What are you looking forward to most this year as part of the FYEC? A: I am most looking forward to working together with an incredibly strong and driven group of like-minded people to help make the first year of engineering a very positive experience for all of us. I am looking forward to being involved at a different level than I have been in the past and, hopefully, making a positive difference by contributing what I can to our committee.
Johnny Lee, VP Volunteers Q: What’s your favourite thing about Engineering so far? A: My favourite thing so far has been the people I have been meeting! Being able to meet and connect with other first year students has been amazing. The academics have been a process but everyone has been really welcoming and it's been just a positive experience overall! Q: Why did you decide to run for the FYEC? A: I wanted to get involved within the engineering community more and believed that the FYEC was a good place to start. I always loved working with different individuals, so VP Volunteers was just the natural position for me to run for as I felt that it would allow me to interact with the most people overall!
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Q: Have you done anything like the FYEC before? A: I was Vice President and Public Relations in my high school’s Music Council. I also was part of Peer Support in high school which is a resource for students in high school that focuses on mental health and support. Q: What are you looking forward to most this year as part of the FYEC? A: I’m really looking forward to GEER Week! It sounds like a lot of fun and even though the first years may have not historically done too well; we can still have the best time.
Elizabeth DeCorby, VP Social Q: What’s your favourite thing about Engineering so far? It may be the popular answer, however I would have to agree that meeting so many new people is the best part of engineering; whether its fellow first years, upper year students, or even inspiring professors. Q: Why did you decide to run for the FYEC? A: I decided to run for the FYEC to get involved in student leadership. I hope to join the ESS in the coming years and this seemed like the best way to learn how everything is run. Q: Have you done anything like the FYEC before? A: I have been on councils for specific events, but nothing that makes as wide of range of decisions as the FYEC. Q: What are you looking forward to most this year as part of the FYEC? A: Throwing a number of diverse and engaging events that let first years meet other amazing first years! And hopefully I will get to meet many of you as well!
Adrian Wattamaniuk, VP Academics Q: What’s your favourite thing about Engineering so far? A: My favourite thing would have to be all the amazing new people I've met. There are so many bright, intelligent students from all over the world here to do the same program, and that's quite inspiring. All these people together in one place provides an excellent opportunity for branching out, making new connections and growing as a person. We're only a month and a half in and I've already had some great experiences with friends new and old. Q: Have you done anything like the FYEC before? A: Leadership has always been something I've taken seriously, as I feel it helps you improve holistically as a person. Because of this viewpoint, I've always pursued leadership opportunities. As I mentioned, I participated in multiple leadership activities in high school. These included running our school's Model UN and International Mindedness clubs, as well as coaching a debate team at my old junior high. All of these experiences have helped me build my leadership capabilities, and I hope I can add on to that in FYEC. Q: What are you looking forward to most this year as part of the FYEC?
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A: I'm looking forward to planning some great events for first year engineers. As VP Academic my responsibility will be mostly academic events like study groups and academic mixers. As well I'll of course be helping out the rest of the FYEC team with all of our other events. However, GEER week is what I'm probably looking forward to the most. From the stories I heard, it sounds like a fantastic week of some hearty competition, and I'm excited to take in that experience.
Ethan Franz, VP Finance Q: What’s your favourite thing about Engineering so far? A: I really enjoy the realness of it all. In our classes we are able to apply the theoretical concepts into real-life situations, and being able to see and visualise how things work, rather than just do the calculations. I also enjoy the engineering community; being able to meet others within the faculty and connect with them. Q: Why did you decide to run for the FYEC? A: I decided to run for the FYEC because I like being involved in the school community. The club is a great opportunity to do something for me fellow first year engineering students, and it allows for me to have a more direct involvement within the community as well as have a direct impact on the first years. Q: Have you done anything like the FYEC before? A: In high school I was involved in planning tournaments and multiple school events. I was also part of Junior Achievement. Q: What are you looking forward to most this year as part of the FYEC? A: I’m looking forward to GEER Week as well as being part of the Engineering community, and meeting other people in Engineering.
Zack Doward, PR Rep Q: What’s your favourite thing about engineering so far? A: I have liked meeting people with similar interests. Why did you decide to run for the FYEC? I decided to run so that I could gain leadership experience, and the FYEC seemed to be the best place to develop these skills. Have you done anything like the FYEC before? A: No, I have not. What are you looking forward to most this year as part of the FYEC? A: I’m looking forward to planning and participating in GEER Week.
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Engineering Horror Stories
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By: Bryana Ruggia Hello Ghouls, pumpkin spice season is upon us and it’s time to get into your coziest flannel, bust out the marshmallows, sit around the campfire, and try and spook your friends with the scariest ghost stories in your repertoire. For some of us though, horror isn’t limited to the realm of monsters and magic; it’s also failed classes, missed finals, and everything in between. I’ve gathered up some stories from around campus that will put the fright back in engineering (as if it hadn’t already).
Attack of the Source Term Differential calculus can get to the best of us, but for Ian Yurychuk, a then-second year Comp E student, he was acing that class. At the end of the semester, the professor was lecturing on solutions to the Wave Equation. He started going on a tangent about how these equations can get particularly difficult to solve if one was to have a source term. Then he uttered the infamous words that all students long to hear “But don’t worry, I don’t think anything like that would be on your final.” Now final season is upon us and little Ian was all ready to go for his final. He got in and started writing as soon as the professor said go. The exam was going swimmingly, Ian was making good time and he was decently confident on all his answers. “As I flipped to the last page of the exam booklet,” he recounted “I quickly recoiled in horror. ‘It can’t be...it’s impossible!’ The question stared at me, printed with black ink on yellow paper. It was none other than...A wave equation with a source term!!” He frantically tried to solve the problem with all his might, but time ran out, and he left the room in dismay. When asked about the traumatic event he warns to all: “Prepare for the worst, because, in engineering, it will surely come.”
Curse of the Forgotten Alarm When setting an alarm to get up for class, it’s a little annoying when you wake up at 11am, having completely missed your first two classes, only to realize that you forgot to set your alarm in the first place. Come finals season though, such an event can have dire consequences. In the summer of 2019, third year CIV E student Jessica Gibeau found out the horrors of a forgotten alarm when she woke up on a bright and sunny day to birds chirping and traffic bustling outside her window.
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“I woke up completely forgetting what day it was.” She said. “Then I took a look at my phone like always and realized that I HAD 15 MINUTES UNTIL I WAS SUPPOSED TO WRITE MY FINAL!” She recalls throwing on the first pair of pants and hoodie that she laid her eyes on and rushing out the door at lightning speed. She clambered into her car, threw it in gear, and sped down as fast as those four wheels would carry her. Lucky for her, living in downtown, it didn’t take long to get to campus. She parked and ran into ETLC, still a bit early and full of hope, only to walk into the classroom and have not a face staring back at her. Did I get the day wrong? Did I speed down here for nothing? She thought, logging onto eClass to check. She did not, in fact, get the day wrong, but the room had been switched at the last minute! Scrambling to get there, she used all her energy and booked it to the right room. She burst in, right on time, and was luckily still able to write the exam, but the day still haunts her, and from now until forever she will be triple checking her alarms before catching even a wink of sleep.
The Invisible Lab Partner Group projects can be a headache, as I’m sure everyone can attest to, especially when you don’t really know the people you’re working with. In the case of Dillon Allan, a third year Comp E student, his COMPUT 275 partner was basically a ghost! With his only friend having dropped the class, Dillon had resorted to finding a lab partner via eClass. He was then matched with Bob (as we shall call him), and they set up a time to meet and delegate parts of the assignment. But when the time came to meet, Bob said that it did not actually work for him and that they would have to figure out another time to meet. With a while to go before the deadline, Dillon did not think much of it, and they set another time to meet. Each time they decided to meet, the time always happened to not work for Bob, so they decided to delegate the parts of the project online and whenever they were able to, they would set a time to meet and finalize everything. Dillon got to work on his part but quickly realized as the deadline was approaching that his partner was not contributing at all. He emailed his professor, Cc-ing Bob as well, about how if Bob was not willing to contribute to the project then he would do it himself. Bob then responded to the email, saying that he was definitely going to help out, and would get started immediately. He did not. With the deadline only a few days away, Bob completely MIA, and the professor not willing to step in, Dillon decided to just finish the project on his own. He finished the assignment with an A, but after the due date had passed, he never heard from Bob again. Legend has it, Bob was a spirit, trapped inside the computer, and the only thing that could release his spirit was an A. Let’s hope that Dillon’s determination to finish the project released Bob’s soul and set him free unto the world. So if you’re sitting in front of your computer late at night reading this, check the shadowy corners of your room, there may be a deadline or seven lingering about, waiting for you to fall into that next Netflix binge to show its ugly head. Have a happy Halloween!!
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Things to do For Halloween 2019
By: Devkaran Dhillon Scream 2019 Armin van Buuren, Knife Party, Cash Cash, and DJ/producer Maurice West are among the headliners at this year’s Scream Festival, over at the Edmonton Expo Centre. The Halloweenthemed all-nighter boasts a line-up of dance music DJs with state-of-the-art decor, lighting, video and sound. Get your tickets early as this one is invariably a sellout. Coming to you at the Edmonton Expo Centre, on the 26th of October, 7pm.
Dark DARK returns from October 10th to November 1st to terrorize mortals for another year. Bigger, scarier, and darker, you can never be sure what’s lurking in the darkness at Fort Edmonton Park deep in the river valley. Your adrenaline will be pumping as you’re sent into a deep state of terror unlike anything you’ve felt before. The event includes three immersive haunts, scare zones, roving entertainment, and access to the DARK Circle. The DARK Circle is the food & beverage hub for the event.
Deadmonton: Haunted HouseI have uploaded both the docum Deadmonton House is the first of its kind, professional haunted house located in Edmonton (South Central – 7031 Gateway Blvd.). The house returns this year with a post-viral epidemic theme. The 15-20 minute trip of the haunted house is the perfect way to pay homage to the festival of fear.
Boo! at the Zoo!
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Get Closer…Don’t not afraid this Halloween! Wear your coolest costume, bring your reusable trick-or-treat bags, and “get closer” to the spooky wonders of the animal kingdom. Hands-on science experiments, crafts, an extinct animal graveyard, and a witch’s den are just some of the fun activities that will make this Halloween one to remember!
Edmonton ScreamFest ScreamFest is Canada’s largest and scariest Halloween event. At ScreamFest you will experience haunted houses, Halloween themed carnival games, creepy and disturbing entertainment, and FEAR. Located at the Edmonton EXPO centre this event includes Haunted Houses, Thrills & Rides, Carnival Games, Escape Rooms and, of course, Shopping.
Fright Night Want to go shopping without missing out on Halloween? Kick off your Halloween weekend at Galaxyland on the 26th of October with the return of FRIGHT NIGHT! The music will be loud, and the lights will be dimmed. Experience unlimited adrenaline rush rides, thrilling illusions, a zombie apocalypse, haunted house and PRIZES TO BE WON EVERY HOUR.
The Bridge October 2019
What Halloween treat are you based on your zodiac sign?
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By: Abby Paul Sign
Treat
Aries (March 21 – April 19)
Old Dutch Chips – The unproblematic fave.
Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
Kit Kat – Live your best Lunchables life.
Gemini (May 21 – June 20)
Pop Rocks – delicious candy or momentary mild discomfort?
Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
Aero – Because milk chocolate was just too dense before.
Leo (July 23 – August 22)
Sun Maid Raisins – This lady with the red hat is the face of disappointment.
Virgo (August 23 – September 22)
Foil-wrapped chocolates – All the look of chocolate with about 7% of the flavour.
Libra (September 23 – October 22)
Home-baked goods: Maybe poisoned. Maybe delicious. Maybe both?
Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)
Smarties – Hot take: better than M&Ms.
Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)
Rockets – Mmm…chalk.
Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)
Fun Dip – Childhood ends when you realize that Fun Dip is gross.
Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)
Oh Henry – Cheaper than a protein bar.
Pisces (February 19 – March Tootsie Pops – A riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside 20) an enigma, covered with a hard-candy coating.
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PHOTO HILGHLIGHTS
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