Issuu

SEPTEMBER 2021 Vice President of Communications

Director of Publications

Junior Editors

Cover Design

Breanne Bacani

Mariko Gardiner Balreet Grewal Habiba Hamza

Contributors

Vienna Chen Zack Dorward Maria George Johnny Lee Polina Reisbig Cameron Scott Jason Tao Derek Warwick Adrian Wattamaniuk ESS 21/22 Senior Execs

Safiya Ahmad

Breanne Bacani

All materials appearing in The Bridge bear copyright to their creator(s) under the Engineering Students’ Society (ESS) and may not be used without written consent.

Website

essualberta.ca

Contact

esscomm@ualberta.ca

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@essualberta

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Engineering Students’ Society of the University of Alberta

DEAR READER,

Photo: Breanne Bacani Photo: Breanne Bacani

Welcome to our September Edition of the Bridge — “Once More Unto The Breach” “Once more unto the Breach,” is a phrase from Shakespeare’s play, Henry V, that we thought would be fitting when welcoming you all back to campus. For those who may not speak Shakespearean English, like myself, the direct translation is “let us try one more time.” In the context of this play, King Henry is encouraging his soldiers to follow through with an attack. However, in our case we are encouraging students, staff, whoever may be reading this, to approach this new school year confidently. Let this be encouragement for you to leave the year we just had behind, and try again to be the best student, staff or person you can be. Whether it is your first time stepping foot onto campus, your last first day of school, your first time in Edmonton or anything in between, we hope that you find something useful in this edition of The Bridge — even if it is just a laugh, or a new book recommendation. With the beginning of a new school year and the end of my message, I will leave you all with some unsolicited advice: Don’t forget your stapler — we might have to submit paper copies of assignments again. Best, Breanne Bacani Vice President of Communications

CONTENTS

6 Welcome Back

Letter from the ESS President Volunteer Appreciation Event Engineering Carnival ESS Handbook

12 Your Community

35 Makerspace

Meet the 21/22 ESS Execs Volunteers of the Month Resources for Students Confidence Building

26 Back to School

44 Engineering Educ

Being Mindful on Campus Campus Memories Backpack Essentials Top 10 Songs for Your Commute Student Secrets

Breanne’s Book Nook The Two Doors Lucy Looselips

Research Spotlight Engineering in Nature: Bio Everyday Engineering: Ins

Photo: Breanne Bacani

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To My Fellow Engineers, Welcome! To all our new and returning students, it is such a pleasure to welcome you to the Faculty of Engineering. We have all overcome what for many of us has been the most challenging 18 months of our lives and are looking forward to taking the next step towards normalcy with a return to in-person learning. I know that I am looking forward to running into old friends in the halls, exploring campus, and partaking in the activities we have had to modify or cancel in the last year and a half. We now have nearly 2000 students who have never attended classes on campus, and I hope you all are looking forward to embracing that experience. I encourage you to branch out and explore all that our wonderful community has to offer. It’s not the classes and exams, but the activities you do and the friends you make along the way that make the university experience what it is. Even if you are still learning remotely, lots of groups are providing remote and hybrid opportunities. Within engineering alone there are student project groups, discipline clubs and societies, sports and intramural teams, and so much more. I also encourage you to take care of yourself. The pandemic is far from over, and even as we move back to in-person learning it is important that we all continue to be safe, not just for ourselves but for those around us. After the year we’ve had and the chaos of a new one just around the corner, it is also important to take care of your mental health. There are a number of resources available on campus to reach out too, so I encourage you to take advantage of those. With that, welcome to Engineering at Alberta. Look out for yourself, each other, and enjoy the ride. I can’t wait to see you all on campus, and wish you the very best for the year ahead! Sincerely, Adrian Wattamaniuk President, 2021-22 Engineering Students’ Society of the University of Alberta

THANK YOU! ESS Volunteer Appreciation August 20, 2021

To all ESS Volunteers, Thank you for all your work and service to the engineering student body as a part of the ESS in the past few months. We are proud and grateful for the planning that has taken place so far, and excited to see and support all your plans in coming to life. For our long-running volunteers, in the previous 2020-2021 school year, you were all faced with the difficulty of an online environment. However, the adversity was overcome to achieve greatness in so many areas and you were all successful in bringing to life amazing events and services to general students, despite the difficult circumstances. We sincerely thank you for your passion and dedication in bringing that to life and are excited to see what you can bring for this year. For our new volunteers, we have seen the work that occurred behind during the scenes during the 2021 summer and were amazed by new ideas and energy that you all brought to the ESS. We are excited for the entire year ahead of us and thank you all in advance for the time and effort put into a volunteer role for other students. We are excited to be finally back on campus and the of events and services you will bring for the 2021-2022 school year in the hybrid environment! We are excited to meet each one of you in person throughout the year and hearing more about the plans and passion you're bringing to the ESS team. To those not yet involved, please at any point feel free to email essint@ualberta.ca with any questions about volunteering and use the recruitment page on our website to sign up. We always love and welcome new and passionate individuals into the team and will love to meet you and support the ideas and events you want to bring to life for the engineering community as a whole. We know that with your help the 2021-2022 school year will be one to be remembered and are genuinely eager to see it unfold. Should you have any questions and concerns feel free to reach out at anytime to essint@ualberta.ca Warm Regards, Zack Dorward & Johnny Lee ESS VP Internal 2021-2022 Engineering Students' Society of the University of Alberta

VOLUNTEER WITH US: 9

10:00AM - 3:00PM

MEET YO 2021/202 ESS EXEC Read through to find your new favourite study spot and get to know the new ESS Senior Execs!

OUR 22 CUTIVES 13

President Favourite Study Spot: ECERF 2nd Floor Back to School Tip: If you grab the bristles on the bottom of an exterior door, you can go into a building through an exit door. Your challenge is to use this tip to get from Tory Lecture to the CCIS lecture halls way faster. Looking forward to most: Wandering around the buildings and running into people.

Adrian Wattamaniuk (he/him) 3rd Year - EE

Most Embarrasing Experience: Last February, on the day of an ECE 212 quiz I decided to go skiing in Banff. I had this great plan to write the quiz in my car in the parking lot while I was eating lunch. I then proceeded to forget to bring my laptop, any form of paper or writing utensil, and my onecard. Since it was an eClass quiz with written submission, I had to do the quiz on my phone, the written parts on the back of receipts I found in my glovebox with the world’s worst pen, and use my center console as a writing surface.

VP Academics & Services Favourite Study Spot: John W. Scott Health Sciences Library Back to School Tip: Drink lots of water! (Just maybe not the fountains in Cameron Library). Looking forward to most: Graduating! Most Embarrasing Experience: One time in a lab, I inverted a whole graduated cylinder without holding the stopper so I dumped my whole experiment on the Frankiln Gonzales (he/him) floor. Shoutout to my TA for cleaning it up 5th Year - EnvE almost 500ml of solution off the floor for me <3. Favourite Study Spot: Ivana Tieu (she/her) SUB Quiet Room 5th Year - EnvE Back to School Tip: Enjoy your first week of school and catch up with friends before labs and assignments start! Looking forward to most: I’m looking forward to being on campus for my final year and all of the events and initiatives that our amazing portfolios (Academics, Health and Wellness, Professional Development, and Public Speaking) have been hard at work planning. Most Embarrasing Experience: Eating from Panda Express in first year despite the smell. 15

Breanne Bacani (she/her) 3rd Year - MatE

VP Communications Favourite Study Spot: My top secret “Crying Room” or the Solarium in ETLC Back to School Tip: Be as organized as you can during the first month of school so that you don’t have to think about putting due dates into your calendar during midterm season. Looking forward to most: More editions of the Bridge, photography with the team and GEER Week!

Most Embarrasing Experience: I was really stressed out about the ENGG130 final and ended up crying in Dr. Lobo’s office while he explained solving a truss using method of joints to me.

VP Finance Favourite Study Spot: ECERF Back to School Tip: Make friends in your classes. Looking forward to most: Meeting more people in my specialization. Most Embarrasing Experience: Jumped into some random persons Ethan Franz (he/him) car in a drive through because I thought they were my aunt. 3rd Year - CompE 16

VP External Favourite Study Spot: ECERF (middle room) Back to School Tip: Be open-minded, and embrace the uncertainty. You never know where a conversation or extracurricular opportunity may lead. Looking forward to most: Connecting with my peers in-person, running from NREF to ECHA, and standing in the ETLC Tim Hortons line (...mostly this).

Delaney MacIntosh (she/her) 3rd Year - CivE

Most Embarrasing Experience: Last October, I very confidently submitted a CivE 270 lab a few days early. I was confused when I received a grade of 0, until I realized I had submitted a completely blank lab. As it turns out, my iPad changed the dark mode ink colour from black to white when it exported. I now exclusively write in purple ink.

VP Internal

Favourite Study Spot: SUB Back to School Tip: Try to do things outside your comfort zone. Looking forward to most: Seeing and interacting with people!

Zack Dorward (he/him) 3rd Year - CompE, Software

Most Embarrasing Experience: I once got stuck inside a changing room for like 30 minutes. The room only had 1 way in/out, and I tried pushing the door open manyyyy times before I finally realized it was a pull door.

Johnny Lee (he/him) 3rd Year - MecE

VP Internal (cont’d) Favourite Study Spot: Dice-8 (I love watching the sunset as I work on my assignments!!). Back to School Tip: There is a pedway between SUB and ETLC/DICE! (So you don’t have to step outside in to the cold Edmonton winter when you need to satisfy your bubble tea craving). Looking forward to most: Meeting old people again, meeting new people for the first time, and just generating new and exciting experiences with them!! (I love interacting with different individuals). Most Embarrasing Experience: I’m a pretty clumsy individual, so if you speak to me for like 10 minutes (Please do, I’d love to get to know you) you’ll probably be able to see one of my embarrassing experiences live as they occur!

Polina Reisbig (she/her) 3rd Year - EnvE

VP Student Life Favourite Study Spot: I can’t tell you or everyone will flood it Back to School Tip: Get lots of sleep while you still can! Looking forward to most: Geer Week Most Embarrasing Experience: Once I left my house with two very different Birkenstock’s on each foot, and I only realized in the Canadian Tire parking lot.

Favourite Study Spot: 4th Floor Education Back to School Tip: Schedule out all of your assignments/ projects/midterms as soon as can get your hands on the midterm, and DO NOT WAIT until the second/third week to start your assignments Looking forward to most: Lunch dates in HUB Mall <3 Most Embarrasing Experience: In fourth grade we had “Career Day” and had to dress up as what we wanted to be when we grew up. At that point in my life I was devoted to being a house wife, so I showed up to school with a Swiffer. #IAmOnlyInEnggToFindARichHusband

Holly Clark (she/her) 3rd Year - EnvE 19

VOLUNTEERS OF THE MONTH JUNE AND JULY

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PART ABOUT VOLUNTEERING WITH THE ESS? Seeing the impact: I'm fortunate enough to be part of a great engineering community here, and I would love to give back to the community to continue the continuity of mentorship and community building. FUN FACT: I'm an avid musician and pianist. I'm currently working on Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 and Goldberg Variations

JASON TAO 5TH YEAR CIVIL CO-OP DIRECTOR OF RECRUITMENT DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PART ABOUT VOLUNTEERING WITH THE ESS? I love working with like-minded people about issues I'm passionate about! It's also incredibly fulfilling to watch an idea develop into a tangible initiative that positively impacts students. FUN FACT: When I was 14, I went on a tour of a naval base in India. After a couple hours, I began visibly faltering and complaining about the heat. I thought the tour was recorded for my school, but it ended up airing on a national program with 10 million viewers.

MARIA GEORGE 3RD YEAR ELECTRICAL CO-OP

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDID

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PART ABOUT VOLUNTEERING WITH THE ESS? The people! Everyone was so welcoming, which made the transition for working with the ESS so much easier. This is my first position here and I could not have asked for a better group of support and coordinators! FUN FACT: I love scuba diving! I'm hoping to mesh my love for being underwater and mechanical engineering together one day, either as a job or a fun side project.

CAMERON SCOTT 3RD YEAR MECHANICAL DIRECTOR OF GEER WEEK

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PART ABOUT VOLUNTEERING WITH THE ESS?

VIENNA CHEN

2ND YEAR CHEMICAL CPC DIRECTOR OF FIRST YEAR AND TRANSFER RELATIONS CO-DIRECTOR OF CAREER FAIR

Oh this is so cliché, but my favourite part is definitely the people I've met! Going into my first year of engineering, I was so worried that I wouldn't be able to make new friends or meet new people since everything was online. Everyone that I've met through the ESS has been super welcoming and caring. Many of the other volunteers that I work with are upper-year students, and I am able to learn so much from them. Everyone looks out for each other, and is always more than willing to support each other. It's incredibly motivating to be surrounded by such hardworking and passionate people. FUN FACT: When I was 2, I somehow dislocated my shoulder. Ouch, right? Luckily, I don't remember any of it!

The following volunteers have shown exceptional work and have gone above and beyond their expectations. The ESS is grateful to have leaders like you. Thank you for all of your hard work. 21

IMMEDIATE HELP DISTRESS LINE (FOR EDMONTON) 780-482-4357 EDMONTON POLICE SERVICES Emergency: 911 Non-Emergency: 780-423-4567 TRANS LIFELINE 1-877-330-6366 KIDS HELP PHONE 1-800-668-6868 CANADA SUICIDE PREVENTION 833-456-4566 SEXUAL ASSAULT SUPPORT CENTRE 1-866-956-1099 UASU SAFE WALK 7804925563

ACADEMIC RESOURCES ACADEMIC SUCCESS CENTRE success@ualberta.ca 780-492-2682 1-80 SUB OFFICE OF THE STUDENT OMBUDS ombuds@ualberta.ca 780-492-4689 2-702 SUB DECIMA ROBINSON SUPPORT CENTRE mathhelp@ualberta.ca 528 CAB PHYSICS LEARNING CENTRE L2-181 CCIS CENTRE FOR WRITERS centreforwriters@ualberta.ca 1-42 Assiniboia Hall

RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS

HEALTH & WELLNESS ON CAMPUS

ACCESS TEAM doshelp@ualberta.ca 780-492-6272 COUNSELLING & CLINICAL SERVICES 780-492-5205 2-600 SUB SEXUAL ASSAULT CENTRE sexualassaultcentre@ualberta.ca 780-492-9771 2-705 SUB PEER SUPPORT CENTRE SUB 2-707 UNIVERSITY HEALTH CENTRE hws@ualberta.ca 780-492-2612 Clinic: 2-200 SUB Pharmacy: 1-10 SUB THE LANDING support for the LGBTQ2S+ community thelanding@su.ualberta.ca 0-68A SUB INTERFAITH CHAPLAINS' ASSOCIATION 780-492-0339 interfaithchaplains@ualberta.ca 3-02 SUB FIRST PEOPLES' HOUSE 780-492-5677 fph@ualberta.ca 2-400 SUB

ENGINEERING SPECIFIC ENGINEERING STUDENT SERVICES enggadvising@ualberta.ca 780-492-3320 CO-OP OFFICE engineering.co-op@ualberta.ca 2-300A DICE ENGINEERING STUDENTS SUCCESS CENTRE (ESSC) ETLC in front of Tim Hortons ENGINEERING EMPLOYMENT CENTRE

HEALTH & WELLNESS OFF CAMPUS 2-1-1 ALBERTA Call: 211 Text 'info' to 211

COUNSELLING SERVICES

ACCESS 24/7 Mental Health: 1-877-303-2642 Addiction Support: 1-866-332-2322 Speak to a Registered Nurse: 811 Walk in Centre: 10959 102 St. Edmonton, AB

URGENT PSYCHIATRIC CONSULTATION CLINIC 780-407-6504 1E1 Walter Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre, University of Alberta

ACTION CANADA FOR SEXUAL HEALTH 1-888-642-2725

CITY OF EDMONTON SHORT TERM COUNSELLING - FREE 780-496-4777

ASSOCIATION OF ALBERTA SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICE 1-866-403-8000

DROP IN YEG free one-time drop in counselling dropinyeg.com

FIRST NATIONS AND INUIT HOPE FOR WELLNESS 1-855-242-3310

MOMENTUM WALK-IN COUNSELLING 780-757-0900

TODAY FAMILY VIOLENCE HELP CENTRE info@thetodaycentre.ca 780-455-6880 CHILD INTERVENTION SERVICES 1-800-638-0715

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS' RESOURCES INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SERVICES

EDMONTON AREA

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES 780-454-1194 CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES 780-391-3233 ISLAMIC FAMILY SERVICES 780-430-9922 PRIDE CENTRE OF EDMONTON 780-488-3234

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS' RESOURCES

Advising, support and more resources ISS: ONLINE ORIENTATION

HEALTH AND WELLNESS ACCESS

Orientation for international students

Health services for students living outside of Alberta

WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM Get work experience in Canada

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ASSOCIATION

IRCC: STUDY PERMIT

Student services, live chat and newsletters

information about studying in Canada

Confidence Building Tips for finding self confidence in a competitive world Written By: Derek Warwick, Engineering Wellness How confident are you feeling right now?

Accept Your Insecurities High confidence is no better

Whether you're certain you're going to ace this term or you're a little shakier about your abilities, you can use strategies to boost your confidence. And there's good reason to: research points to the key part confidence plays in high academic performance

than low confidence if it's unstable. In a study by Michael Kernis, people with high but fragile self-esteem are more likely to become defensive and protect their ego when it's threatened. To create stability

alone, never mind the other areas of

in your self-confidence, try what

our lives.

might sound counterintuitive: embrace who you are, which

Here are a few ways to get started.

includes your shortcomings.

Seek Mastery Before Top Grades It might seem obvious that to boost your confidence, you should work hard for that A grade. According to research by Carol Dweck, you're better off setting a goal to learn the material well; these kinds of learning goals boost motivation, coping, and achievement. Setting ability-based goals, on the other hand, tend to lead to poorer performance when facing a challenge. So build your internal motivation by aiming for mastery instead of external validation of your abilities. 24

“I'veYou've got this" Think of the last time you offered words of encouragement to a friend who needed them. The next time you need a confidence boost, try the same thing—with yourself. Ethan Kross's research suggests that when we use the third person in positive self-talk, the benefits are greater than if we'd stuck with an "I" statement. Maybe stick to using this one in your head in the middle of an exam, though.

Remember your accomplishments The next time you're feeling doubt about your accomplishments, imagine how a younger version of yourself would think of you now. Maybe they'd be impressed by how you always give your best effort, or by how you take risks even when it doesn't always work out. Maybe they'd be proud of how you treat other people, or by how you're always learning and getting better. You've worked hard to be here, and you're here for a reason.

Sources U of Iowa confidence study https://crisp.org.uiowa.edu/sites/crisp.o rg.uiowa.edu/files/202004/8.11.pdf Michael Kernis, self-esteem stability https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1 111/j.14676494.2005.00359.x Carol Dweck, mastery goals, performance goals https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding? doi=10.1037%2F00223514.54.1.5 https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2003073 29012 Ethan Kross, psychological distancing https://www.nature.com/articles/s4159 8017040473

Being Mindful On Campus COVID Guidelines

Here are a few things to keep in mind as we return for the Fall semester to ensure we are all taking the steps necessary to protect each other as safely as possible!

Continue wearing a mask correctly on campus and in public spaces Be sure to supervise your health and symptoms daily Carry a pack of sanitary wipes and hand sanitizer for convenience Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your face and mouth

Keep your social circle consistent and accountable Try to maintain a distance of 2 meters away from others indoors Keep physical contact to a limit

Check up on your friends and acquaintances

Get vaccinated! Visit the UofA Pharmacy to book an appointment: https://bookyourvisit.ca/uhcpharmacy

Take care of your emotional and mental well-being Don't be afraid to voice your health concerns and try to make time for yourself to rest and recuperate. By maintaining your health, you are doing your part in encouraging a safer experience for the rest of the UAlberta community.

CAMPUS MEMORIES A series of throwbacks and experiences to look forward to — curated by your Engineering Community During the first snowfall of the year, none of the busses were running on time. I missed my bus and ended up being 10 minutes late for my math lab but I decided to just skip the lab and grab Opa for lunch instead.

Roger Moore's PHYS 130 Halloween Video.

Dr. Venera Hrimiuc telling the class that we can’t get sick because we have finals coming up.

Crying in Cameron Library.

Going to a midterm practice session held by the ESSC and realizing that I knew absolutely nothing…

GEER Week!

‘Studying’ in ECHA meeting rooms with friends during midterms but really just watching Youtube videos.

I once fell asleep in Math102 and woke up to find that I had been writing notes in my sleep...they didn’t make any sense.

Nearly missing my first CHEM 103 lab AND almost sleeping in on the day of the lab exam. I’ve sworn off 8 AMs.

In my first year, the ESS was giving out free pancakes in ETLC and the fire alarm went off. Needless to say, no one evacuated because everyone was too focused on free food.

Walking out of an exam in the Butterdome with a swarm of 1000 other students.

Doing the math 100 homework an hour before it's due while highly caffeinated.

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TOP 10 SONGS FOR YOUR COMMUTE

ADULT

ADU

"TOO DEEP TO TURN BACK" DANIEL CAESAR

Anything from Case Study 01 is the best commute song... Source: Personal Experience (i.e., listening to it everyday on my way to school in the fall term)

"CHICKEN TENDIES" CLINTON KANE Ignoring the title of this song (his fans titled it), this is a sweet acoustic tune which is perfect for a cozy fall morning on your way to campus.

"PEOPLE WATCHING" CONAN GRAY Not only does the title describe something that we are all guilty of doing on our commute but, this song plus being on the LRT will make you feel like you're in a music video.

"MINIMAL" ROLE MODEL "JESUS IN LA" ALEC BENJAMIN A catchy tune about realizing that home is happiness...kind of like in the middle of your commute when you realize that your missing your bed a little too much.

Absolutely the best song to start your morning...it literally starts with birds chirping.

A collection of soft tunes for your early morning or late night on Edmonton's Transit

BONU S TRA CK: "SEPTE MBER " - ROY B

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"RENEGADE" BIG RED MACHINE FT. TAYLOR SWIFT

2021

Indie Band + Taylor Swift = your next favourite fall commute song.

"EDITION" REX ORANGE COUNTY

"CRUMBLE" KEVIN ABSTRACT

The simplicity of this song is everything you need when you're standing in a crowded LRT or coming home after a busy day.

A chill tune by a member of Brockhampton. This song has clearly never failed me, seeing it has been on every fall playlist I've made since 2018. Trust me, this is a good one.

"FALLING FOR BOYS" JULIA MICHAELS Nothing will beat Julia Michaels' soft vocals over light guitar and a simple drum beat with a splash of synth...

"UNDER CONTROL" THE INTERNET This song is what I think would be playing through someone's Airpods while they're on the subway in New York during the fall.

Also, I just really like this song.

STUDENT SECRETS Engineering Recruits, Find enclosed the best kept secrets to survivng another year at basecamp. We trust that this information will not be leaked outside. Best of luck recruits!

here you go Carry a water bottle everyw til the Never enter the lecture hall un previous class has left ays Understand and utilize the pedw e professor Do not buy a textbook until th has instructed to do so DICE will not Studying on the 7th floor of be successful 10 minutes in ith w s pu m ca el av tr n ca u Yo on top of Plan your assignments to stay them e Ualberta You can watch movies using th Criterion S Do join a club (such as the ES publications team)

MOST RECENT READ

THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY MATT HAIG

BREANNE'S AUGUST READ

"The Midnight Library" follows the story of a depressed and lonely, Nora Seed, as she visits somewhere that is in between life and death. This place allows Nora to revisit her regrets and see a life where she had made a different choice.

THOUGHTS & OPINIONS WARNING: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS

With complete honesty, I can say that this book almost hit too close to home. When I first started reading I didn't know if I would be able to finish because Nora's depression and attempted suicide made me think deeply about my own mental health. However, I do not regret finishing this book at all. Nora's experience in a library that exists between life and death showed her the many outcomes of her life had she made a different choice, like choosing to continue swimming and becoming an olympian as opposed to quitting swimming, as she did in her root life. Often times I have wondered if the decision I made was the right one, and too often I would blame making the wrong choice on my anxiety. This book challenged my thoughts and made me realize that some things are just inevitable or some things are just out of my own control.

HOW THE BOOK CLUB WORKS: 1. Get the book of the Month 2. Read! 3. Submit your thoughts and opinion of the book for a chance to be featured in the next edition of "Breanne's Book Nook" 4. Keep an eye out for a new book every month 5. Repeat!

SUBMIT YOUR THOUGHTS HERE

THIS MONTHS READ

YOLK

MARY H.K. CHOI

"Yolk" follows the story of two sisters who are nothing alike. Though they have moved from Seoul to San Antonio to New York together they now want nothing to do with each other. That is, until one sister falls ill and they have no choice but to help each other.

THE TWO DOORS Mariko Gardiner The traveller was journeying along a worn path when he came upon a mustached man with a wagon. The man called to him, “Hello there, traveller. You must be weary, come inside my wagon and rest for a moment.” The traveller, who was, in fact, very weary from walking, accepted the man’s invitation gladly and entered the wagon. The wagon was unassuming on the outside, but as soon as the traveller stepped inside, he noticed the doors. Every wall was filled with doors of every variety. There was oak, pine, steel, double French, glass, sliding, every type of door imaginable and then some. In the middle was a kettle with steam coming out the top, and the man gestured for the traveller to sit down. “I see you have noticed my doors,” the man said, sitting down next to the traveller, “Magnificent, no? I am Sergei, purveyor of doors and entryways of all sorts. May I interest you in any?” Sergei poured tea from the kettle into two small cups and offered one to the traveller, who accepted gladly. “No, thank you,” he replied.

“Are you sure?” Sergei continued in his spiel. “If you had a door such as this,” he gestured to a finely detailed wooden door, “you would surely be the envy of all your neighbors.” “I’m sure I would,” the traveller laughed a little as he spoke, “If only I had a house.” “Ah, I see.” They sat for a few moments sipping tea before the traveller spoke again, Sergei looking on attentively. “I have no need for a door, and in fact there have only ever been two doors that interested me. “The first door I found on the side of a mountain. Next to it was a being with the body of a bull and the head of a man. When he saw me, he approached and asked for help. He told me that beyond the door lay a labyrinth, which he could not enter or he would be lost forever. He told me also that his friend was lost in the labyrinth. He then asked me to enter the labyrinth and retrieve his friend, so that they might be together once again. “Seeing his plight, I decided to brave the labyrinth, and entered

through the door. Inside was a long, straight corridor, which led into a small cavern. In the middle of the cavern was a man with the head of a bull, who I took to be the friend. I told him all that his friend had told me, and he confirmed that the story was true. He told me also that he had once been a cow, and his friend a man, but they had been cursed to be separated by this labyrinth. He told me it had been centuries since they had seen each other, but that if they ever reunited the curse would be lifted and the labyrinth would become a straight line instead of an impossible series of inescapable twists and turns. “Confused, I told him that the labyrinth was a straight line. Perhaps the curse had been lifted and neither had noticed, but if he left now he could find his way out simply by going straight. He laughed and told me that was not the case. He said I must be an evil fairy trying to trick him again. He said he wouldn’t leave, that he was happy enough where he was, he had a bed and enough food and water, and if he left, he would have to sleep on the stone floor of the labyrinth until he died. It was true, he had a bed and there was a small river running through the room. I asked him if he had ever left this room, and he said he had not. He said it wasn’t worth the risk of becoming lost forever, and when I repeated that the path was simple, he laughed again and told me I was wrong.

“I left and returned to the man outside. I relayed the events exactly as they had transpired and informed him that, if he wanted, he could go through the door and find his friend easily. He also laughed and said that if he ever entered, he would become lost and never find a way out, and that his friend would have to find a way out. I told him that his friend was too afraid to leave his room, but the man told me that he was too afraid to enter, so I left. To my knowledge, they are still there just as I left them, both believing that they are separated by a labyrinth when it is just a door.” The traveller paused and Sergei poured him more tea. “That is interesting indeed,” said Sergei. “because the thing about doors is that they can be quite hard to open until you know how, or until you have the key.” “Perhaps that is true for some doors,” the traveller responded, “but for the second door I found the exact opposite to be true. “Not much farther along the road, I came across the second door. It was standing on the side of the road, and there was nothing around it. I tried to open it, but it was locked. Being unable to open the door, I eventually continued my journey. However, I kept coming back to that door. For weeks, I would return every night. When I didn’t return, the door would appear on the

side of whatever road I happened to be on. “The door itself was ordinary to look at. It was made of flat wood with a brass doorknob and a keyhole. If I were to walk around the door, the doorframe would seem empty from one side and I could walk through it, but when I look behind me the door would once again appear. I tried ramming the door, but it wouldn’t budge. I tried picking the lock, and I even attempted to burn the door down, but nothing worked. “I tried my best to ignore the door. Over time, it began to appear to me less, and I would walk by as though nothing were there, and though I could not get it out of my head, I stopped seeing it and was able to continue my life to some extent.

“I still have the key, but I can’t find the door anymore. I returned to its original location, but it was gone. Maybe someday I will lose the key and find the door, but somehow I don’t think so.” Sergei looked at the traveller. “May I see this key?” The traveller handed him a small brass key. “You can keep it,” he said, “consider it a thanks for the tea and companionship.” Sergei looked like he wanted to say something, but the traveller continued, “I must go now, I have a long way to travel before nightfall. If you ever find out anything more about the door, maybe you will tell me, but until then, farewell.” The traveller left the wagon and continued along his way.

“Then one day I saw the door again, but this time it was ajar. Unable to contain myself, I threw the door open. On the other side was a small room, no larger than a closet. Inside the room was a massive pile of brass keys. All the keys looked to be the exact same, so I grabbed one. I put it in the keyhole on the door, and it fit perfectly. So I tried another, I tried all of them, and each one fit perfectly in the keyhole. Here was a door which contained nothing but its own keys. I took one of the keys and locked the door. Having done so, I left, and the door bothered me no more.

THIS JOURNAL BELONGS TO

LUCY LOOSELIPS xoxo

Two Entered and Only One Came Out Imagine this, a group of high-strung people with severe God complexes who claim to care about the student body. Does any particular student group come to mind? If the first group you thought of was the Student Union, you’re not wrong, but a little south from the point. I am talking about the infamous Engineering Students’ Society or ESS for short. In a group with so many hard-headed people...sorry the ESS execs are not people, people cannot be that selfish. In a group with so many hardheaded monsters there must be more going on below the surface. Ironically the pairing with the most conflict were the Co-Vice Presidents of Communications. It seems like their communication skills needed some work. In the beginning of March there were two of them, Faryal and Breanne. All seemed good, they were the best of friends and the birds were chirping. But as of right now, the VP Communications pair is no longer. There is now only a solo VP Communications running the show. What happened to Faryal and why isn’t she part of the ESS anymore?

The main culprit of the story is Breanne Bacani, otherwise known as the Stapler Slayer. Why? Because when she finds herself in any sort of inconvenience she goes completely nuts and obliterates anything in her path using the sparkly stapler, with colourful staples, she keeps in her back pocket. But on the bright side, she will analyze your personality and label you with a colour; she claims I am a pastel blue! The second character is Faryal Faisal, someone who is highly opinionated but with good Remedy recommendations. My piece of advice, never get in a car with her, you may not survive. At first glance everything was going great, they knocked out some mediocre goals for The Bridge. It even seemed like they would surpass last year's viewership which was up 600% from 1 viewer in 2019. Everyone was impressed with this combination and had high expectations, I mean can anyone expect anything bad from two sweetlooking girls. Alas comes the Great Club Room Debacle. The VP Communications pair were tasked with designing the common room; a space centered around all the clubrooms on the 5th floor of MecE, with the goal of providing a place for engineering students to de-stress. But we all know that space will be used for students to whine about how many classes they take and how their lives are so much harder than yours. Many ideas of what to bring to this place were thrown around. A sick foosball table, which was deemed too noisy by the faculty. Perhaps some very nice bookshelves that are too expensive for the stingy Ethan Franz. If the furniture has termites you can blame him. 42

Things started falling into place, right up until the seating choice had to be made. Breanne had the grand idea of introducing IKEA Egg Chairs to the space. She reminisced of her childhood: “When things were easy, math only had numbers, and Daniel Cook had the egg chair that I ALWAYS WANTED.” As any sane person would, Faryal thought the chairs would be a waste of money. She thought that instead, they should get a wax figurine of Roger Moore and a Tim Hortons Iced Capp machine. Breanne had invited Faryal to meet on 5th floor MecE to peacefully map out the space, but innocent bystanders say that it was all but that. Lots of screaming and sobbing was heard, a One Direction CD was played on loop, and people even made out the noise of pants ripping. Nobody else was in the room, nobody found the pieces, why was there water running down the stairs, why was One Direction being played in 2021? But two entered and only one came out. The one that came out held a sickish grin on her face...if you check the ESS credit card you will see a charge of $890 for 10 egg chairs from IKEA. Sources say that there are many hidden closets, locked doors and many flights of stairs in the MecE building. Students have already begun complaining about a stench, and this time it isn't the engg boy odor. What do you think happened to Faryal?

xoxo

LUCY LOOSELIPS

Research spotlight

Balreet Grewal

Greetings from ASGAARD Also known as the Analytics of Software GAmes And Repository Data lab, the ASGAARD lab is a part of the ECE department here at the University of Alberta. This out of the world lab focuses on improving user-perceived software quality using data analytics techniques with projects in automated quality assurance of games, leveraging user feedback on software, improving post-release support, and studying the impact of release strategies. The “Guardians of ASGAARD” includes Lab Head, Dr. Cor-Paul Bezemer, and his team of PhD and Masters students. Dr. Bezemer describes the lab as thus: “In the ASGAARD lab, we focus on how we can use data analytics to solve software engineering problems. Nowadays there is so much data available from many sources to which we never had access before. We can learn many things from this data, especially by combining data from different sources in clever ways. For example, by looking at user reviews we can learn about what users of an application loved, hated and would (not) like to see in a future release. If we combine these reviews with the release schedule of that application, we can learn how different release frequencies are 44

perceived by the users. This in turn can help us make decisions about when and how often to publish a new release for that application. All these insights would have been much harder to come to without data analytics. I think we are different from other labs since we work on such a variety of topics which are applied in a wide variety of domains as well. We have students working on topics such as performance engineering, code smell analysis [code that is “stinky” - it works but, it is not very clean], automated testing and user-perceived quality which are applied in very different domains such as cloud-based software, Jupyter notebooks and even games.” Some papers published by the lab include topics such as analyzing Q&A websites like Stack overflow, virtual reality games and their associated complaints, game jams and their trends, bad updates in free-to-download games, and much more. To read more about this one-of-a-kind lab and peruse other publications, you can go to the ASGAARD lab website: asgaard.ece.ualberta.ca

BIOMIMICRY How Nature Influences Engineering Design

SHARKS

When viewed under a microscope, sharkskin is composed of overlapping scales called dermal denticles. These denticles reduce turbulence and drag which allows sharks to swim faster. The rough shape of the scales also prevents microorganisms, such as algae and barnacles, from attaching to their surface. Sharkskin inspired designs are used on a variety of objects including coatings for ship’s hulls, submarines, aircraft, and even swimwear for humans.

ROSE BUTTERFLIES

Rose butterflies have multiple randomly placed nano-holes on their wings that are able to collect light from a wider range of angles. These butterflies have inspired a new type of solar cell that is capable of capturing light more efficiently.

BURRS

The creation of velcro was a result of biomimicry. George de Mestral was inspired to invent Velcro after observing how easily burrs stuck to his dog’s fur. When he studied them under a microscope, he noticed the tiny hooks at the end of the burr’s spines. These hooks were able to catch anything with a loop, such as fur and fabric. He replicated this design with his two-part velcro fastening system which uses a strip of loosely looping nylon opposite a strip of tiny hooks to attach.

WHALES

Although whales are some of the world's largest creatures, they are highly aerodynamic. This is due to the bumps at the front edge of their fins called tubercles. These bumps increase the efficiency at which a whale can swim and reduce drag. These fins inspired serrated-edge wind turbines, which are not only more efficient than the smooth blades but are also quieter. This design has also been integrated into cooling fans, airplane wings, and propellers.

Everyday Engineering: Insulation Insulation Insulation is used to prevent the transfer of energy between two different bodies. Energy can be transmitted in a few different ways, but the main ones are convection and induction. Convection is the transfer of energy due to fluid motion. For example, a convection oven has a heating element at the top and bottom to produce heat and a fan moves the air around to ensure even heating throughout. Conduction is the transfer of energy through a material. An example of conduction is when a metal spoon is sitting in boiling water and the handle becomes hot, even though the air around it is not. There are other methods of transferring energy, such as emitting electromagnetic radiation, but the energy transmitted in these ways is far less, so engineers often disregard it when designing insulation.

Purpose One of the most common applications of insulation is the insulation found in buildings. It’s important to ensure buildings are properly insulated, otherwise heating and cooling costs can increase, and permanent damage to infrastructure can occur. To prevent this, there are many different types of insulation available. The effectiveness of building insulation material is measured as its R-value, with a high Rvalue being more effective for preventing heat transfer. Depending on location and what part of the building is being insulated, required R-values can range from R13 in mild climates to R60 in colder places like Edmonton. The R-values vary depending

on the insulating material, the method of insulation, and how thick the insulation is.

Material The most common insulation material is fiberglass. Fiberglass is made of glass fibers and can be extremely harmful to people but is very effective for preventing heat transfer. Fiberglass is popular for its low cost and high R-value, around R2.9-R3.8 per inch. Another popular choice for insulation is Cellulose. Cellulose is made from wood or paper, often recycled to be more ecofriendly. It can have chemicals like borate mixed in to reduce flammability but is still far safer to work with than fiberglass. Cellulose is also inexpensive and has an Rvalue between R3 and R4 per inch. Foam made from different types of plastics can also be used as insulation. Foam has a higher R-value than cellulose and fiberglass and is also fire retardant, but is far more expensive, causing it to be used less. It can have R-values of up to R6-R7 per inch and can last up to 80 years without losing Rvalue, whereas fiberglass can last around 25 years at most. Less commonly, insulation can also be made from mineral wool, natural fibers, and denim. Mineral wool is made from a mix of inorganic fibers such as basalt and slag, often with glass mixed in. Because it’s used less, it tends to be more expensive. Mineral wool has R-values around R3.7R4.2 per inch. Natural fibers are similar to mineral wool, but made from organic rather than inorganic fibers, such as cotton

and wool. Depending on what material is used, natural fibers can have R-values ranging from R1.4 for straw to R3.5 for hemp and cotton. Denim is, as the name suggests made from denim. This insulation is often recycled and popular among DIYers, but not often used commercially due to its higher price. It typically has an Rvalue around R3.5.

Method There are several different methods available for installing insulation. When choosing a method, it’s important to consider which methods require specialized machinery and what methods work with which materials. The easiest method of installation is using insulation batts. Batts are pre-made sections of insulation that can be placed in the building without any specialized equipment and can be used for fibrous insulation materials, such as fiberglass and mineral wool insulation. They are designed to fit within either 2x4 or 2x6 wall studs, making them compatible with most walls without any modification. Batts are also one of the less expensive methods of installation and has R-values from R2.9 up to R4.3 per inch. Loose-fill insulation is better for oddly shaped areas, such as attics. Also known as blown-in insulation, this installation method uses special equipment to blow the insulating material into place. This method is reasonably priced, but because it requires specialized equipment it is not often done by homeowners. Fiberglass, cellulose, and mineral wool are commonly installed using this method, and can have R-values around R2.2-R3.8. Rolls are like batts but come in large rolls rather than rectangular pieces. This method is more effective for large open spaces, as having one continuous piece allows less air through than have several pieces, which may have small gaps

between them. This is another method that doesn’t require specialized equipment and is affordable, making it possible for anyone to install. This method has similar R-values to batts. Foam board has one of the highest Rvalues of any method, and one of the highest prices. Foam board is made of rigid foam, often polystyrene or polyurethane. It comes in a rigid board that can be used almost anywhere. The R-value for foam board ranges from R3 up to R6.8 per inch, depending on the type of plastic the foam is made from. Spray foam is a spray, made of similar materials to foam boards, that rapidly expands when applied to a surface, making it good for difficult to reach or oddly shaped areas. Special equipment is needed for large jobs, but small areas can be done with spray cans. It tends to be more expensive than other methods but is often used in colder climates due to its high R-value. Spray foam can have an R-value from R3.7 to R6.5 per inch. Radiant barriers are a method of insulation used to reduce the amount of heat entering a building by reflecting it away. It often consists of foam board covered in a reflective material, such as aluminum, which reflects the heat away from the building. This type of insulation is most often used in hotter climates. Radiant barriers are not measured in R-value.

Design When designing a building, it is important to choose the best insulation. Insulation should be chosen based on the required R-value for the climate, the budget for the project, whether professionals will be installing it or general workers, and how eco-friendly it is. Based on these factors, a method and material can be selected to meet all the needs of the project.

The Bridge: Once More Unto the Breach (21/22)