Details:

National Engineering and Geoscience Month

Summary:

Hello Richmond-Delta Branch Volunteers!

Kwantlen Polytechnic Science Challenge - Saturday, Nov. 28

Location: Kwantlen University - Richmond Campus.
8771 Lansdowne Road, Richmond, BC ( map )

This event is aimed at Junior and Senior Secondary Students (Grades 8-12) in a fun filled day of science and engineering challenges. The Branch sponsors the Junior and Senior Design Challenges and presents awards to the winners at the end of the day. 

We need volunteers to assist with running the events and providing some last second mentoring to the students. This is a fun, easy and gratifying event as you get swept up in the enthusiasm shown by the various teams. Please check the attached PDF or the website/more info. We need a minimum of two volunteers for each event (4 total) - the more the better so we can take breaks, tour the other events of just commit for part of the day. Please feel free to recruit your friends and co-workers - everyone is welcome. 

Please e-mail me back with your response, time commitment and preferred time (morning or afternoon). this opportunity is restricted to P. Eng and P. Geo only by the by-laws. 

Thank you one and all for your past support and continued support moving forward. Please note the pressing deadlines on this opportunity and give these matters due attention.

Respectfully,

Philip Parker, P. Eng. Chair,
Richmond-Delta Branch APEGBC
pparker@rjc.ca

Respectfully,

Philip Parker, P. Eng.
Chair, Richmond-Delta Branch APEGBC

Summary:

On August 21st, the Burnaby Product Engineering, Test Engineering, and CCAM team decided to try something new for a team-building event.  In past years we organized an internal “Fun Day” with physics challenges; this year we included a Difference element, and partnered with our local Boys & Girls Club of Greater Vancouver club to host what we called a “Creation Engineering & Science Day”.

Taking over a day within the Fraserview Club’s daycamp schedule, our goal was to introduce basic concepts of science and engineering to 60 kids (aged 6-12); to get them thinking about things around them, and of course to have FUN!  And fun we had, as we went through a demonstration and two team challenges, which were prepared by the Engineering team in the weeks leading up to the event.

We started off building bridges made of Popsicle sticks.  Using glue and tape, each team was challenged to design a structure that would resist the greatest point load.  Thanks to the tremendous support of our provincial engineering association (APEGBC), we had all the materials and equipment to replicate an earlier regional event hosted by APEGBC.  The bridges were allowed to do dry for only 3 hours before being placed in “The Crusher” to be tested.  The creativity in the bridges can be seen in the pictures below; the strongest bridge resisted a 29-lb load!

Next, we provided a quick lesson on concrete and roadways – we brought unmixed concrete and showed the kids how it turns into the hard concrete they run on so often.  It was refreshing to see them eager to handle the sample and even wanting to put their fingers into the concrete!

Our last challenge of the day involved an inventory box, rubber bands, and ping pong ball, among other materials.  Each team constructed a device that launched the ball as far as possible, but with precision over 3 trials.  Once again, the creativity in the kids was evident in the various ideas they came up with, and the enthusiasm as they watched everyone else during the contest. 

The kids ended the day wanting to take home as many “souvenirs” as possible – from the launching device to bits and pieces of the crushed bridges.  The kids, staff, and Engineering all had a great time and it was exciting to see some budding mini-Engineers out there!

Date/Time:

Saturday, April 24, 2010 at 12:00 pm