Engineering Fair May 17, 2007

Vancouver Island University hosted its first annual Engineering Fair on 17-May/07 with attendance by students from Wellington Secondary and Dover Bay Secondary in Nanaimo, and Kwalikum Secondary in Qualicum.

Students were given a talk on Engineering Practice (George Hrabowych, Herold Engineering Inc.) before the competition rules and background were explained to them by Eric Smiley and Ray Penner of Vancouver Island University. Their task: Design a siege engine (similar to a trebuchet) to achieve the greatest throw accuracy and furthest throw distance.

 

With a set amount of tools and equipment, students (in groups of two) blasted through holes in a 'castle' to determine their accuracy, then tossed their projectiles down the main hall of the Physics/Engineering building to measure distance. Engineers from Herold Engineering Inc. and several professors from the Engineering and Physics Department at Vancouver Island University acted as mentors and advisors during the students' design and building. Pizza and refreshments were provided to all involved for this all-day event.

The Department of Physics, Engineering, and Astronomy would like to congratulate the winners of this year's Siege Engine contest. They are:

Accuracy

Prize	Name	School
1st Place	Levi Botelho & Daniel Brown	Kwalikum Secondary
2nd Place	Chris McClure & Ilya Tchernov	Kwalikum Secondary
3rd Place	Brandon Hendsbee & Laura Gudowski	Wellington Secondary

Distance

Prize	Name	School
1st Place	Emo Joel & Greg Cobley	Wellington Secondary/Dover Bay Secondary
2nd Place	Brandon Hendsbee & Laura Gudowski	Wellington Secondary
3rd Place	Mychal Rodway & Kevin Boorer	Kwalikum Secondary

All place winners received a take-home plaque and medallion. In addition, first place winners had their names placed on the main plaque displayed in the hall way of the Physics/engineering/Astronomy department, a $25 gift card for Futureshop...and bragging rights!

The organizers for the 2007 Engineering Fair would like to thank the Department of Physics, Engineering, and Astronomy, the Faculty of Science & Technology, and NSERC (Pacific Branch) for funding, and Herold Engineering Inc. for providing talks, mentoring, and support for students during their siege engine design and testing.

Please check back here for details on next year's competition!