Using data generated from home construction projects in the Okanagan, researchers at the University of British Columbia analyzed the environmental impact and performance between modular and conventional buildings.

Taking into account the on-site and off-site construction methods between the two approaches, the analysis reviewed the material production, construction and completion of the projects.

“By analyzing the construction through a lifecycle management assessment, we were able to accurately measure the environmental impacts of the projects such as global warming potential” explains Kasun Hewage, a professor at the School of Engineering and FortisBC Smart Energy Chair.  “We discovered that modular construction has the potential to reduce the overall energy consumption which can result in less environmental burdens.”

Kasun Hewage, Mohammad Kamali and Rehan Sadiq

Lead researcher, Mohammad Kamali, who earned his PhD from UBC Okanagan and now teaches at Okanagan College, says the research establishes a basis for benchmarking database by which the industry can improve the environmental performance of residential homes.  “The construction industry is a huge consumer of material and energy resources, so even incremental changes could go a long way,” says Kamali.

The researchers identified a number of strategies the industry can implement to lower the environmental footprint associated with the material production and construction stages of buildings’ life cycle. According to the research, strategies including optimal designs, decrease in materials and transportation logistic requirements, and increase in annual production of modular manufacturing centers can improve the environmental performance.

The research was recently published in the journal Energy and Buildings.

Julia Halipchuk (BASc, Civil ’13) is a Building Science & Restoration Engineer with Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd.

Photo by Clare Kiernan

How did your experience/studies at UBC Okanagan’s School of Engineering prepare you for your current role?

In the later years of my degree I was heavily involved in the campus life programming. Working with students from different faculties gave me the opportunity to grow my communication skills and learn what’s required to work as a team to accomplish a common goal. My current role involves a lot of specialty engineering and I work with many mechanical and electrical engineers. The multiple years of general engineering studies helped me better understand different disciplines.

What are some of your favourite memories from your time at UBC Okanagan?

Most of my favourite moments from university involve campus life activities and my time working as a peer mentor gave me friendships that will last a lifetime. I really enjoyed being a part of the inaugural Concrete Toboggan team and the opportunity I had to travel with a group of other students for a month long excursion to Bolivia.

Photo by Clare Kiernan

Is there one class and/or prof in particular that really inspired you?

My capstone course really fostered my interest in structural engineering and I am grateful for Dr. Solomon Tesfamariam’s supervision during that time. But I don’t think I could say that there was one particular class that stood out from the rest. I feel that I learned technical knowledge and a better understanding of myself and others in all of my classes.

What was the process like getting a job? 

Finding my first job was relatively straightforward. My second took a bit of work. I was fortunate enough to have been the recipient of a scholarship throughout university that was sponsored by a Mining company. Post graduation they offered me a position in the structural engineering department. After about a year I was laid off and needed to start to look for work again. I spent about 9 months looking for work both here and overseas. I kept up with the EGBC job postings, cold called several companies and tried to leverage my contacts to get my foot in the door. After lots of perseverance, I found my current position at RJC. I’ve been with the company for 5 years, and is a great fit for me.

Describe your current role?

I work as a specialty structural engineer which is sort of an umbrella term for a variety of scopes. I work on existing buildings; providing structural services to architects and designers conducting tenant improvements for commercial clients, and to mechanical and electrical engineers providing upgrades to existing building systems. I provide specialty gravity supports and seismic restraints for mechanical and electrical equipment as well as architectural features. A large part of my time is spent conducting seismic assessments and providing upgrade schemes, usually for public buildings.

What does the future hold for you?

I am hoping to continue my career in structural engineering and focus my work on seismic upgrading of existing structures.  Aside from that, I hope to continue to see more of the world, eat great food, and leverage my position as a disabled woman in the construction industry to make room for other marginalized people.

Photo by Clare Kiernan

Julia was featured in a CBC profile in October 2019.

Two APSC 169 teams have qualified for the AquaHacking Challenge finals.

https://www.facebook.com/OkWaterWise/videos/210318470059332/

The teams will now compete for $50,000 in seed funding and placement in a start-up incubator to further refine their solution and bring it to market.

The online competition hosted by the Okanagan Basin Water Board and Aqua Forum held its semi-finals last week featured 30 teams from BC, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec.

The teams pitched solutions to some of B.C.’s greatest water challenges including: contaminants in storm water, outdoor water conservation, flood damage and risks, invasive zebra and quagga mussels, and access to potable water in Indigenous communities.

UBC Okanagan Finalists:

• Elite (UBC Okanagan – Kelowna): Issue – stormwater contamination. Solution: An engineering solution, adapted to the land contour, to collect debris, waste and sediment as it flows over urban landscape in times of high water events.  The team includes: Keyvan Khadem, Ahmed Ramadan, Gavin Saini, and Harvir Mann.
• Hydrodynamic Labs (UBC Okanagan – Kelowna): Issue – stormwater contamination. Solution: A gravity-based filtration system that removes oil, dust and petroleum contaminants from water.  The team includes: Cole White- Robinson, Jacob Sol, Samira Samad Khan, Rudransh Kumar, and Jayden Wong.

The teams will now compete against each other, and three other teams, for $50,000 in seed funding and placement in a start-up incubator to further refine their solution and bring it to market.

The finals are set for mid-June.

Students teams from APSC 169 submitted a number of proposals to the competition as part of the curriculum.  The course is taught this semester by Sabine Weyand.

Learn more at https://www.obwb.ca/top-five-teams-announced-in-b-c-aquaha…/

Emily Earl (BASc ’19, Mechanical) is currently working towards a MASc in Mechanical Engineering (2021).

Why did you choose the School of Engineering?

I decided to study engineering at the UBC Okanagan campus primarily because of the size of the campus and the reputation of the university. Coming from a particularly small town, the thought of going to a university campus where the population of the campus itself was bigger than the population of my hometown was a bit frightening. While there are many smaller university campuses around Canada, UBC was and still is well known for its excellent engineering program, and strong research initiatives. I have  found the community of UBC Okanagan to be very welcoming, inclusive, and diverse.  With small classes, I have had plenty of opportunities to establish strong connections with instructors outside of class time whenever help was needed.

What were some of your highlights of studying at UBC Okanagan?

One of my favourite things about studying at UBC Okanagan is how early the Engineering program encourages students to be creative and figure out how to develop solutions to real life problems. With major course projects being introduced in first year within the APSC 169 course and again in second year with APSC 258, I feel this encourages students to think outside the box and prepare for their final Capstone project in fourth year, as well as the real world to follow.

Were there some faculty / courses that really had an impact on your experience? 

In addition to the major design project courses, some of the other courses that had a large impact on my engineering experience were the newly introduced courses that intertwined aspects of biology with engineering, such as Tissue Engineering and Biotechnology. Even though a Biomedical Engineering specialization was unavailable during my time at UBC, it still provided me opportunity to look into that side of the engineering world while maintaining my Mechanical Engineering specialization.

Although many professors have impacted my studies at UBC, the one that stands out most of all is Dr. Hoorfar. She not only encouraged me to start my laboratory research experience by providing opportunities to work in the Advanced Thermofluidic Laboratory over the summer months of my undergraduate degree, but also continually supports me during my master’s degree by pushing me to try new ideas, no matter how different or crazy they may seem.

Upon graduation, what was your plan?

Upon the graduation of my BASc at UBC Okanagan, my plan was always to pursue further education. Originally I didn’t think I was going to stay at UBCO, but was pleasantly surprised when offered a spot. After all, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right?

How did you find your current role?

I found my current position at UBC Okanagan by reviewing the laboratory websites for some of the professors I had made strong connections with throughout my undergraduate degree and looking for groups that were focused on biomedical engineering technologies. After seeing that Dr. Hoorfar’s lab was quite diverse in project areas and had a few projects that were on the biomedical side, I arranged a meeting with her to discuss if she was looking for any graduate students. Thankfully, she was.  I continued with my MASc application with Dr. Hoorfar listed as my prospective supervisor and began my degree in September, 2019.

Overall, what would you say is the impact that UBC Okanagan and the School of Engineering has had on you?

Studying engineering at the UBC Okanagan campus has helped me grow my abilities to problem solve and helped me learn how to turn ideas into a reality. From starting with small ideas within the first year of my bachelor’s degree to big ideas now present in my master’s degree, my studies at UBC Okanagan have continually proven to me that all ideas have worth and can be formed from even the littlest of thoughts.

In addition, I have had the opportunity to meet many different people, work in a variety of research groups on campus in varying fields, and got to learn about topics in specialized areas thanks to the amazing professors here. I strongly believe that the engineering program at the School of Engineering has been developing and continually improving to provide students with as much choice, freedom, and support as possible, allowing for all students to gain the most from their experience here at UBC Okanagan.

Do you have a job lined up after you graduate? role and company?

After my MASc is complete, I have no plans as of yet. I want to take the time at the outset of my graduate studies to determine if research is a path I want to pursue further before deciding what I want to do next.

Describe your role.

I am a MASc student specializing in mechanical engineering working under the supervision of Dr. Hoorfar. My current research focuses on creating a specialized type of biocompatible hydrogel to act as a sponge to relocate highly concentrated stomach acid away from the esophagus upon ingestion. The purpose of this project is to aid in symptom management for those with chronic heartburn and provide an alternative to current treatment options.

The American Concrete Institute (ACI) recently announced that School of Engineering lecturer Mohammad Tiznobaik has been recognized with the ACI’s Wason Medal for Materials Research Award.

The honour was bestowed by the ACI Board of Direction specifically for his co-authored paper titled “Dielectric Response of Concrete: Hardening and Hydration Development” published in the November/December 2018 issue of the ACI Materials Journal.

The Wason Medal for Materials Research is awarded to the best original, peer-reviewed research in the area of concrete materials and their use. Particularly, the Award is given to research that advances the state of knowledge of materials used in construction.

“It is incredibly humbling to be awarded the Wason Medal, and it encourages me to push my research further,” says Tiznobaik.

Tiznobaik investigates advanced concrete technology specifically related to its behaviour and curing, the use of recycled construction materials and their application towards sustainable development.

With over twenty years of industry and academic experience, Tiznobaik is a leader in the area of cement and concrete behaviour and curing research.

“The research being recognized relates to the core components of the research I have been doing during my career, so the medal is extra special to me,” explains Tiznobaik.

After completing his undergraduate degree in Iran, Tiznobaik received his MASc and PhD from the University of Manitoba. He has been teaching and conducting his research at UBC Okanagan for the past several years.

For more information about the ACI visit concrete.org.

Hossein Montazerian (MASc ’18, Mechanical) is a PhD Graduate Student Researcher, Center for Minimally Invasive Therapeutics, Bioengineering Department, University of California-Los Angeles

What inspired you to go into Engineering?

Looking at the world around me, I realized how Engineering has made life easier for humanities. I found that Engineering is a great place to satisfy my curious mind and my passion for finding solutions to the most important challenges in the world.  In particular, healthcare devices that are rapidly becoming more and more intelligent these days made me believe that Engineering actually has made a great impact on peoples’ lives. I always dreamed about changing the world and figured that Engineering is the way to go for anyone who wants to contribute to this impact.

Why did you choose the School of Engineering?

The School of Engineering at UBC Okanagan is among a few places I know where it brings the faculty from different disciplines close together and provides the opportunity for students to be exposed to a multidisciplinary research environment. Many prominent and revolutionary examples of discovery have taken place in collaborations and interactions between experts in different fields. On top of that, I found a highly professional and high-standard mentorship by the SoE faculty which is the key to each student’s success and motivation.

What were some of your highlights of studying at UBC Okanagan?

Graduation from UBC Okanagan was particularly fascinating to me and a memory that I will never forget. UBC Okanagan helped shape my decision in what I want to do in my professional career. Working jointly in Composites Research Network (CRN) and Advanced Thermofluidic Laboratory (ATFL) under supervision of Prof. Milani and Prof. Hoorfar was an amazing experience in my life that I always refer to.

Were there some faculty / courses that really had an impact on your experience?

Microfabrication course thought by Prof. Ian Foulds was one of my favorite courses that also helped a lot with my research and also we gained hands-on experience in practical lab activities. Also the course “Multicriteria optimization and design of experiments” by Prof. Milani was a very helpful course in proper analysis of my experimental data and design of my experiments.

Upon graduation, what was your plan?

I would like to pursue my career in academia, so I decided to continue my education towards PhD degree.

How did you find your current role?

I am very excited to continue as a researcher in one of the top tier research laboratories. I feel so happy that I can apply what I learned during my Masters studies at UBC Okanagan in my current research.

Describe your role.

I am currently doing experimental research in bioengineering areas to find solutions for a wide range of healthcare problems.

Overall, what would you say is the impact that UBC Okanagan and the School of Engineering has had on you?

The biggest impact that the School of Engineering and my supervisors thought me was to always aim big and strive to make a big impact.

Describe your role as a Mechanical Design Engineer

This role is quite niche and the title does not encompass all my job functions. I design mechanical components at an avionics company, I manage contract design/test/build projects and I act like a glue between Sales and the Production floor.

Within this role there are technical aspects like designing to meet the environmental testing standard DO-160G (vibration endurance, EMI resistance, waterproofness etc.) and non-technical aspects like constant team collaboration and liaising between customers and sales/production.

What inspired you to go into Engineering?

I grew up on a farm and my father also ran his own mechanics business. He was always fixing heavy equipment and working on classic cars in his off time. This got me interested in mechanics and the design of mechanical components and ultimately engineering.

I was actually enrolled in the Arts program at UBC Okanagan right out of high school until I heard of an FSAE team (UBCO Motorsports) that was trying to get off the ground. It fit perfectly with what I enjoyed doing so I started the long process of transferring into the Engineering program.

Why did you choose the School of Engineering?

I was already enrolled at UBC Okanagan in the Arts Program and I found the School of Engineering was the faculty that fit me the best.

What are some highlights of studying at UBC Okanagan?

I am a very outdoorsy person and enjoy a lot of outdoor activities, the area allowed me to still enjoy this aspect while attending school. Big White is amazing, the summers are amazing and Kelowna is the perfect sized town for me as I dislike large cities.

For me, the academics were never my main focus. I immersed myself with the FSAE team and became the powertrain lead for three years. This was the largest “highlight” of UBC Okanagan and was arguably the biggest reason for me getting interesting work outside university. I met so many like minded people on the team, they were all determined and industrious individuals that wanted more than a typical degree. We built two cars in my time on campus, raced them in the States three times. The amount of learning and sense of accomplishment from the team was more significant than any course or degree for me. UBC Okanagan allowed me to meet these people.

Also, The Well was always a place for decompression and I have fond memories within that establishment.

Were there some faculty / courses that really had an impact on your experience? If so, how/which ones?

I am a very project-oriented thinker so Capstone 499 had the largest impact on my experience. I was given the ability to shine in areas where I excel and work with a team. Other project-based classes like 278 (the robotic rover) and 320 (electric motor) I also really enjoyed and excelled at because the project was the end goal for me, not the grade (which for me were generally higher in these classes because I enjoyed them so much)

Dr. Sediako was always supportive and fostered a sense of professionalism and deeper learning. Out of all faculty, he was the one who really made me think about pursing a Masters or PhD because he has worked in some very interesting fields. He is also a very humble person and passes his knowledge on well. He really wants the best for his students.

Upon graduation, what was your plan?

I did not have a firm plan but I needed to start my career and I wanted to remain in Kelowna for the short-term to be able to enjoy the area without school. I wish I had a firm plan but that is still something I have not developed. Starting my own company has always been on the back burner and is something I work towards.

Working in some type of motorsports industry would be the “dream job” but it requires a significant move because there are very few opportunities in Canada for that sector.

How did you find your current role?

I knew someone who works at AEM and he recommended me for the job. Before that I worked for a start-up company as a technical designer/manager. UBCO Motorsports, and my desire to keep working on more technical and demanding projects, has always helped me find work. You have to break the norm and stand out to get interesting work.

Every single member of UBCO Motorsports that put in a significant amount of work will have a job out of school and I can bet that most of them will have very positive things to say about what the team has to offer.

Overall, what would you say is the impact that UBC Okanagan and the School of Engineering has had on you?

The overall impact was positive, I wouldn’t be where I am today without a degree from a prominent university and more importantly, the experiences that I had while attending.

I have further enhanced my critical thinking skills and gained immense insight to global technology advancements, politics, different cultures and world issues. Being immersed in a university that attracts people from all over the globe allows you to get exposed to the world. University has made me a well-rounded human and not a one-trick-pony.

It is what you make of it.

During his PhD, Mohammad Paknahad developed a handheld device, known as a microfluidic breath analyzer, that can detect the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in a person’s breath. THC is the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis.  In February 2020, Paknahad was named Vice-President of Technology Development at Cannabix Technologies Inc.

How would you describe your experience at UBC Okanagan?

UBC Okanagan is quite a unique school in Kelowna in the heart of Okanagan valley. I enjoyed my time there among great students and within a distinguished atmosphere.

What are some of your favourite memories from your time at UBC Okanagan?

I enjoyed having lunch with my peers at the collegium, playing soccer at the soccer field on Fridays and walking around the campus especially during the summer.  It would have been much nicer if there was a swimming pool on campus 🙂

How did your research at UBC Okanagan’s School of Engineering prepare you for your current role?

UBC Okanagan created a wonderful platform for me to be creative by giving my ideas a chance to become real, and supporting me to pursue my dreams. My research as a graduate student was sponsored by different industries, and I am currently working in one of them with the goal of commercialization of the technology I developed during my PhD program.

What does the future hold for you?

It it definitely exciting to see the technology developed within our lab at UBC Okanagan further developed and hopefully going to market. I am even more excited that I am still working on it, and I am able to see it grow every day. I am full of hope for the future and am proud to be UBC Okanagan alumni.

Why did you choose Civil?

During your first two years of engineering, you complete a general program and then you choose if you want to do civil, manufacturing, mechanical, or electrical after that. I started taking a couple more of the civil-structural related courses, and I found that was what I was passionate about. Then when I got my job doing research during my undergrad and I got exposed to a few awesome projects involved with civil engineering. Moving forward throughout the next couple years, when I decided to do my Master’s degree and I was able to continue to do this research I really knew I was making an impact in the academic field of research, with the goal of  eventually working in the construction field. I hadn’t known from the start that I wanted to take civil, but those few things led me to where I am now and I couldn’t see myself in any other field.

How did you get involved with research?

There were a few steps within the process of what brought me into the research field. The first was when I attended Create on my first day of school and they took us on a tour throughout campus and we saw all the different labs and available research. At that time I hadn’t known that there was even a research program at the University. I remember we went into the high head lab, which is the large structural engineering lab, one of the graduate students there was discussing his research and how he designed his own concrete mix with waste glass. I thought that was neat; how someone could be so smart to be able to design with something like that. It piqued my interest, and as it turns out he was a former student of Professor Rteil. My second route towards research was through my second-year class ‘Theory of Structures’ with Dr. Rteil when he discussed his research topics at the beginning of class. It was very clear to me that that was the topic I was very interested in within engineering.

How did you start working with Dr. Rteil?

I was thinking about different work opportunities as an undergrad but didn’t know where to start, so I thought maybe research would be interesting to get involved with.  I wrote a resume and CV, I went to his office and I asked him if I could work for him in the lab, and he just shook my hand and said yes. He didn’t even take my resume, it was great, and it was a really easy process. His only thing, right from the very beginning, was ‘you got to be willing to get your hands dirty because it’s a very dirty lab’ and I’m like “let’s do it.” That summer, I started working in the lab and we started with few projects.

Why the interest in concrete?

When I first heard about concrete, it didn’t seem like a very interesting subject to get into. It wasn’t until I started doing research and making my own concrete mixes that I realized just how much potential that this material has. It is so versatile. It can be used for a lot of applications and there’s a lot of different materials you can put into it. It’s like baking a cake. You have all these ingredients; you have a recipe and process to mix it together. Traditional concrete isn’t that environmentally sustainable, so a few of the research projects that I’ve been working with have been to add waste materials to put into the concrete to reduce the carbon footprint. When I think of concrete that kind of piques my interest. I think about how we can make this material better, because we’re going to use it all the time because of its capabilities in construction. So how can we make this material better? Thankfully, I’ve been able to work on a few great projects that have been able to achieve that goal.

Describe some of your extra-curricular activities.

In my first year, I laid low because I took four years off after high school before joining my undergrad, so I was trying to get back into the school process. In my second year, I was exposed to the Engineering Society which is one of the larger engineering groups that we have on campus. I was nominated as the Second Year Representative. I helped host some events and then I was promoted to the Social Relations Representative and continued to host all the engineering events that we had on campus for that entire year. I stayed with them for another year and I was voted in as the Vice President and Financial Representative, where I took care of the entire budget of the Engineering Society. Those three positions that I held with the Engineering Society were incredible.  It was an amazing space to network and develop.  Joining the society was great as I made lots of friends and was able to attend a few conferences as well. After I left the Engineering Society, I joined the Concrete Toboggan Team because by then I had already done some work with concrete and I felt like it was my calling. I was voted in to be the Concrete Captain for that year alongside my research partner Dylan Kennedy, and so we came up with a concrete mix for the skis. The toboggan is designed by the superstructure team but the skis of the toboggan, the running surfaces that touch the snow, must be made of concrete. We designed the skis’ shape, the reinforcement, and the mix design and competed nationally. That year it was held in London, and we finished third overall. We also won the best concrete mix design so that was an incredible achievement for both Dylan and I. Those are the two clubs that I was part of on campus but there’s a whole world of other ones I wish I could have joined, but you have to pick and choose when you’re doing research plus school plus clubs it’s a lot of work.

Why did you choose to pursue graduate studies (MASc)?

I wouldn’t say it was a very easy transition or an easy decision for me to make at first. It’s a very, very daunting task to do a large research project and then to write a thesis, and everything that comes along with it. I honestly thought there was no way that I could achieve something like that but Dr. Rteil has had a lot of faith, motivation and confidence in my ability to do work and he was the one who pushed me to try it initially. I said no at first, because I didn’t think it was for me, but after about six months or so I figured I would try. I was nervous and it was a big decision because you’re adding on a couple more years of school. I wanted to go to work but I thought; I love this school and I love the research that I do. I already had a project that I was working on during my undergrad that I could use in my thesis, it was a no brainer at the end of the day and I’m very happy that I chose to do a Master’s degree.

Where has research taken you?

Last June, I attended the 14^th Conference on Fiber-Reinforced Polymer for Reinforced Concrete Structures in Belfast, Ireland. There were several presenters, all on the topic of fiber-reinforced polymers (concrete strengthening material), whereas my research is more focused on fabric-reinforced cementitious mortar. It is a similar material just uses a couple different components but is still a concrete repair material. It strengthens concrete by adding carbon fiber fabric on the outside of concrete members and is bonded with mortar. The goal is to achieve a stronger section. My research is focused specifically on the bond between this material and the existing concrete. I presented on the last day of the conference and I won the award for best student paper. That was an incredible experience, something I never imagined I could achieve, but I was able to come home with that award.

What’s next for you?

I currently work for a company called Mercury Consulting. It is a start-up structural design firm in town, so I’ve been working for them for six months now and I design buildings. I’m doing exactly what I wanted to as soon as I took that second-year course theory of structures. I love it so far, it’s a challenge of course, but I have a great mentor and I plan to work for this company for awhile. In the future, it would be great to stay with Mercury or find a company that has a research and development program. I would love to get my hands into one of those companies, because I can continue my research and do work at the same time; so a long term plan I would like to end up in a place like that.

How did your experience/studies at UBC Okanagan’s School of Engineering prepare you for your current role?

Starting my career with an education from UBC Okanagan’s School of Engineering challenged me and helped me grow through the development of a desire for knowledge and continual learning which has helped me succeed and allowed me to adapt well to new positions and opportunities throughout my career.

What are some of your favourite memories from your time at UBC Okanagan?

My most cherished memories from UBC Okanagan fall into three categories: my peers, the professors and the projects. When you work together with other students (your peers) to complete challenging engineering assignments, a bond is formed and these friendships are still with me today. The professors help develop your desire to learn and share some of the fundamental tools of engineering that will help you succeed in the program and in your career.

The final year engineering project is partnered with industry and allows students to begin to apply the knowledge gained from the program to a real-world problem or opportunity that industry partners bring forward, which helps support the transition from academia to industry and you begin to see the potential beneficial impact of applied engineering work and know how.

Is there one class and/or prof in particular that really inspired you?

UBC Okanagan has world class professors who truly support student success and learning. I find it difficult to pick one professor or class that inspired me as I feel fortunate to say there were probably 4 or 5; for example, Dr. Vladan Prodanovic was the Faculty Sponsor of my team’s final year Capstone Project and it was through his guidance and mentorship that our team was able to successfully deliver a valuable final product for our industry partner.

Dr. Yang Cao taught me Mechanics of Materials which is a foundational course on mechanical systems. In this course you learn about some of the equations that can be used to calculate material strengths and allow mechanical systems to be designed with the appropriate factor of safety. I think it’s incredible that as an engineer we can design and build products that are engineered to operate safety and make the world a better place.

Did you envision that one day you’d be working in Newfoundland for an offshore energy company?

One of the most outstanding things about an Engineering Degree is the many opportunities that evolve as you continue to work, learn, and as your career advances. At the beginning of my career I would have never guessed that in the future I would be providing engineering support for an electro-mechanical subsea production system that is 350km off the coast of Canada and 150m below the surface of the ocean. This unique opportunity allows me to apply the knowledge gained from my time at UBC Okanagan along with my personal drive for continued improvement to ensure this system operates safely, with high integrity, and creates value.      

What does the future hold for you?

I am open to the challenges and opportunities that the future holds for my family and I as my education at UBC and my work experience thus far have formed a strong foundation on which to successfully tackle what lies ahead.