WANT TO BE A STUDENT EXECUTIVE ? NOMINATION S ARE NO W OPEN ! THE P l e a s e r e c y c l e t h i s Thursday, January 21, 2010 newspaper when you are Volume 47, Issue 16 finished with it. NUGGETYOUR STUDENT NEWSPAPER EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA $125K for NAIT Research grant usually given to universities, story page 2 INSIDE: Clubs Corner: Page 23 Dr. CONwisDOM: Page 20 Editorial: Page 7 Entertainment: Pages 14-19 Horoscopes: Page 21 Hot Single: Page 22 Mouthing Off: Page 20 Photo by Jamie Anderson-Reid CLEAR SHOT News: Pages 2-6 NAIT Ook Cyril Ashworth takes a shot during the fourth quarter of a game against the MacEwan Griffins last Friday in the NAIT gym. The Sports: Pages 8-13 Ooks went on to win the game 71-60. Full story, page 8. Tip of the Week: Page 21 26 2 The Nugget Thursday, January 21, 2010 NEWS&FEATURES Project gets major boost By JEFF CuMMINGS Dr. Ron Currie, a senior faculty researcher with universe – that can test air quality much more Stuart Cullum, an executive director for NAIT’s A faculty researcher from NAIT is hoping NAIT’s Chemical Technology Program, says cur- quickly, says Currie. home of applied research and development, says to create a new technology that can test air qual- rent technologies are often too slow to measure air Currie’s team of researchers, who have the grant and Currie’s research are a perfect fit for ity instantly – something that could save lives in quality and it can be complicated. already developed a prototype, created a column the technical institute. the event of a chemical attack or an environmen- “As a researcher, I view this as a tremendous apparatus that can be used in gas chromatogra- “NAIT’s success in this competition is signifi- tal accident. opportunity to learn,” says Currie, who will be phy, an analytical chemistry technique that’s cant,” said Cullum in a release. In order to do that, NAIT is one of two technical heading up the research project. used in a variety of industries to vaporize and “The program is highly competitive and suc- colleges in the country to get a $125,000 grant from Currie says NAIT’s research will help develop separate mixtures into their component com- cessful applications demonstrate strong scientific the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research a new technology that will analyze samples that pounds for analysis. evidence, as well as a clearly identified and well- Council for the research. It’s a grant usually given have a very wide concentration in range, and can Currie’s prototype has greater capacity and is described potential market. to universities, like the University of Alberta. do it very quickly. much more efficient than traditional ways to mea- “This is recognition that colleges and techni- The new tech- sure air quality, and it’s cheaper, he said. cal institutes can be competitive when it comes to nology could involve “We’ve removed the huge oven that is usually research.” testers or workers part of the gas chromatograph,” says Currie. Currie’s idea could mark “a significant advance in Alberta’s oil and “We are using an innovative heating approach in exciting technologies” that “could lead to excel- Like your gas industry carrying so we will be able to heat faster, cool faster, and it lent commercial opportunities,” say NSERC hand held, toaster- will require little energy to cause the temperatures reviewers who added the prototype could benefit sized devices – like needed to separate the components. companies in many sectors. tricorders from the “We have to heat to bring everything into the For more information on the project, go to teacher? fictional Star Trek gas phase.” www.novanait.ca. “They wanted to promote the idea that teaching excellence is something that is really important to recognize.” The DTAD has employed a num- ber of strategies to encourage students to submit nominations. These include a poster campaign, handbills, campus- wide e-mail messages, and a particu- larly creative idea which brings back By RYAN FLAHERTY memories of elementary school. Issues Editor “We’ve even used fortune tellers,” Lewis explains, showing off one of What makes a great teacher? The the classic folded paper contraptions. question has nearly as many answers as Instead of picking colours and num- there are students at NAIT. For some, bers, however, students choose from it’s a person who encourages active attributes like “motivates” or “inspires,” learning. For others, it might be some- and inside the flaps there is information one who gives prompt feedback. Still about the nomination process. others may say that a good teacher is one who respects the diverse talents Motivates and learning styles of their students and Radio and Television Arts instruc- accommodates them accordingly. tor Jeannette LaBrie was an award Whatever the reason, the NAIT recipient last year. She says that the Department of Teaching and Aca- recognition motivates her to continue demic Development is asking students striving for self-improvement. “It feels to nominate the best teachers in their great,” she says. “It’s very rewarding to respective programs for an Instruc- know that you are affecting students in tional Excellence Award. The awards a positive way and it makes you want are handed out each year at Convoca- to keep trying to provide more oppor- tion ceremonies, and are given to one tunities for them to be successful.” teacher in each NAIT school. Lewis says that so far, response to the promotional blitz has been First year positive. “Every time I go to food This is the first year that instructor services, the rack for the nomina- excellence is being acknowledged on tion forms needs to be refilled,” she a separate platform from other annual points out. “It’s great to see.” awards given out at the school. Ali- A significant number of nomina- son Lewis, co-ordinator of curricu- tions have already been submitted, lum development and faculty support but nomination forms are still avail- at the DTAD, explains that the school able at all program offices or any food wanted these particular awards to services outlet and can be dropped have a bit of a bigger profile. off at the program office of the nom- “The awards used to be part of inated instructor. Students can nom- something called SHINE, which inate almost any instructor for an rewarded a number of different kinds award, though there are a few excep- of achievement, but this year NAIT tions, which are listed on the forms. decided to make the instructional awards The deadline for submissions is Fri- a stand-alone category,” she says. day, Jan. 29. Thursday, January 21, 2010 NEWS AND features The Nugget 3 Eco-air compressor The Nugget By SAMANTHA SILvA Room E-128B Having a great idea can take 11762–106 Street you places. Edmonton, Alberta Local businessman Darryl T5G 2R1 Weflen has proven this by being Production Office 471-8866 awarded $10,000 from NAIT for www.thenuggetonline.com his great idea. Editor-in-Chief Weflen, president of Airworks Chris Carmichael-Powell Compressors, won $10,000 last month after entering the nova- [email protected] NAIT Technology Commercial- Issues Editor ization Challenge, which encour- Ryan Flaherty ages innovators and entrepreneurs [email protected] to submit their research and ideas. Assistant Issues Editor NovaNAIT emphasizes new dis- Linda Hoang coveries with practical appli- [email protected] cations, which is exactly what Weflen’s idea embodied. Sports Editor Taylor Pollmann Invented [email protected] He invented an environmen- Assistant Sports Editor tally-friendly air compressor. Garit Byington “The product was developed [email protected] to operate on trucks and equip- Entertainment Editor ment that are powered by com- Colleen Nuc pressed natural gas,” Weflen said. [email protected] “The existing product was for die- sel power equipment, but custom- Assist. Entertainment Editor ers in the United States had an Kathy Le interest to move towards a com- [email protected] pressed gas vehicle.” Photo Editor Not only can Weflen’s eco- Raymond Ip friendly compressor run the [email protected] preferred fuel of compressed Production Manager gas, but it can run three others Frank MacKay including gasoline, propane, and e85. E85 consists of 85 per [email protected] cent of ethanol and 15 per cent For advertising, call 471-8866 gasoline. However, compressed or e-mail: [email protected] gas is cheaper and works more efficiently. Submissions encouraged: Weflen has already designed [email protected] his air compressor to be differ- The deadline is noon on the last ent than most. Since other compa- school day of the week. (All sub- nies’ products require the air com- missions must include your name pressors to be powered by a truck and student ID number.) engine, his invention has a sepa- The opinions expressed by contribu- rate engine to reduce the amount tors to the Nugget are not necessarily of fuel and resources required to shared by NAIT officials, NAITSA or NAIT photo work, thus greatly reducing green elected school representatives. Darryl Weflen is the winner of the novaNAIT Technology Commercialization Challenge. His house emissions. air compressor’s environmentally friendly technology won him $10,000 in novaNAIT services, which will be used to develop a sound marketing strategy for his company, Airworks Compres- At the forefront sor Corp. “(My company) is at the fore- Letters front of anti-idle technology for fleet and service vehi- We want your views cles,” Weflen said. “(We are) Is something bugging you FOR ALL FULL TIME STUDENTS: developing products that are about NAIT or the rest of the Important Health and Dental Information designed to conserve energy, world? Do you have some praise decrease greenhouse gas to dish out about the school or life in general? The opt out deadline for the NEW students starting in the winter 2010 term is Jan.