Transforming a Village Transforming a Village
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
NEWSLETTER OF THE FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND DESIGN W inter 2010 Transforming a village Students take on the Batawa Initiative Students go Extreme Blue Gift creates a new lab Challenging the Wii Message from the dean ngineering and design are disciplines driven by societal needs, so naturally Eengineers and designers must be closely engaged with the communities they serve. Civil engineers are keenly aware of the people their structures must safeguard; biomechanical engineers share the joy of patients whose mobility has been restored; architects create spaces in which the drama of life is played out. Whether working with industry partners, research collaborators, philanthropists, granting agencies, mentors or clients, we are connected to the needs—and dreams— of our community. In this issue of Ingenious, that is most obvious in the work that architecture and industrial design students are doing to revitalize a small Ontario town. The Batawa Initiative is an innovative approach that utilizes the skills of our creative students to enhance both their education and the community. Community connections are also emphasized through the partnerships the Faculty forms to address the pressing needs of society. Tony Bailetti is leading a high-tech community initiative to help fledgling companies commercialize communications-enabled applications (read about Coral CEA on page 12); the interdisciplinary Sustainable Energy Research Centre brings together experts from Message from the dean Message from engineering and design and the Faculty of Public Affairs (page 9); and researchers across Canada, including a Carleton team, are working to harness technology to enhance healthcare (page 10). Over the past months, I have had numerous occasions to be reminded of Carleton’s connection to the community—and the impact our alumni and partners have on the university. As construction on the engineering building progresses, I am meeting with corporations and individuals to secure their support for our specialized laboratories and classrooms, equipped with the latest technologies for teaching and research. Alumnus Dipak Roy was the first donor to lend his expertise and financial support to this endeavour, and his story is presented in this issue. Events such as the Forum Lecture Series, which brings leading architects to Ottawa for public lectures, and the ID Seminar Series are opportunities for our Faculty to welcome the community into our realm and to share our passion for learning and discovery. We welcome alumni, too, particularly through the activities of the Carleton University Alumni Association which has chapters in architecture, industrial design and engineering. I invite you to reconnect with the Faculty of Engineering and Design—not only through these pages, but by becoming involved as a career mentor to young alumni, a supervisor of a student intern through the co-op program, a member of an advisory board, an alumni chapter volunteer. Together, we create a stronger community. Rafik Goubran, PhD/87, PEng FSC Label – PortraitDean, FacultyArtwork of Engineering Matrix and Design FSC Label Artwork FSC_Labels_English FSC_Labels_Portrait On the cover Improving existing FSC_Labels_PPC FSC_Labels_PNCnature trails, and FSC_Labels_PPBW FSC_Labels_PNBW NEWSLETTER PortraitOF THE FACULTY / Positive OF ENGINEERI /N GColour AND DESIG (PPC)N Portrait /transforming Negative / Colour them (PNC) in Portrait / Positive / Black & White (PPBW) Portrait / Negative / Black & White (PNBW) carleton.ca/engineeringdesign/ the winter, is one way Editorial Advisory Board Carleton students are Dean: Rafik Goubran, PhD/87, PEng revitalizing Batawa. Associate Dean (Research): Fred AfaghFSC_100_PPC.EPS FSC_100_PNC.EPS FSC_100_PPBW.EPS FSC_100_PNBW.EPS Senior Development Associate: CorrieFSC_100_PPC.JPG Hobin, BA/02 FSC_100_PNC.JPG FSC_100_PPBW.JPG FSC_100_PNBW.JPG FSC_100_PPC.TIF FSC_100_PNC.TIF FSC_100_PPBW.TIF FSC_100_PNBW.TIF Director, Advancement Communications: Ryan Davies Editor: Amanda CertCosten no. XXX-XXX-XXX Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX Design: Richard Bootsma Newsletter Mission Statement Ingenious is published for the alumni,FSC_MS_1_PPC.EPS faculty, staff, friends and partners of the Faculty of The Department FSC_MS_1_PNC.EPSof University Advancement protects your FSC_MS_1_PPBW.EPS FSC_MS_1_PNBW.EP Engineering and Design. The newsletterFSC_MS_1_PPC.JPG is intended to communicate the Faculty’s goals, personal information.FSC_MS_1_PNC.JPG It is used by the university to inform FSC_MS_1_PPBW.JPG FSC_MS_1_PNBW.JPG strategic direction and activities in orderFSC_MS_1_PPC.TIF to connect alumni to each other and the university. you about programming,FSC_MS_1_PNC.TIF events and offers from our affinity FSC_MS_1_PPBW.TIF FSC_MS_1_PNBW.TIF It is published in collaboration with the Department of University Advancement. partners, to communicate Carleton news, and for fundrais- Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX Cert ingno. XXX-XXX-XXX purposes. To update your name or address or stop mail, Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX please contact Advancement Services at 1-800-461-8972. ingenious.carleton.ca ingenious.carleton.ca XX% XX% XX% XX% FSC_MS_2_PPC.EPS FSC_MS_2_PNC.EPS FSC_MS_2_PPBW.EPS FSC_MS_2_PNBW.EPS Winter 2010 FSC_MS_2_PPC.JPG FSC_MS_2_PNC.JPG FSC_MS_2_PPBW.JPG FSC_MS_2_PNBW.JPG 2 FSC_MS_2_PPC.TIF FSC_MS_2_PNC.TIF FSC_MS_2_PPBW.TIF FSC_MS_2_PNBW.TIF Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX FSC_MS_3_PNC.EPS FSC_MS_3_PPBW.EPS FSC_MS_3_PNBW.EPS FSC_MS_3_PPC.EPS FSC_MS_3_PNC.JPG FSC_MS_3_PPBW.JPG FSC_MS_3_PNBW.JPG FSC_MS_3_PPC.JPG FSC_MS_3_PNC.TIF FSC_MS_3_PPBW.TIF FSC_MS_3_PNBW.TIF FSC_MS_3_PPC.TIF Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX FSC_MS_4_PPC.EPS FSC_MS_4_PNC.EPS FSC_MS_4_PPBW.EPS FSC_MS_4_PNBW.EPS FSC_MS_4_PPC.JPG FSC_MS_4_PNC.JPG FSC_MS_4_PPBW.JPG FSC_MS_4_PNBW.JPG FSC_MS_4_PPC.TIF FSC_MS_4_PNC.TIF FSC_MS_4_PPBW.TIF FSC_MS_4_PNBW.TIF Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX XX% XX% XX% XX% FSC_MS_5_PPC.EPS FSC_MS_5_PNC.EPS FSC_MS_5_PPBW.EPS FSC_MS_5_PNBW.EPS FSC_MS_5_PPC.JPG FSC_MS_5_PNC.JPG FSC_MS_5_PPBW.JPG FSC_MS_5_PNBW.JPG FSC_MS_5_PPC.TIF FSC_MS_5_PNC.TIF FSC_MS_5_PPBW.TIF FSC_MS_5_PNBW.TIF Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX FSC_RE_1_PPC.EPS FSC_RE_1_PNC.EPS FSC_RE_1_PPBW.EPS FSC_RE_1_PNBW.EPS FSC_RE_1_PPC.JPG FSC_RE_1_PNC.JPG FSC_RE_1_PPBW.JPG FSC_RE_1_PNBW.JPG FSC_RE_1_PPC.TIF FSC_RE_1_PNC.TIF FSC_RE_1_PPBW.TIF FSC_RE_1_PNBW.TIF Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX The gift of entrepreneurism A dvancement news ike most entrepreneurs, Dipak Roy started a company Lin his basement. Freshly minted with a Carleton PhD in electrical engineering, Roy founded Interactive Circuits Systems Ltd. in 1978. By the time he sold the company in 2003 to General Electric, Interactive Circuit Systems had become a global enterprise specializing in high-end data acquisition and digital signal processing serving the de- fence and aerospace markets. And like most entrepreneurs, Roy, MEng/74, PhD/77, didn’t rest on his laurels. He promptly formed D-Ta Enter- prises Inc. to invest in technology companies around the world, including SensorCom Inc. and Personica Inc. Roy can spot good investments. His undergraduate edu- cation in engineering and computer science in India and graduate work in Canada have given him an international perspective and the practical know-how to see the poten- tial of technology. As a charter member and director of The Indus Entrepreneurs (Ottawa), Roy provides mentoring, education and networking opportunities to foster entre- preneurship, giving him experience in spotting talent and the potential of human resources. Roy’s latest investment is in Carleton. With his wife Tara, Dipak and Tara Roy are the first donors to the new engineering BCom/76, Roy is donating $100,000 and equipment to create building being constructed near the Rideau Canal. “I learned a great deal from Carleton. I owe my success to Carleton,” he says. the Dipak and Tara Roy Advanced Sensor Processing Labo- ratory, to be housed in the engineering building currently under construction. computing platform and research-related acoustic and RF “Carleton has changed my life, both business-wise and sensors, students will be able to explore a variety of ad- my personal life,” he says about giving back to his alma vanced applications that were previously hindered by the mater, where he met Tara. complexities of hardware interfacing. When the lab opens in 2011, it will provide students Roy says there’s not much research being done on sensor in systems and computer, electronic, and biomedical processing in Canada and he would love to see Carleton engineering with the opportunity to collect and study become a national leader in this type of engineering. In real-world sensor data, a critically important step in the addition to his gift, Roy expects D-TA Systems to provide development of next generation Radio Frequency (RF) and financial and technical support to graduate students in- acoustic multi-channel applications, including wireless volved in specific research areas. communications, radar, sonar and medical imaging. “My intent is more than just lab-specific. I want to create a The signature piece of equipment will be the D-TA centre of excellence in sensor processing,” Roy says. “Car- Systems Multi-Sensor Interface. Once connected with a