Prepare Yourself Promise, Disruption and the Future of Work 5M3
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE MAGAZINE FOR SAIT ALUMNI Spring 2018 2 8 3 6 4 8 PRINCE NASA LANDS LINK VISITS The music legend AT SAIT THE LOFT and a SAIT Harnessing Behind the scenes alumna’s biggest UAVs to track at Heartland break greenhouse gases PREPARE YOURSELF PROMISE, DISRUPTION AND THE FUTURE OF WORK “ The littlest thing tripped me up in more ways than one.” Whatever life brings your way, small or big, take advantage of a range of insurance options at preferential group rates. Getting coverage for life-changing events may seem like a given to some of us. But small things can mean big changes too. Like an unexpected interruption to your income. Alumni insurance plans can have you covered at every stage of life, every step of the way. You’ll enjoy affordable rates on Term Life Insurance, Major Accident Protection, Income Protection Disability, Health & Dental Insurance and others. The protection you need. The competitive rates you want. Get a quote today. Call 1-888-913-6333 or visit us at manulife.com/sait. Alumni Underwritten by The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company. Manulife and the Block Design are trademarks of The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company and are used by it, and by its affiliates under licence. © 2017 The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (Manulife). All rights reserved. Manulife, PO Box 4213, Stn A, Toronto, ON M5W 5M3. WELCOME KATE KUNZ PHOTO KUNZ KATE THE SLOW ELEVATOR A QUINTESSENTIAL SAIT EXPERIENCE LEADS TO REFLECTIONS ON THE FUTURE OF WORK. BRIAN BOWMAN DIRECTOR, ALUMNI AND DEVELOPMENT Waiting for an elevator in the marble-lined are replacing workers in almost every sector. the worst that can happen, what’s the best lobby of the Senator Burns Building can As well, online connectivity means more that can happen and what’s most likely take a while. All around me, students and people can work from home rather than to happen. faculty are rushing to get to Business class an office. Social and technological change I have pondered those questions myself, or Tim Hortons; others quietly check their have never been as widespread, as fast or and I think what’s most likely is humans emails or chat with friends. as complex as right now. There is concern will continue to adapt. This issue of LINK We’re dependent on the technology over which jobs will disappear next, and includes stories of an alumna who identified behind these busy elevators to get us where debate about the skills workers need to stay a need, then created a business to meet it we’re going. An elevator arrives, eventually, relevant. What is the future of work? (page 46); an alumna who made her dream and its machinery hoists each diverse That’s a question SAIT President and career a reality (page 28); and four people carload to our respective destinations. CEO Dr. David Ross put to a wide range of who prove artisanal skills remain relevant Elevator operator was once an occupation. business and industry leaders recently, and in a tech-driven world (page 24). Now, with the push of a button, technology it’s the theme for this issue of LINK. It’s a How would you answer our three ques- does all the work — and that’s just one huge topic — one that inspires both opti- tions? I invite you to drop us an email at example of jobs disrupted by technological mism and anxiety. In researching our main [email protected] or join @SAITalumni on advances. Construction, manufacturing, feature story (page 14), writer Julie Sengl Twitter to share your thoughts. I hope you transport, energy, business — today robotics, asked faculty, experts and leaders three enjoy this issue of LINK! artificial intelligence and other technologies questions about the future of work: what’s WELCOME 01 CONTENTS 12 09 07 07 28 QUICK START EXPERTISE & INSIGHT CELEBRATING LEADERS, STUDENT CLUBS PRO TIPS PARTNERS AND VOLUNTEERS GET $ FROM #SAITGIVES Get your recreation vehicle ready for Announcing the recipients of SAIT’s Four SAIT student clubs share how summer with insider tips from two 2018 President’s Awards. 06 they’ll spend the $1,000 they won in instructors in SAIT’s Recreation the #SAITGIVES Instagram Club Vehicle Service Technician Apprentice CROSSING A GLOBAL STAGE Contest. 08 program, Robin Bunker and Warren A look at the 29 countries where family Thunstrom. 10 and friends watched SAIT’s Fall 2017 MAKING e SPORTS Convocation ceremony. 07 FUN AND HEALTHY HANDS ON Competitive online gaming comes to Discover the cutting-edge nanotechnology REFLECTION INSPIRES RESEARCH SAIT with a healthy twist and a growing system housed in SAIT’s highly specialized A routine x-ray, an unexpected revelation fan base. 08 research labs and learn how it creates and a new understanding for medical ultra-thin coatings that protect objects radiologic technologists working with against corrosion, water and wear. 12 transgender patients. 09 02 LINK SPRING 2018 46 Editor-in-Chief: Brian Bowman Managing Editor: Alison O’Connor Editor: Nancy Cope CONTRIBUTORS: AdrianMartinus, Michelle 14 Atkinson (NMPD ’03), Cari Buziak (PCK ’13), Rich Castillo (NMPD ’04), Nancy Cope, Jenn Five (NMPD ’06, JA ’12), Jared Hidber, Jager & Kokemor, Kathryn Kazoleas (JA ’09), Kate Kunz (ACA ’84), Trudie Lee (JA ’84), Dylan Leeder, Craig Maynard, Ashley Naud (JA ’09), Eric Rosenbaum, Julie Sengl, Shawn Talbot, George Webber, Giselle Wedemire (JA ’13), Michelle Woodard, Tim Zeltner Creative Director: Richard Maruk Design & Production: IVY 24 Copy Editor: Cathi Bishop Advertising Sales: James Foster Printing: Blanchette Press Cover photo: Trudie Lee Glitch effect: Michelle Atkinson LINK is published twice a year by SAIT Alumni and Development as a service to Southern Alberta Institute of Technology alumni, donors, students, partners, faculty and staff. LINK invites your comments and letters to the editor. Please direct them to [email protected]. SAIT Alumni and Development 1301 – 16 Avenue NW 39 Calgary, AB T2M 0L4 Phone: 403.284.7040 Address updates: 403.284.8279 For all other inquiries: Fax: 403.284.8394 FEATURES IN THE LOOP Email: [email protected] sait.ca/alumni WARP SPEED AHEAD LOOKING BACK 38 Publications Mail Agreement No.40064317 As technology empowers people and disrupts Return undeliverable PROFILES Canadian addresses to: jobs at ever-increasing speed, LINK explores Circulation Department its far-reaching and unpredictable impact Melodie Lapina (DGC ’05) 39 1301 – 16 Ave. NW Calgary, AB T2M 0L4 on the future of work. 14 Adrian Pool (ACPP ’13) and Martinus Pool (ACPP ’18) 42 ON THE COVER: BANKING ON BESPOKE 46 Third-year SAIT student Cara Naomi Pereira (AT ’05) Genis shares her thoughts on Consumer longing for local, sustainable the future of work on page 19. CLASS NOTES 40 Genis is one of five students and personalized products brings new working with a research team opportunities for old-school craftspeople in partnership with NASA (page 36). and artisans. 24 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 47 ROCK AND ROLE ON THE JOB From fan to photographer, Jenn Five has Two SAIT graduates take LINK behind her music portraits published in Rolling the scenes of Canada’s longest-running Stone, NME, Billboard — and LINK! 28 TV drama. 48 INNOVATION Applied research takes flight. 36 SPRING 2018 Contents 03 A future inspired YOUR LEGACY GIFT TO SAIT A century of history stands behind We welcome the opportunity to meet SAIT, while a new century of possibility with you to determine if a legacy gift to stretches before us. We are planning SAIT is the right decision for you. We are now for the next generation of students committed to helping you make a plan and the careers that will inspire them. that is meaningful and beneficial to you and our students. Your legacy gift to SAIT helps create applied education opportunities for our future technicians, accountants, carpenters, journalists and master chefs. [email protected] sait.ca/donors PRESIDENT’S AWARDS 2018 SAIT is proud to be a nucleus where successful students become successful graduates, and graduates become our PRESENTING MEDIA SPONSORvalued partners. It is these connections that help make SAIT the one-of-a-kind institution it is today. The 2018 President’s Partnership Award recognizes the Brawn Family Foundation for its commitment to student success and its numerous contributions to applied education at SAIT. The 2018 President’s Student Leadership Awards recognize the SAIT Great Northern Concrete Toboggan LEADING EDGE SPONSORSRace Team and the SAIT Accounting Society for enriching student life on campus and creating career-building opportunities for the future workforce. We proudly recognize these outstanding award recipients. They are SAIT originals. STATE OF THE ART SPONSORS Thank you to our President’s Dinner event sponsors. PRESENTING MEDIA SPONSOR LEADING EDGE SPONSORS EVENT PARTNERS STATE OF THE ART SPONSORS EVENT PARTNERS SPRING 2018 ONLINE CONTENTS WATCH WEB-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS, GET THE LATEST ALUMNI NEWS BETWEEN ISSUES OF LINK, KEEP UP TO DATE WITH EVENTS ON CAMPUS AND DISCOVER HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR ALUMNI COMMUNITY — ALL ONLINE AT SAIT.CA/ALUMNI. Bonus content for the Spring 2018 issue includes: Thanks to everyone who sent in a Class Note — especially those who responded to LINK’s call for international updates as part of our “Where in the World Are You” campaign. Check out their notes on page 40 and discover the global reach of SAIT alumni. Watch students and instructors from SAIT’s School of Construction and researchers SIX WAYS TO STAY from SAIT’s Applied Research and Innovation Services test their unmanned aerial CONNECTED WITH SAIT vehicle fitted with a sensor developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This ground-breaking research project will help industry track methane emissions. Update your contact @ information and send us your email address by visiting sait.ca/alumni and clicking on Stay Connected.