Ex-Alta 1 was launched into space, dropped off at the International Space Station, then ejected into orbit May 26, 2017.
(Edmonton) It was a memorable year for University of Alberta engineering students, faculty and staff. We've pulled together some significant stories from the past 12 months to present the Top 10 Engineering News Stories of 2017.
Video: Alberta's first satellite boldly goes to work
Alberta's first satellite went into orbit early May 26, bringing the province and the University of Alberta into space for the first time.
Ex-Alta 1, the small cube satellite designed and built by University of Alberta students, was shuttled to the International Space Station aboard a rocket April 18. Astronauts aboard the ISS deployed the satellite this morning (May 26, 2017) at 2:55 a.m.
Walking the walk: The Lynches' philanthropy enables better engineering safety and risk management
David Lynch, former dean of engineering, and his wife Joan Lynch, an iconic Edmonton realtor, announced a major gift of more than $1 million to the Faculty of Engineering. They made the announcement at a Sept. 22 Alumni Weekend reception. David Lynch said they were inspired by the philanthropic acts of others to make their own gift.
In 2015, then-Dean Lynch kicked off a $15-million fundraising campaign for the faculty's Engineering Safety and Risk Management program, while serving his final year leading the faculty. September's major gift was the couple's way of demonstrating their own personal support of the program.
The Lynch contribution consists of a $1-million donation, plus a planned gift from their estate, to the David and Joan Lynch School of Engineering Safety and Risk Management.
Wellness month puts emphasis on students' well-being
This year, along with the staple NEGM activities, the Faculty of Engineering is launching Engineering Wellness Month initiative aiming to embed well-being into the engineering lifestyle, fostering a healthy work-life balance.
"Engineering Wellness Month is all about creating the space for self-care amidst what can be a high-stress month," said Kimberly Stauffer, Faculty Wellness director. "We want students to invest in their academic life and their well-being."
Engineering head shave raises $10,000
It was an epic showdown to be remembered.
The reigning champ, Faculty of Engineering Dean Fraser "The Razor" Forbes thought his title as top fundraiser would go unchallenged in the annual Engineering Headshave to benefit the Alberta Cancer Foundation.
Clearly, he wasn't expecting upstart Samer "The Hammer" Adeeb, acting chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering, to challenge the title
Flu shot in a pill? Researchers take a major step to oral vaccine
Hyo-Jick Choi and Ankit Kumar, working with Carlo Montemagno and partners in South Korea, developed a way to carry vaccines in small, FDA-approved polymer casings built to endure the hostile environment of the stomach. The capsules have a single pore on their surface that stays closed in acidic pH environments.
When one of your research papers is part of a global tribute to Marie Curie
A research paper written by University of Alberta engineering professor Janet Elliott and three of her students has become part of a retrospect marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of Marie Curie-and a moving tribute to the women who have contributed to the scientific journal ever since.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry produced the special online edition.
Suzanne Kresta appointed Dean of Engineering at University of Saskatchewan
University of Alberta engineering professor Suzanne Kresta has been appointed as dean of the University of Saskatchewan's College of Engineering for a five-year term.
Kresta, who joined the U of A in 1996, is currently a professor in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, and associate dean in the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research at the University of Alberta. She steps into her new role in Saskatoon effective January 1, 2018.
Breakthrough development illuminates early tumour development
By relentlessly investigating an anomaly, electrical engineering researchers have devised new non-contact medical imaging technologythat delivers razor sharp pictures to health care practitioners.
UAlberta petroleum engineering ranked 5th in the world
The University of Alberta has cracked the top 10 among 1,000 degree-granting institutions in the world in five subject areas, according to the Rankings by Subject 2017released by the Center for World University Rankings.
The rankings, which only name schools in the top 10 in each subject area, listed the U of A third in paleontology, fifth in petroleum engineering, forestry, and geology, and sixth in transplantation.
Space research aboard the "puke plane" has its ups and downs
Two recent mechanical engineering graduates took a unique roller-coaster of a ride this summer. Members of professor Prashant Waghmare's iSSELab were in Ottawa in early August for a flight aboard the National Research Council of Canada's Falcon 20 aircraft.
Also known as the "puke plane" the aircraft is used to perform parabolic manoeuvres to simulate microgravity conditions so that researchers can run experiments to learn about microgravity and zero gravity conditions.