Christopher Nguan MD, will showcase the da Vinci surgical research robot at the VEX Robotics Competition.

Over 80 high-school teams will compete at the VEX Gateway Robotics Pacific Northwest Regional Competition to be held Saturday, March 10 at BCIT.

Hosted by the School of Energy‘s Mechatronics and Robotics program, this is the qualifying event for the upcoming 2012 VEX Robotics Competition World Championship being held in Anaheim, CA April 18 – 21, 2012. Top winners also win conditional acceptance to any BCIT School of Energy engineering program of their choice.

Using VEX Robotics Design System robots, competing teams, with guidance from their teachers and mentors, will work to build the most innovative robots possible, working together to score the most points against opposing teams.

Dr. Chris Nguan, urologic surgeon and researcher, and director of the Surgical Technology Experimental Laboratory and Advanced Robotics (STELLAR) lab, at VGH, will showcase the da Vinci surgical research robot at the annual event. da Vinci robots are sophisticated tools used at VGH for patient surgeries, as well as in a research capacity for the development of new surgical techniques.

Dr. Nguan, who is on the board of the Pacific Youth Robotics Society, regularly mentors high-school students in the STELLAR robotics lab. He believes that by demonstrating the robot at the VEX competition, he can provide a real-life translation of how robotics can be used in the area of medical science. He hopes to inspire these young scientific and engineering minds and show them where their technical skills might lead them in the future.

His philosophy echoes that of the School of Energy. By showing young people a real application of mechanical engineering, mechatronics and science, and providing a venue for them to safely get into the robot and operate it, the School of Energy hopes to inspire students to pursue education to be able to contribute to future innovations. For family and friends who are unable to attend, the full March 10 event will be live-streamed compliments of BCIT Instructor David Griffiths and faculty and students of the Broadcast and Media Communications – Television department in the School of Business.

The School of Energy has hosted robotics events since 2008! Check out photos from previous VEX events at BCIT:

VEX Round Up, regional competition March 12, 2011

VEX Clean Sweep, regional competition March 20, 2010

To register, go to the Pacific Youth Robotics Society website.

For more information on the event, contact Jason Brett,  BCIT Technology Teacher Education instructor, at  Jason_brett@bcit.ca or 604-451-6722.

For more info on Mechatronics and Robotics at BCIT, contact Brent Dunn, program head, at brent_dunn@bcit.ca.

Students post their dedications to energy conservation on the pledge board at the BCIT Sweater Day booth. About two hundred staff and students took the Sweater Day pledge.

Wearing a sweater became more than a fashion statement February 9, as BCIT staff and students pulled on pullovers and cardigans in support of World Wildlife Fund’s National Sweater Day. The BCIT Heat Savers, a task force from the volunteer Green Team, joined the national challenge with the aims of educating the BCIT community on energy use and its effect on the environment, and of taking action on climate change.

A sweater swap kept students and staff toasty. Leftover sweaters were donated to charity.

Free hot chocolate and coffee, a sweater swap, and a stationary bicycle helped staff and students keep warm, while an interactive display educated attendees about energy use. Over 50 staff as well as 142 students signed a pledge to turn down their heat while adopting alternative measures to keep warm.

The Sweater Day display educated visitors on energy use. Did you know that a space heater consumes the equivalent amount of energy as 15 incandescent light bulbs?

BCIT’s Brenda Mason won a Home Energy Audit with City Green Solution, while student Gurpreet Brar won a BCIT Student Association Gift Certificate. The grand Sweater Day prize went to student Jonny Wiebe, who won tickets to see the Vancouver Canucks play the Colorado Avalanche.

The event was part of a larger campaign on the part of the BCIT Heat Savers, a volunteer group aiming to reduce energy waste at BCIT. BCIT’s Energy Specialists Andrea Linsky and Alexandre Hebert planned the event with help from the Heat Savers and goBeyond representative Brittany DeAngelis. Many thanks to Ian Morton and Andrea Lekei from the BCIT Student Association for their help as well.

The Heat Savers team with Energy Adviser Gwendal Castellan, who cycled in with his complete kit and did a presentation on energy saving tips for your home.

Take the Heat Savers challenge for your chance to win one of the weekly draws as well as the grand prize: two lower-bowl tickets to see the Vancouver Canucks vs. the Dallas Stars on March 30, 2012; one Canucks premier home jersey; and, to keep you extra toasty, one Canucks toque. The grand prize will be drawn on March 15, 2012.

See more photos of the event on Flickr, and find out more about reducing heat waste at BCIT.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo addressed BCIT graduates as the keynote presenter and he was also awarded an Honorary Doctor of Technology during the ceremonies.

“I am honoured to be part of the celebration of accomplishments of this year’s graduates,” he said. “Education is key to unlocking potential, and BCIT’s efforts in making education more accessible to First Nation students helps build on our broad efforts in supporting education opportunities for First Nations – an economic imperative for the future of our peoples and all of Canada.”

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo addresses the graduating class.

“BCIT is honored to be able to recognize Mr. Atleo – a person who clearly sees the value in education and the power it can have in changing lives” said Don Wright, president of BCIT.

The convocation ceremonies were preceded by the winter graduating awards ceremony, which presented 41 awards valued at $23,683 to BCIT’s most deserving graduates. The awards were given for outstanding academic performance and achievement in the students’ final terms of their full-time programs of study.

Congratulation also goes to Kelly Third, a Bachelor of Science in nursing grad, who was nominated as this year’s valedictorian.

Check out the photos from the convocation ceremony
and awards ceremony.

L-R: David Verner, instructor; Trevor Williams, dean, School of Energy; Mischa Steiner-Jovic; Enrico Murru, instructor and program head, Telecommunication and Networks 2003, John Dian, instructor; Bob Gill, program head, Telecommunication and Networks.

It’s hard to keep track of all our students once they have left BCIT, but instructors are always delighted to reconnect with graduates and see that they have successfully applied their learning towards a wonderful career.

Electrical and Computer Engineering — Telecommunications and Networks Program Head Bob Gill happened to do just that, connecting with a past student through online professional networking community LinkedIn. Mischa Steiner-Jovic, a 2003 graduate of the Electrical and Computer Engineering diploma program, had not only continued on to get his engineering degree and pursue an engineering career, but had followed in his entrepreneurial parents’ footsteps and started his own wireless telecommunications company, Awesense Wireless. In addition, Mischa’s company had just been awarded the prestigious Sustainability Award from BC Hydro.

Electrical and Computer Engineering grad Mischa Steiner-Jovic with a certificate recognizing his company as winner of the BC Hydro Sustainability prize.

Bob and his department invited Mischa back to campus, this time to congratulate him on his win. The department also used Mischa’s visit as an opportunity to introduce him to current students (who were just finishing midterms) and have Mischa speak about his career choices and the path he had travelled.

Mischa Steiner-Jovic presenting to Electrical and Computer Engineering students

Misha was born at Royal Columbian in New Westminster, attended Pebble Hill Elementary in Tsawwassen, and in 1998, graduated from Summerland Secondary School, Summerland, BC. “I should have come to BCIT Electrical and Computer Engineering right from high school, but I did not know about the program at the time,” Mischa told the class. “If you are in the program now, you are in the right place.”

“I studied Mathematics after high school, but realized that just studying math wasn’t enough to keep me happy. I was missing what BCIT supplied, which was the opportunity to learn about real-world engineering.”

Electrical and Computer Engineering grad Mischa Steiner-Jovic with Trevor Williams, dean, School of Energy.

After graduating from BCIT, Mischa worked as an Engineering Technologist at ECO Fuel Systems in Langley before undertaking his degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Victoria. Due largely to his work experience and work ethic, Mischa was able to complete the degree a full eight months (two semesters) faster than the rest of his classmates.

At the February 3 meet-and-greet, Mischa was happy to answer the students’ many questions, taking time out of his busy day to share his insights and inspire students. One of the keys to his success? “I go full speed all the time, from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.,” he says. “It is just part of who I am and how I have always been.”

Learn more about Mischa’s company, Awesense, which creates mobile wireless smart sensors that help identify key areas of electrical loss, or find out more about Electrical Engineering at BCIT.

Geographic Information Systems students utilizing 3-D technology

Students can now complete a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Bachelor of Technology or Advanced Diploma entirely online via e-learning.

“This is the first time BCIT has been able to offer GIS credentials via online studies,” says Jonathan Candy, instructor and Part-time Studies coordinator for Geographic Information Systems. “It’s great because students can complete their entire Degree or Advanced Diploma in a dynamic, engaging e-learning environment, at a time and place that is convenient for them.”

The BCIT Bachelor of Technology in GIS is a degree program for those with an associate degree or college diploma who want to complete their baccalaureate education and obtain a degree qualification.  The online program can be completed in three years of study starting September 2012. Students also must complete six months of relevant GIS work experience before graduation.

The Advanced Diploma program in GIS is aimed at university or college graduates who seek an intensive technical education that will prepare them for a career in GIS.  The online program can be completed in two years of study starting September 2012.

GIS technology is used to manage and utilize geographic data, and is widely recognized as an essential tool in such diverse fields as forest management, urban planning, engineering, municipal management, business, and environmental studies. The potential uses of GIS technology are almost too numerous to list, and are found everywhere— from local government to the United Nations, from volunteer organizations to global corporations, and in the public and private sectors. Geospatial technology use is growing at a rapid pace around the world with exciting opportunities for well-educated and trained people.

For more information, contact Jonathan Candy, Program Coordinator at 604-432-8378 or Jonathan_Candy@bcit.ca

President Don Wright, National Chief Shawn Atleo, Board of Governors Chair, Michael McPhie

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, February 17, 2012

BURNABY, BC: On Thursday, February 16, National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo was recognized with an Honorary Doctor of Technology at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) winter convocation ceremony. This degree is presented to individuals who are widely acknowledged for outstanding and sustained achievements in their areas of expertise and endeavour.

Shawn A-in-chut Atleo is an Hereditary Chief from Ahousaht First Nation on Vancouver Island. In July 2009, A-in-chut was elected to a three-year mandate as National Chief to the Assembly of First Nations (AFN). Previously, he served two terms as Regional Chief of the BC AFN. Committed to the principles of working together through inclusion and respect, he forged the historic Leadership Accord among First Nations leadership in BC in 2005.

Throughout his career, A-in-chut has continuously demonstrated his commitment to the principles of working together through inclusion and respect and he has made education a key focus of the Assembly of First Nations. As a strong and tireless advocate, he has spent time in every region of the country building relationships with federal, provincial and territorial leaders and with national and international audiences.

“I am honoured to be part of the celebration of accomplishments of this year’s graduates,” said Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations. “Education is key to unlocking potential, and BCIT’s efforts in making education more accessible to First Nation students helps build on our broad efforts in supporting education opportunities for First Nations – an economic imperative for the future of our peoples and all of Canada.”

“BCIT is honored to be able to recognize Mr. Atleo – a person who clearly sees the value in education and the power it can have in changing lives” said Don Wright, president of BCIT.

A-in-chut graduated in 2003 with a Masters of Education in Adult Learning and Global Change from the University of Technology, Sydney (Australia) in partnership with University of British Columbia, University of the Western Cape (South Africa), and Linkoping University (Sweden).

In 2008, his commitment to education was recognized in his appointment as Chancellor of Vancouver Island University, becoming BC’s first Indigenous Chancellor. He received an honorary Doctorate of laws degree in Education from Ontario’s Nipissing University in June 2010. In February, 2012, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his advocacy work on behalf of First Nations across Canada.

For further information or photographs please contact Dave Pinton, Acting Manager of Media Relations at dave_pinton@bcit.ca

-30-

For the third straight year, the BCIT Student Innovation Challenge is offering students a platform to showcase their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. Students can submit an innovative product, business or a service idea.

It is also an opportunity for cash-strapped students to win a large sum of cash. The winner takes home $5,000 cash, while the runner-up gets $1,000 cash.

The contest is open to all BCIT students, part time or full time. The contest’s organizer, Gerald Narciso, encourages students from each of the six schools to submit.

“One of the big misconceptions is that this is a competition for just business students,” said Gerald, school and industry liaison strategist, Applied Research Liaison Office (ARLO). “Some of our strongest submissions last year came from engineering students or kids from the trades programs.”

Last year, BCIT Financial Management student Grace Soo won the Challenge for her idea about a delivery service using zero-emission cargo tricycles.

The contest is currently open and is accepting submissions until Monday, March 12. Students can submit their idea (via a Word Document entry form) to ARLO.

A judging panel made up of BCIT faculty and staff will select the top six entries to move to the second phase. The selected entrants will then pitch their projects to the judging panel. See the full contest details here.

Ken Steele is co-founder and Senior Vice-President of Academica Group, Canada’s largest market research and marketing consultancy for higher education. He heads up Academica’s consulting group, providing guidance in branding, enrollment management and institutional strategy to colleges and universities across North America. Ken presents “The Road Ahead,” Tuesday, February 28, at 11:30 a.m. in the Great Hall, Burnaby Campus, and live streamed online.

Wednesday, February 29, at 2:30 p.m. you’ll find a panel discussion moderated by Patricia Sackville appropriately titled, “Teaching Excellence at BCIT.” Panel members include Teaching Excellence Award Recipients Leslie Fairbarn, School of Business; Scott Hagan, Ph.D., School of Academic Studies; El Ladha, School of Health Sciences; Tamara Pongracz, School of Transportation; Ian Ross, School of Energy; and Wayne Horvath, School of Construction and the Environment. The panel takes place in Town Square A and B, Burnaby Campus (and live streamed online).

Wellness speaker David Posen, MD will present “Always Change a Losing Game,” aimed at helping you improve your work/life balance. Dr. Posen speaks Thursday, March 1, at 12:30 p.m. in the Great Hall, Burnaby Campus (also available live streamed).

All staff are encouraged to attend. Can’t make it in person? Watch it live online.

For more information, please contact:

• Donna Woo, 604-454-2288 or Donna_Woo@bcit.ca
• Chris Golding, 604-432-8312 or Chris_Golding@bcit.ca