The CivMin Class of 1T5 and 1T5+PEY gathers to reunite and fundraise for a new scholarship

The CivMin Class of 1T5 and 1T5+PEY had an impressive in-person turnout for a recent reunion. On Friday, February 3, 2023 some 50 attendees included about 40 alumni from the graduating class of 2015 (and 2015+PEY) of both Civil and Mineral Engineering students, as well as some spouses, and some CivMin faculty and staff. The venue: the unofficial gathering spot for Engineering – the Prenup Pub on College St.

The goal of this gathering was not just social. There’s ulterior motives afoot; a new scholarship named for the class is planned. Now,  into the fundraising campaign, a halfway point in the fundraising is being surpassed. With a goal of $25,000, the group is reinvigorating its ranks to push towards the finish line.

Spearheaded by alumnus Ernesto Diaz Lozano Patiño (CivE 1T5), ever the perpetual organizer of gatherings since his time at U of T as an undergraduate. The group first heard of this lofty proposal as they celebrated a class reunion virtually on Friday, May 28, 2021. The pandemic necessitated an online gathering, since in-person gatherings were limited in attendance. The digital platform, Gathertown, allowed for navigating around a virtual room as an avatar walking and socializing in groups, as well as giving the host the ability to address all gathered.

As their first-ever class reunion it wasn’t as they’d imagined, but was in keeping with protocols and, by happy accident, allowed more classmates to join from further away. The strength in numbers, with nearly 50 signed up for the online reunion. It was followed with an August Zoom meeting and, finally, this most recent in-person event.

As a third-year student, a decade ago, Diaz Lozano Patiño first conceived of the idea to found a scholarship for their year’s graduating class. With early thoughts of providing support to a student in need, the then future benefactor has now challenged his colleagues with fulfilling this ultimate objective.

With fellow Engineering alumni Stephanie Daou, Boze Xu and Matheos Tsiaras lending their expertise, the endeavour is receiving plenty of attention. Support not only comes from classmates, but the Department and the Faculty as well. Engineering Alumni Relations attended the pub night, generously offering branded tuques on the frigid evening. CivMin’s Chair, Prof. Brent Sleep, along with Student Services Director Nelly Pietropaolo and Prof. Evan Bentz all offered their support and admiration for the worthy cause.

The scholarship will have a lasting legacy far beyond the lifespan of the donors, which is exactly what has been intended from the outset. Giving a little back can last generations, with ripples of influence casting far and wide.  Examples of alumni class donations of the past, such as 3T5, 5T6 and more, were given.

Though many have opted for a lump sum payment, to make it nearly pain-free it’s been offered to have monthly donations of $41.60 per month spread out over two years, resulting in a $1,000 donation per alum. All donations are tax deductible and will receive a charitable tax receipt.

Just how far and wide did attendees come from? As Diaz Lozano Patiño notes, “Seth Hayto attended from Vancouver, and I think they would get the long-distance award!”

By Phill Snel

 

---

If you would like to make your scholarship pledge online, please visit:
http://uoft.me/CivMin1T5.
You can also make your pledge by phone or email by contacting
Karen Lee at U of T: 416-428-9594 or kare.lee@utoronto.ca.
As a reminder, you can pledge a donation to be paid in instalments over a period of months or years;
for example, $200 a year (or $17/month) for five years results in a $1,000 donation.
All donations will receive a charitable tax receipt.

February 9, 2023 | The Globe and Mail

February 6, 2023 | Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce

February 7, 2023 | Iran International News

February 6, 2023 | BBC News Persian

We talked to the U of T Concrete Toboggan Team’s co-captains and spirit lead after they came back from the annual Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race (GNCTR) in Kelowna, B.C. winning second place after a two-year break of in-person competitions. Team leaders share their last-minute scramble to fix the toboggan, insights about the competition, and share ideas about the future of the team.

---

Could you all introduce yourselves?

N – My name is Nathaniel Rzepka. I’m in Civil Engineering in [fourth year], and I’m doing a minor in Environmental Engineering.  

L – I’m Lindsay Wells. I’m also a [fourth year] in Chemical Engineering and double minoring in Bioengineering and Business.

G – Hello, I’m Georgia Collins. I’m in Civil Engineering [fourth year] + PEY. My minor is in sustainable energy, and I am the current spirit captain on the team. However, I was the captain of the team two years ago.

 

How was the competition? The whole week, basically?

N – It was hectic. We were a bit behind build-wise in comparison to other teams. We completed a lot of work during the exhibition to get ready for race day.   

L – When we shipped the t-bog out, we noticed there was something off we wanted to fix safety-wise. We bulked up and ended up flying with some suitcases. When we got there, one of the pieces was missing, but we repaired it. However, during the safety check, something else broke, so we had to figure it out and fix it a couple of hours before race day. So, we had a lot of last-minute building both on our technical exhibition day and throughout the race day.

G – The level of experience on the team last year was quite high. Given that the process of building a toboggan and participation in the GNCTR was new to many people on the team this year, we were really impressed that we could do so well in the competition.

N – In my memory, it was the first year without a real crash and no injuries. GNCTR made a massive drive to improve safety. I have been on the team for five years, so I’ve seen a lot of change over the years, especially with seeing the growth of the competition, let alone the growth of other teams. It is really exciting to see where it’s going to go in the future.  

What have you won?

N – We won the fastest run, King of the Hill, the elimination bracket winner, and second overall. 

L – How the overall scoring works: the race day performance makes up about 40per cent of the overall score, 30 per cent is design, 10 per cent is safety, and 10per cent is spirit. 

G – Other teams scored better in the technical design; that’s why they got a first place over us. The theoretical design comes down to what we submit in our technical reports and presentations.  

N – We still did well overall. Given that we were still able to maintain second place, so we scored well in all the categories; we just didn’t win first in those. 

L – What we’re most excited about is the fact that our team was able to create such a good functioning product that did so well, despite some challenges on race day. We were able to fix a bunch of things very last minute, as we had some excellent problem solvers on our team who were really good at thinking on their feet and had hands on the build. For me personally, if one has a great design, but they can’t execute it, then it’s not a great sign. We are proud that we were able to build the best product versus just designing it.

N – I think our ability to adapt as a team and be innovative on the spot was the key to our success. We have 24 people on our team, and we are very grateful to each and every one of them and everyone who helped us along the way.

Our main goal was to perform on the race day – and we accomplished that.

 

 

 

Did you realize that you won the fastest t-bog straight away? Did you see it coming?

L – We had two runs. First, they do the measurements of speed and braking. The other, steering, our team in the toboggan had to go between the flags. Some team members and I had to push the t-bog off the hill. We saw some teams perform before us successfully, but after pushing our toboggan, everyone said, “oh, that’s fast .” We gave the fastest time down the hill, about 45 kilometres per hour. We had around 2 seconds speed break with the team that followed us in the table score.

 

 

 

What was the theme and the name of the toboggan this year? I guess it’s not very common to have a name for both of them.

L – Well, we have a tradition of naming the toboggan – just like a boat! Being an IKEA-themed t-bog, we went with broadcasting more of the Swedish culture and chose the more Nordic-sounding naming it Svetlana. We chose blue and yellow colours for the same reason, both for the t-bog and our uniform.

N  – We had yellow T-shirts with blue stripes, blue shorts, a tool belt, and t-bog patches.

 

 

What is going to happen in the future of the team?

N – We built the bridge between the new team members, and those who participated in the competition in-person in 2020, and we managed to re-establish the learning culture. Our younger colleagues have a great experience under their belt now, and next year they can focus on improving some areas and applying the knowledge.

G – We are all [Lindsay, Nathan and Georgia] graduating along with a couple of other team members too. So that knowledge base is leaving, but we tried our best to pass on all that, not only on the technical side but the spirit side of the team too. It is important to keep the fun traditions alive on the team and keep a friendly dynamic within the team. That is what this year has been all about.  

L – Our next step is choosing the next captain, and then it’s kind of their vision on how where they want to take the team. I think we’ve done a good job this year. It is unusual for a team to win two years in a row at the in-person competition, but we did it.

 

Are you guys done with the competition this year? Is it time to recruit people for next year?  

N – For the general team members, we make the team selection around May, leads selection at the end of March – beginning of April. Between June to September, when most of the designing is done. September to December is the build time because we need a lot of building facilities. 

G – What we are looking for in people is primarily willing to learn and contribute to the team. With lead positions, the experience might be highly beneficial, for instance, with SolidWorks or experience with machining, but there are no strict requirements on what is needed. So just being willing to learn in all areas is essential. For all the recruiting updates, students can follow us on our Instagram page and join our Discord.  

 By Galina Nikitina

Pursuing participation in variety of interests at the personal level, Siluvai Antony is also hoping to have an impact on significantly reducing GHG emissions through his research and influence on policy

 

CivMin’s Praveen Siluvai Antony, a PhD Candidate under the supervision of Prof. Daniel Posen, is the recipient of a University of Toronto Student Leadership Award. The recognition, known as a UTSLA, has a long history and was formerly known as the Cressy Awards.

Praveen is currently pursuing research in the area of “Life cycle assessment, Biofuels, and Public policies” in the CivMin Department.

We sat with him for a little chat to discuss the award and his current work.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself as an introduction?
I’m a fourth-year PhD Candidate in the Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering. My work is broadly in the area of biofuels and public policies, and I am working with Professor Daniel Posen.

Receiving a UTSLA is quite prestigious. What have you done to garner such recognition?
This recognition is because of my last year’s volunteer work in a few organizations. I was the President of the Civil and Mineral Engineering Graduate Students’ Association, co-President of the Indian Graduate Students’ Association, and also a Student Advisor to the Family Care Office. I was given the leadership award for my initiatives to improve the educational and social experiences of fellow students in our department and the student family community.

Your recognition is truly well deserved, given all this involvement. Is there anything else you’ve done outside of these organizations, perhaps extracurricular activities or interests you’d like to share with us?
If you’re asking me about a hobby, I like to explore new places, food, and cultures. Toronto was new to me, but COVID made me unable to explore a lot in the first two years of my doctorate. Now, this recent year, I’ve been exploring Toronto a lot by cycling. Then, whenever possible, going hiking. Reading books and photography are some of my other hobbies as well. Recently, I’ve travelled to the Toronto Islands, Niagara Falls, and a few other places where I look for good opportunities for photography.

Your undergraduate degree is in chemical engineering. What led you to pursue something in Civil Engineering at U of T?
After my Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering, I did my Master’s in Environmental Systems Modelling, and later, I worked in India with CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute for about seven years in the area of sustainability and public policy. When I was looking for doctoral positions, I learnt that Prof. Posen was also working in the area of environmental systems within the public policy space. Since our interests matched, I jumped at the opportunity to pursue my doctorate degree at U of T.

There’s been, increasingly, a trend towards engineers having more of an impact directly on public policy. And, sometimes, seeking elected office or being closely associated with those in elected office. Is that something that interests you perhaps?
I haven’t thought of seeking elected office. But my primary interest is to work on research and then contribute to policy through my research outputs. But policy is something I’ve been considering at the back of my mind, but not seriously at this point.

What’s the biggest or best outcome for impacting policy you think you could have? What what would that be even beyond what your immediate research is?
One, my current work focuses on biofuels and policy. Biofuels are used in the transport sector to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and currently, the transport sector is in focus because it contributes to roughly 25 per cent of the GHG emissions of Canada. So, if we can very quickly transform the transport sector using biofuels, I think it will have the highest impact in my field. GHG emissions reduction is also the ultimate goal to avert the impact of climate change, and I think pretty much all countries are committed. Canada has Net Zero climate goals by 2050 and also has set targets to reduce 40 to 45 per cent of its greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 2030. If my research contributes to reducing GHG emissions in the transport sector and thereby reducing the national GHG emissions, then I think it will see the most significant effect.

One last thing that he tried to ask people to do you have anything an unusual talent or expertise, and it’s something that we wouldn’t know otherwise that No, we’re just asking here.  Is there something you want to share with us?
Thinking back to something from my undergrad, I was in this university dance group – a hip-hop dance group. I was also very much involved in the university volleyball team – in undergrad, I represented at the state level. So, if you’re asking me, I would say sports and dance was my primary interest at some point.

So you’ve got some dance moves and some athletic moves.
Maybe I used to. I’m not sure right now :).

 

By Phill Snel

Engineering News published a list of all 18 Engineering UTSLA recipients

 

Nebula, co-founded by Mary Daka , a fourth-year Civil Engineering student at the University of Toronto from Zambia, won the second place RBC Innovation Challenge Prize, worth $25,000. The competition awards, after in-person presentations were given January 27 to industry experts, involved a presentation of a large ceremonial cheque for a photo opportunity.

Nebula was formed when the multidisciplinary team members Matthew McArthur (Architecture), Mary Daka, Neha Basra (MechE), Kim Watada (ChemE) and Alton Rego (ChemE) decided to participate in the RBC X U of T Innovation challenge. The team, through research discovered in as much as Canada has many water bodies, there are a lot of places in Canada that do not have easy access to clean drinking water.

Over the past three months, the team researched, designed, and prototyped their solution as part of the competition. Twenty-five teams consisting of undergraduate and graduate students submitted their designs and ideas. The top four teams were selected to present their design to a panel of industry experts and judges.

Nebula’s goal is to provide a solution that can not only help alleviate this problem of water scarcity but also one which would not contribute to the already worrying levels of green house gas emissions. The answer to this was all in the air, literally. Atmospheric air is a huge reservoir of water, and Nebula’s design condenses this water, purifies it and makes it ready for consumption.

This design is meant to work in multiple environments, very adaptive and does not produce emissions.

 

—

Mary Daka’s bio
Mary is a Mastercard Foundation Scholar from Zambia, in her fourth year of Civil Engineering at UofT.

She is particularly interested in sustainable infrastructure development, which she intends to focus on as she pursues her career. Growing up, she witnessed the change in rainfall patterns in her home country, this change had an impact in the way her grandfather conducted his farming and seeing firsthand the effects of global warming, inspired her to focus on sustainable development. Nebula is such a development, and she is happy she got to be part of it. Greenhouse gas emissions have a lot of negative effects on the environment and finding ways of mitigating the current producers and finding alternatives for future projects to reduce emissions is the way of the future and she wants to be part of that change to preserve the future.

Mary is also passionate about disability Inclusion and always finds ways to make inclusion part of everything she does. She has a blog where she reflects on her experiences in hopes of raising awareness on disability inclusion. You can find her blogs on The Story of an Engineer Advocating for Disability Inclusion (marydaka.blogspot.com).

February 4, 2023 | The Globe and Mail

Using your networking skills can yield dividends at school and beyond

Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself as an introduction.
My name’s Olivia Mogielnicki. I’m from Oakville, Ontario, so in the GTA region. I went to U of T for Lassonde Mineral Engineering, did a PEY Co-op and graduated in 2019.

After graduating, I moved out to the West Coast, worked for Teck Resources for two years, then I did a bit of a career switch.  Now [since Feb 2022] I have been working at Flexport as a data analyst.

The pandemic gave me some time to think and reprioritize. I realized I was really interested in the data and technology space, so I did quite a bit of networking to learn more about the industry and build relationships. I took advantage of LinkedIn and lined up as many interesting zoom conversations as I could. I actually connected to my current opportunity through another alumna from U of T.

 

Why did you choose Lassonde Mineral Engineering? And did your U of T Engineering degree give you the skills that you needed to succeed professionally?
Mineral Engineering aligned with what I wanted to do – travel all over and have the flexibility to work just about anywhere I wanted to.  Plus, U of T Engineering is the top engineering program in Canada.

I had a lot of positive experiences in my time in mining. I got to work in the oil sands, in Manitoba, Northern Ontario and in British Columbia. I was able to travel and work all over Canada.

As for the education, yes, it definitely prepared me professionally for where I am now. Many of the core courses like linear algebra, calculus, probability and statistics are all very relevant to a data analytics role. There is also continuous self-education and skill building required in analytics,  whether its applying new concepts in SQL and Python, or learning how to model data and break down analytical projects. People often say that an engineering degree teaches you how to learn, and it’s true. I think being able to take initiative and approach technical challenges are core skills that get refined throughout an engineering degree, and these apply to my work today.

You mentioned using your LinkedIn, networking abilities and your contacts to help find your new position. Would you say this is a good approach others can use too when looking for a new role?
Absolutely, it’s a great way to put yourself out there and make connections, especially if you are pivoting careers. Digital networking is wonderful because you can widen your search radius, and meet people living and working in opportunities that may seem out of reach. It’s inspiring to explore what’s possible and meet ambitious people along the way.

I really recommend going into it with a relationship-building focus, rather than a transactional ‘I’m trying to get a job” approach. Both you and the person you are meeting with will get more out of it. When I asked people who get tons of requests why they agreed to meet with me, they would tell me that showing genuine interest and an effort to research their team, product or company in the initial message is what makes you stand out. Its really important to personalize your message and think about how you can provide value to the person you want to speak with!

 

You mentioned U of T connections during your search. Can you elaborate?
My schoolmate – an alumna a year above me connected me to Flexport, where she also works in the Data Analytics org – and was kind enough to connect me to the hiring manager after she and I chatted and realized it was a good fit. Beyond that very valuable intro, she took the time to give me more general advice on the kinds of online courses, projects and technical skills I would need to invest in to be competitive in the tech/data analytics space.

People always say how you never know when your network is going to come into play and bring you a new opportunity – this was that exact situation. She did industrial engineering while I did mining engineering back in university, so I never could have imagined how this relationship would open doors down the road. Having, and maintaining, those connections are so important.
Now, with your hindsight, if you could go back to your younger self, or somebody else now starting first year, what advice you would give them?
I think just believing in yourself, that you can succeed if you set your mind to a goal, even when things are difficult. Having that grit is half the battle and you can really do anything, especially with an engineering degree as your base. First year is tough, but if you are a self-starter and can build relationships with your classmates, you will make it.

I also think it’s important for students to take an intentional step back from the stress and pressure of their course load, and explore what will make them happy when they enter the working world. What hours do you want to work? Where you want to live? What kind of projects do you want to work on? With who? What excites you? Exploring that might look like setting up your own coffee chats with interesting people in your industry (or in another), seeking out internships or simply reflecting on your values and goals. Understanding where you want to go and why will help you make decisions that put yourself first!

 

While at school, did you have any go-to, or secret, spot on campus? Would you share that with us?
Secret spot. Hmm. I have to think. The Second Cup, across the street from the Min building on College. That’s the spot that me and my friends would probably study at the most. Cookies. Coffee. And we always liked the coffee there better than Starbucks.

In my first year we all spent a lot of time studying in Robarts because, obviously, it’s open 24 hours. But, at some point we started looking for a little bit smaller, prettier libraries like Gerstein.

I also spent an obscene amount of time in the Min Lab – its a great study space. In fourth year when working collaboratively on Capstone that was the main spot.

 

Do you have a talent or skill, or a hobby, that’s unusual? Maybe something we wouldn’t otherwise know, except for asking here today?
When I was a kid, I danced competitively untill I was 15 or 16. I did jazz tap, ballet point, hip hop, the whole shebang.

So, then you’ve got some moves?
Ohh yes, I’ve got some moves.

 

By Phill Snel