![[University of Waterloo]](/goldbar.gif)
| Yesterday |
Wednesday, June 2, 2004
|
Editor: Chris Redmond credmond@uwaterloo.ca |
UW is taking two cars -- Alpha Wombat and Omega Wombat, where the critter
name stands for
Waterloo
Off-Road Mini-Baja Team. More than 120 vehicles
are expected for the four-day event, coming from as far afield as
Alberta and Brazil to compete.
Safety inspections and "static judging" are the order of the day
![[Getting airborne]](/images/2004/0602baja.gif)
Thursday and Friday, with "dynamic events" on Friday and serious racing
Saturday at the Aztalan
Motocross Track at Lake Mills near Milwaukee.
"Mini-Baja consists of three regional competitions that simulate real-world engineering design projects and their related challenges," the SAE web site explains. "Engineering students are tasked to design and build an off-road vehicle that will survive the severe punishment of the rough terrain, in addition to meeting cost targets, designing for manufacturability, service, and comfort, while still excelling in a variety of dynamic events.
"The object of the competition is to provide SAE members with a challenging project that involves the planning and manufacturing tasks found when introducing a new product to the consumer industrial market. Teams compete against one another to have their design accepted for manufacture by a fictitious firm. Students must function as a team to not only design, build, test, promote, and race a vehicle within the limits of the rules, but also to generate financial support for the project, while still managing their educational priorities."
All the cars are powered by the same 20-cubic-inch engine.
"Our team is looking forward to an exciting weekend!" writes mechanical engineering professor Duane Cronin, who's guided the Wombat group in building and testing its two cars. "The 2004 team consists of over 20 mechanical engineering students who have spent the last year building and testing the two vehicles to be raced at this year's competition. The competition includes design evaluation and individual events including handling, tractor pull, acceleration and top speed. The main event is a gruelling four-hour endurance race on the last day."
Pictured taking one of the Wombats over a jump is fourth-year mech eng student Joe Brown.
Positions availableOn this week's list from the human resources department:
Longer descriptions are available on the HR web site. |
"This talk looks quite topical considering how much time is spent on the ubiquitous learning object these days," says Peter Goldsworthy of UW's Centre for Learning and Teaching Through Technology (LT3), which is sponsoring Cooper's visit. Craig Beytein, a learning object expert from McGraw-Hill in New York, will also be at the session.
Time for a definition of the LO word again: various sources call it "a unit of educational content" or "a section of a course". In one of UW's best-known examples, the simulated frog heart developed by Norm Scott of UW's biology department is a learning object that can be used in a number of different courses.
Cooper will talk about "the publishing industry's definition" of a learning object, as well as her company's plans for collecting such material in a "repository" -- something that's also being done by non-profit institutions such as the UW-based Co-operative Learning Object Exchange, or CLOE. She'll then go on to talk about marketing issues, copyright law, and "partnership opportunities".
Her seminar starts at 11 a.m. in the Flex lab, Dana Porter Library room 329.
Other developments about teaching these days on the Waterloo campus:
| WHEN AND WHERE |
|
Teaching option job match results for fall term co-op jobs
available today. Meeting for students without employment, 4:30,
Tatham Centre room 1208.
Interaction 2004 conflict resolution conference, sponsored by Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, today through Saturday, details online. Business etiquette career workshop, 2:30, Tatham Centre room 1208. James Kay, professor of environment and resource studies who died Sunday, visitation today 2 to 4 and 7 to 9, Schreiter-Sandrock Funeral Home; funeral Thursday 10 a.m., Siegfried Hall, St. Jerome's University, reception to follow. Simplicity Circle discussion group, first meeting for this season, 4 p.m., Student Life Centre room 2139, information simplicity-admin@pirg.uwaterloo.ca. Renison College alumni after-work reception at Moose Winooski's restaurant, Kitchener, 5:30 to 7:00. LabVIEW Advanced Virtual Architects monthly meting, 6 p.m., Carl Pollock Hall room 1346. Perimeter Institute lecture, Scott Tremaine, Princeton University, "The Stability of the Solar System", 7 p.m., Waterloo Collegiate Institute, Hazel Street. Technical speaker competition for engineering students, sponsored by Sandford Fleming Foundation, faculty-wide competition, Thursday 10 a.m., Doug Wright Engineering room 2534. Cancer Society fund-raiser and head-shaving event, Thursday 6 p.m., Carl Pollock Hall foyer. Arriscraft architecture lectures begin for this term with Konrad Frey, Graz, Austria, "Usefulness and Delight in Architecture", Thursday, 7 p.m. (not Friday as erroneously listed yesterday), Environmental Studies II room 286. Online enrolment appointments for fall term courses begin June 7 on Quest. |
![[Torch]](/images/2004/0530torch.gif)
In a memo circulated across campus, Johnston points out that
it's the second anniversary of Keystone as the staff, faculty and
retiree section of Campaign Waterloo. "This year's event," he writes,
"promises to
build on the momentum of the last two years festivities that many of you
will remember well. Organizers are planning an extraordinary
Ulympic (themed after the Olympics) celebration."
Says Johnston's letter: "The 2004 Keystone Campaign celebration of this special fundraising effort among UW faculty, staff, and retirees is scheduled for Wednesday, June 9, 2004. 1 encourage all members of the UW campus community to attend. Recognizing the importance of this initiative, we have designated the 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. period as paid work time for all UW staff and faculty to participate in the annual event.
"For those departments providing essential services and thus obligated to remain open during this 2 hour period, please try to make arrangements so that everyone has an opportunity to participate.
"Organizers have sent invitations to everyone that outlines highlights and activities at the Ulympics. The event begins at 11:30 a.m. with a parade along ring road to the Columbia Icefield. At the event, UW staff, faculty, and retirees will enjoy a free lunch, a variety of games, guest speakers, door prizes and more. I hope you will join the parade and participate in this fun campus-wide activity!
"As well, June 9 has been designated as a Keystone Campaign Casual Dress-Down Day and everyone is encouraged to wear gold clothing (a UW colour) to show our spirit. Please contact your Keystone Campaign Departmental Rep to learn where you should join the parade. And, if you want to win a prize, please remember to bring your invitation (with door prize coupon and games passport) to the event.
"It's our Waterloo -- I hope to see you there!"
CAR