Fun in the Midnight Sun

from an article by Andrea Banerjee, from Issue One of the Fall 2011 Inside sCo-op newsletter for Waterloo co-op students. Photo by Wayne Hsu.

In 1990 uWaterloo entered its first-ever solar car, the Midnight Sun, in the 1990 GM Sunrayce Challenge, beginning a project that would grow to span two decades. Since then, the Midnight Sun Solar Rayce Car Team has been a regular, innovative participant and global leader in the bi-annual challenge. This year the team revealed its newest creation, the Midnight Sun X, which competed in the 2011 World Solar Challenge in Australia in October.

A selection of lucky co-op students spent the spring work term on the Midnight Sun X team contributing to the latest version of the famed project. For Kamal Rai, Ramneek Mangat, and Calvin Lu, Midnight Sun offered them exciting and challenging roles unlike any other co-op job they’d experienced before.

Marketing for Midnight Sun

“This is my third co-op term,” says 3A Mathematics student Kamal. Hired for the role of Business Co-ordinator, he says simply, “It was so different. It was really self-directed and involved some making it up along the way.”

Along with his colleague and fellow co-ordinator Ramneek, Kamal worked to market the project, plan events and recruit sponsors. Ramneek, a 2A Science and Business major agrees with Kamal about the uniqueness of their job on the Midnight Sun team. “You have to learn along the way,” she says. “It isn’t like being a co-op in a corporation where there’s [often] a minimal number of tasks. On this team they throw you in there; you do everything.”

Kamal and Ramneek had a challenging and crucial job. Fostering a strong and continued relationship with sponsors is key, because the Midnight Sun project is entirely sponsor-funded. Their tasks included working with Arts volunteers to oversee web marketing, and traveling to various events and schools to spread the word about the project. Kamal and Ramneet visited approximately fifteen public schools, attended a soapbox derby, and participated in the Canadian Electronics Technology Expo, making their work term highly active.

Hands-on Engineering

The Midnight Sun electrical team is just as fast-paced and demanding as the business team- 1B Electrical Engineering student Calvin Lu can attest to that. He was responsible for reviewing and redesigning the vehicle’s electrical systems. “This [was] my first co-op job so it wasn’t what I expected!” says Calvin. “It was really fast-paced. I’d be given a project one day and have no idea how to start…but you learn how to be independent and teach yourself along the way.” Calvin emphasizes how much he valued his time on the team, particularly as a junior student. Being granted so much project responsibility as a first year co-op made the job one huge learning experience. “The ultimate goal at Midnight Sun is to get you to be an independent member of the team,” he says.

Working with the electrical team was a rewarding experience that fit with Calvin’s personal interests. In high school he worked on circuit design and electrical components. “Ever since I was in grade five I enjoyed that kind of thing,” he says. “So when I saw the posting I thought, This is kind of like what I always wanted to do!”

Fun and Fulfilling Work

The Solar Rayce Car Challenge is no doubt a busy and exciting project to be working on as a co-op student, and like any good job the skill development that these students have experienced is significant. Ramneek says her communication skills have improved, particularly on the phone. “It takes a lot of research to call a sponsor,” she says. “You have to approach them in a way where you can tell them why you chose their company. They have to relate to the car in some way.” Kamal notes the opportunity afforded by the Midnight Sun project to pursue various areas of development. “I think the team tries really hard to get people involved and cater to different interests,” he says. Both students have also learned more about the vehicle itself than they might have otherwise, and the passion for the project is infectious among members of all three organizational teams. “The car gets pretty fast!” says Kamal. “You think of it as this concept car…but it cruises up to 90 kilometres per hour and can get as fast as 130.”

The spring term was challenging, exciting, and fun for these co-ops, and all are grateful for the unique work experience they gained.

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VP University Research reappointed

George Dixon (left) will serve for another term as Vice-President, University Research.

"I am delighted to announce the reappointment of Dr. George Dixon as vice-president, university research for a second term of three years, commencing on July 1, 2012," president Feridun Hamdullahpur wrote in a memo distributed yesterday to all faculty and staff. "This reappointment was recommended by the nominating committee established under Policy 68 and has been approved by Senate and the Board of Governors.

"Dr. Dixon’s reappointment enjoys widespread support throughout the university. George is seen as an effective and approachable leader with an excellent reputation both on and off campus.
"I am extremely pleased that George is willing to continue as vice-president, university research and look forward to working with him for a second term."

The reappointment comes after work by a nominating committee, set up under Policy 68, whose job starts with finding out whether an incumbent Vice-President, University Research is "generally acceptable" to the members of the Senate Graduate and Research Council, faculty deans, and "other persons affected." The president recommends an appointment to the Board of Governors after receiving the report of the nominating committee and the recommendation of the Senate.

Dixon, a professor of biology, has been VP University Research since 2007. Prior to his appointment, he served as dean of the Faculty of Science. In 2000, he was one of the first recipients of the UW Excellence Award.

According to Policy 68, the term of office for the Vice-President, University Research is normally five years, renewable for three years, to a maximum of eight years.

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