We Made a Difference. We Made it Together. WEMADEIT.

#shareABLE

There is No Such Thing as One Size Fits All in Space

by

Getting the opportunity to blast off into space, and explore our galaxy is one that many dream of from a young age. Ever since man got to the moon, many others have aspired to take that exact same step. This great milestone has inspired dances, along with references in film and television. Of course, astronauts historically started with men and have been predominantly dominated by men. However, October 18, 2019, marked a long-awaited milestone in aerospace history. Two women walked on the moon, side by side without being accompanied by a man. This is amazing, however, this accomplishment begs the question “why has this taken so long?”. Why haven’t there been more women astronauts? The answer to this question differs depending on who you ask.

When asked, Ken Bowersox the acting Associate Administrator for Human Exploration at NASA and a former astronaut, connected the lack of female astronauts to their differing physical characteristics. He compared spacewalking to playing football, in that having a broader body type makes it easier to excel. “Spacewalks are one of those areas where just how your body is built in shape, it makes a difference in how well you can work a suit.”

Other NASA officials, researchers and astronauts disagree, arguing that maneuvering in zero gravity has nothing to do with your physical characteristics. Claiming that moving in this environment, is all about technique, small movements and being able to twist your body in the correct direction. All of which is taught during the training astronauts must successfully complete before going to space. 

Some even argue that height specifically is holding women back from space exploration. But many have argued that the average height difference between men and women is too small to make a difference, and has nothing to do with spacewalking. In fact, being shorter is even better in some situations astronauts encounter. Dava Newman, the former NASA Deputy Administrator who is working on a new spacesuit design at MIT claims “there are a lot of tight places in a Hubble repair, so actually a smaller person has some advantages in terms of getting into some tight spaces and some tight repairs”.

If it isn’t physical characteristics holding women astronauts back, what is? Astronauts, researchers and NASA officials alike have traced this problem back to the original design of the spacesuit itself. The spacesuit is an extraordinary example of engineering that acts as a safeguard between the human body and new dangerous environments. Traditionally, only applied to men, because the design of this suit was better suited to fit and accommodate their bodies. 

“When NASA was deciding which size torsos to make, the agency opted against creating smalls and even extra-smalls.” This meant that the exclusion of smaller sizes prevented women from being able to properly fit within the suit. Being 100 percent comfortable, and functional in the suit is crucial for a safe trip to outer space, which directly excluded women for a very long time. Astronauts must be able to move around in the spacesuit, without too much extra space (in order to keep the proper air compression). This perfect balance was something that for a long time wasn’t possible for women, preventing them from becoming astronauts. 

This is another great example of why more women are needed in engineering. If more minorities are represented in the design process, more minorities will be accommodated for in technology. Imagine all that could have been done, if women were able to fit into space suits sooner? This problem is not unique to astronauts, design discrimination is real in all industries and is something we can stop. There is no better way to change the world than to have a say in the design of it. 

Advice For The Next Generation Of Women In STEM

by

As women remain dramatically underrepresented across all STEM studies and careers, how do we make strides to close the gender gap and fuel the next generation of female innovators? At a time when technology continues to transform the way we live, work and learn, the need to close the STEM gender gap is more critical than ever.

With that mission in mind, Forbes partnered with Audi of America in March to host the second annual “Idea Incubator,” a program dedicated to inspiring future STEM leaders by bringing together emerging talent to solve real-world challenges through a STEM lens. Students from the New York University Tandon School of Engineering were tasked with developing innovative solutions around the impact electric vehicles will have on urban mobility. The top two winning teams of students walked away with awards from the “Audi Drive Progress Grant,” a combined $50,000 scholarship toward their studies.

I asked the young women of the first place team to share for their best advice on unlocking opportunities for the next generation of women in STEM. From pushing past fear of the unknown to denying false stereotypes, their insights and lessons learned highlight what to expect for those who want to follow in their footsteps.

Get Comfortable Feeling Uncomfortable

“My advice for women wanting to enter the STEM field would be to not be afraid to get uncomfortable. Often times, you may find opportunities that you think you can’t do, but the truth is that you really can. It’s okay to feel uncomfortable and try things you’ve never done before because you never know, it might turn out that you actually like it. For example, I was never a fan of coding or computer science. I took a coding class in high school and I was completely lost, I didn’t believe that I could really do this as a career. It wasn’t until I got to be a part of programs like Women in Technology, where I got to actually shadow women in the tech industry, and Kode with Klossy, where I got to learn coding and collaborate with other young women interested in coding, that I actually realized that coding isn’t really that bad, and now I am pursuing a computer science! Be comfortable with trying new things, and don’t be afraid to reach out to others!”

Vidya Gopalakrishna, Freshman, Computer Science Major

Push Past Gender Stereotypes

“Choosing to follow a path less traveled by those of your demographic will always be a difficult decision. Even more challenging, however, is sticking to that path as you’re continually faced with the actions and opinions of those who are implicitly biased towards maintaining a particular status quo. My best advice to women aiming to pursue careers in STEM fields is to succeed in the face of this opposition with as much grandeur as possible. Recognize that there exists in some this internal bias but refuse to let it corrode your sense of self-worth and limit what you think yourself capable of. Bring to the table your unique perspective and hard-earned talents and no one can reasonably refuse you a seat.”

Nicole Lyons, Freshman, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Major

Network Your Way To Success

“When answering this question last year, I emphasized the importance of busting the math myth; a myth in which excelling in math was a prerequisite to pursuing a career in STEM. While this sentiment still rings true, I want to emphasize the importance of networking. Fostering meaningful relationships for your professional career is necessary to enter and succeed in a STEM field. Networking can be as simple as participating in school clubs, signing up for tech newsletters, or even going to your professor’s office hours.

I was first introduced to STEM when a high school friend asked me if I wanted to join the robotics team he created for our school. Had I not had him in my personal network, I would never have taken STEM seriously as a profession. Amazingly, these small interactions have had a domino effect. I’ve managed to build my network by expressing my passions with professors who have then later recommended me for research positions and even been my reference contacts in my job search. Staying in touch with school administrators has been greatly beneficial.”

Aida Mehović, Senior, Computer and Electrical Engineering Major

Engineering Video Games

by

We live in such a busy world, sometimes it’s hard to take time for ourselves. But, everyone needs downtime and that’s a fact. We need to take time to relieve the stress of everyday and recharge. Some people listen to music, watch movies and even play video games. Video games are a great way to spend your spare time because they can be lots of fun while stimulating your mind. As creatives and academics, it’s a good idea to find new ways to exercise our brains. Here is a list of video games that you have to check out!

1. Space Engineers (PC)

This game’s connection to engineering should be obvious given its name and all. The best part about Space Engineers is that you can still learn more about your interests while escaping from the everyday. Space Engineers gives players an immersive experience in the galaxy, in which you get to get to do things like build spaceships and space stations. Space Engineers is a survival-based game, which is very fast pace making for a competitive and exciting experience. This game is available on Steam for purchase and download. Make sure to check this one out next time your bored in front of your computer screen!

2. Don’t Starve (Multi-platform)

Don’t Starve is another nail-biting survival game, that is perfect for anyone who is in dire need of a wild adventure. In this multi-platform game, you are playing as Wilson, a scientist who finds himself in a dark world full of terrible twists and turns. Your goal is simple: survive and most important don’t starve! Throughout the day you can find food, collect materials and even craft different tools you can use during the night. The night is when various monsters and creatures appear all looking for something to eat. This game is great because it really builds your problem solving and strategy skills, along with the appropriate amount of whimsy.

3. Civilization (Multi-platform)

Civilization (Civ) is great for anyone interested in civil engineering, or anyone who ever wondered what it would be like to a rule an entire civilization. The graphics in this game do not disappoint, giving players a completely beautiful experience. Players pick a civilization to rule and lead their people through history, right into the future. The goal of this game is to have the best civilization possible, this involves making various decisions around things like military, architecture and agriculture. You can win the game in many ways including; diplomacy, exploration and economic growth. Civ is sure to be tons of fun while still teaching you something about how the world works.

4. Spacechem (Multi-platform)

Calling all chemical engineers and enthusiasts alike! Spacechem is a puzzle-based game that tasks players to take raw materials and build them into chemicals. Players take on the role of rector engineer that works for Spacehem, who must build various gadgets. This is sure to keep you engaged, with the different levels of difficulty. Spachem is great for anyone who wants to learn something new and has no problem thinking outside of the box. Your chemistry skills will come in handy but don’t worry, the game is full of helpful tips that will guide you along the way. This game’s difficulty is sure to keep anyone engaged, and will lead to a great deal of celebration upon solving each task.

5. Elite: Dangerous

In need of an escape from the normalities of every day? Well Elite: Dangerous is perfect for you! This game is an open-ended (sandbox like) game that takes players on a journey through space. You can fly anywhere in the galaxy, mine asteroids and upgrade your spaceship. Elite: Dangerous also gives players a detailed map of the milky way galaxy, that they are free to explore and interact with. If you are looking for a more interactive game, Elite: Dangerous has got you covered with the ability to play both single-player and multiplayer. So next time you look up to the stars and crave some intergalactic fun, log onto to Elite: Dangerous.

There you have it, your latest cure to boredom! These games are sure to get you hooked and keep you entertained. Who knew STEM could be this fun? 

Musical Engineers

by

Engineering is full of creativity! Though sometimes it’s easy to forget that when you only focus on STEM. There are new advances in creative fields all the time because of the hard work of engineers. The tech company Teenage Engineering is a perfect example of where creativity and engineering collide.  

Teenage Engineering are famous for their unique and design-forward synthesizers.

For anyone that doesn’t know, synthesizers are an electronic musical instrument that takes audio signals and converts them into sound. Synthesizers are also known for being able to generate/copy virtually any sound. The term “synthesize” means to make something new, and in this case, that is often done by putting old pieces together. Not only is this a place for musicians to buy instruments, but they recently launched their own record company under the name Teenage Engineering Records. 

This record label has two rules for musicians who want to have their music released. 

  1. It has to be a good song (who would’ve thought?)
  2. The song must use at least one Teenage Engineering instrument

The first release for this new record company came from a Swedish artist named Buster. The song was called “You’re in Love With Your Hair”, this artist is a newcomer in the music industry. One of Teenage Engineers Record’s goals is to shine a light on emerging talent. It will be exciting to see the new unique music that will be released because of labels like Teenage Engineers Records. 

The amount of opportunities for tech-savvy enthusiasts and musicians alike is growing, with additions like Teenage Engineering Records to the industry. Next time you think of engineering maybe it will be while listening to Buster’s new song on Spotify- give it a listen! 

The Wonders of Civil Engineering

by

Civil engineers are changing and molding the world around us, so it’s no wonder that their creations and innovations are truly spectacular. Not only are the finished products of these engineers’ hard work often impressive, but they help save lives. Making accessible roads and bridges can alter the entire dynamic of an ecosystem for the better. Civil engineers have a heavy weight on their shoulders because they know what they create, will affect the livelihood of a community.

This weight also makes for a very rewarding profession because of the difference you can make. These differences can be seen and manifested in different structures around the world. Some admire them for their beauty, and others see the beauty in these pieces because of the impact. Either way, it is undeniable that civil engineers create magnificent things, so let’s take a look at some of them.

One of the stereotypes that follows engineers is the thought that they only build bridges. Which of course is 100 percent not true, but on the other hand, civil engineers do create some breathtaking bridges. An example of one of these creations is Millau Viaduct which is located in Millau France. Millau is a beautiful village in southern France, that has the Millau Viaduct which holds the world record for the tallest bridge.

The bridge is 343 meters tall and supports a road that is over the Tran river. This record-breaking bridge was built by the same construction company that was behind the Eiffel tower (Eiffage). The main reason why this landmark is a tourist attraction isn’t it’s height or the people behind it, it’s the breathtaking view of the valleys and river that surrounds it.

71 percent of the world is covered by water, that leaves less than 30 percent of the surface area for us to live on. Or does it? Well, building land on the water is not a new concept and is referred to as “Land reclamation“. The fact is that this idea has been around for centuries, but when it comes to doing this the most effectively the Palm Islands of Dubai, United Arab Emirates has got the rest of the world beat.

The Palms Islands literally looks like a palm tree from an aerial view and contains many luxury resorts. Surrounding this palm tree mass of land floating in the ocean, there is nearly a 7-mile long crescent. The Palm Islands is one of the most famous land reclamation projects in the world, because of its size and beauty. Who wouldn’t want to escape the world for a bit, and live it up on a literal palm tree island?

Clearly the world is made up of more water than land, so instead of building on top of it, why not try going underneath it? Well, France and the United Kingdom had the same thought all the way back in 1802, when they drafted the first plan for “The Channel Tunnel”. The goal behind this tunnel was to go underneath the seas and connection northern France and southern England. This ambitious idea was spearheaded by Eurotunnel, a company that transports passengers all around Europe. This, in theory, is a great idea, but in practice took until 1988 to begin construction. Then it wasn’t till 1994 when it opened for services. This monster of a tunnel is 50.45 km long making it the longest undersea tunnel. In fact, the Channel Tunnel is actually made up of three tunnels, two rail tunnels, and a service tunnel. This is a massive accomplishment in the history of civil engineering, because this innovation changed the way goods and services could be delivered and how people could travel.

Clearly civil engineers create some amazing things that really change the world, whether that is through positive social change or visual appearance. These are the people who are the minds behind the cities and communities we live in, and the wonders we travel from near and far to visit. Next time you are walking around your hometown/city it is worth thinking about the people who created the world around you.

Aerospace Engineering – Explained

by

Have you ever wondered what Aerospace Engineering was all about?

Some universities have a total of 8 different branches of engineering, and with all those names and degree options it is easy to be overwhelmed and a bit confused. Instead of randomly picking a field of engineering, it is important to understand what each program does. This will help you decide what school to go to and really find your passion for engineering.

Aerospace engineering is offered at 5 universities in Canada, and 2 of those are right here in Ontario. This emerging field, is one of the newest and advancing areas of engineering. 

In simple terms, aerospace engineering is designing and building machines –that fly. That’s right, anywhere from drones, airplanes– to even rockets! There are two specialties within this field; aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering.

Aeronautical Engineering

Aeronautical engineering involves designing air crafts that are categorized as “lighter than air” this includes helicopters, gliders, airplanes and jets.

Astronautical Engineering

Astronautical is just what it sounds like, it is the design of spacecraft. This means that a career in aerospace engineering can look very different depending on which specialty you choose. So, whether you are interested in making an impact on flying technology in this world or in this universe, aerospace engineering has got you covered. 

Aerospace engineering is a very specialized and a relatively new field, so there is only a select few universities that offer the program here in Canada. The universities that do offer a bachelors in aerospace engineering include: Ryerson University, Carleton University, Concordia University, École Polytechnique de Montréal and the Royal Military College of Canada. 

Careers in Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace engineers can work in the corporate field, for an airline. This would involve designing commercial airplanes, and even change the way they run to adapt to the escalating problem of climate change. Commercial engineers have really had to rethink their design recently, because of climate change. This proves to make their jobs interesting, and of course impactful on the world. 

Then, of course, you have the opposite side of the scale which would be spacecraft engineers. These engineers help countries propel into space technology, and research more about outer space to understand the world we live on. Spacecraft engineers often find themselves using supercomputer simulations, because of the danger surrounding their line of work.

The geniuses behind this technology are engineering, science and data processing managers. These process managers make the simulations more efficient and effective to use. This is vital to the spacecraft engineer position, because the ability to try machines before being used by astronauts, will save lives.

Since safety is such an important part of aerospace, there are also compliance officers. These are the engineers that use their knowledge of aerospace to ensure that all rules and regulations are followed to meet safety standards. 

Lastly, drafters are engineers that create detailed drawings and specification sheets for the product designed. That can range from commercial airplanes to a spacecraft. either way very specific and detailed drawings are needed. 

Aerospace is a branch of engineering that covers everything flying under the sun. Hopefully, you have a better understanding of this branch of engineering. This field of engineering is going to change the world as we know it, and you can be a part of the change. It’s only up from here!