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engineering

6 Simple Ways to Get Ahead in STEM

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  • Eat breakfast everyday: This may seem obvious but a healthy diet and a good breakfast in the morning is essential to starting the day right and having enough fuel to get yourself through those tough math problems!
  • Procrastinate less: The quicker you get your homework done, then the more time you have to recharge! Resting is just as important as working, so by managing your time and getting things done right away you can have fun and still be productive.
  • Keep up with the news: Being obsessed with breaking news isn’t too healthy, but keeping up with your industry, whether that be science, engineering or something else, is a great way to be informed and build those soft skills like writing and communication. Try to read just one article related to your field a day. Or better yet check out some of these podcasts to stay up to date if you’re short on time!
  • Get involved: Joining groups at school is the perfect way to flex your engineering muscles while having fun. Do some math competitions, take debate or even take up a sport to build your focus. Associating hard work with social interaction is a great way to cope with any stress that may come along with engineering.
  • Stay hydrated: Did you know drinking more water can improve your mood, make your skin clearer and make you more productive? So maybe skip the coffee or hot chocolate during your daily Tim Hortons run and opt for a crisp bottle of water instead.
  • Rely on your network: This is essential in the future when looking for a job, but also for your mental health! Having friends or family around that support you and who you can be yourself around is so important for your mental health. Make time for the ones you love and you’ll be so much happier.

6 Exam Studying Tips From 6 University Engineering Students

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Perfect your time management skills so you study effectively, make time for self-care and spend time with your friends and family.”

Sheila (4th-year Industrial Engineering)

Take breaks and study in groups so that you don’t completely isolate yourself.”

Jeffrey (3rd-year aerospace engineering)

Everyone learns differently, so try different ways of studying and find what’s most effective for you.”

Colin (3rd-year mechanical engineering)

Do work as you go instead of doing it all last minute.”

Carol (1st year biomedical engineering)

Make a studying schedule and rest well.”

Sophia (3rd-year aerospace engineering)

Study for a set amount of time without any distractions, and then take that same amount of time off, separating yourself from your work during that time so you can come back strong.”

Div (4th-year aerospace engineering)

Engineering Craft Ideas

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We know December has passed, but the snow just means it’s a perfect time to stay indoors, grab a hot chocolate and craft!

Tinkering Trees

The Tinkering Trees activity is simple, fun, AND festive!

Supplies:

  • 4 washers per tree, decreasing in size
  • Multiple 5/8″ diameter bolts in different lengths for different sized trees (one per tree)
  • 5 x 5/8″ size nuts

Instructions:

  1. Start with a bolt, then alternate stacking different sized nuts and washers to build a tree shape
  2. For extra fun, paint the materials a forest green colour, and add dots of red, blue and yellow as twinkling lights. Add a paper star or angel, and you’re all set for Saint Nick!

Mini-Catapult

Take your snowball fight indoors with this mini “snowball” shooter!

Supplies:

  • 7 popsicle sticks
  • 3 rubber bands
  • A bottle cap
  • Mini marshmallows
  • White glue

Instructions:

  1. Glue 5 popsicle sticks together.
  2. Stack remaining 2 popsicle sticks together and wrap a rubber band around one end.
  3. Pull the two popsicle sticks apart and wedge the stack of 5 popsicle sticks between them.
  4. Secure the catapult together with a rubber band.
  5. Glue a bottle cap upside down on the end of the top popsicle stick.
  6. Place a marshmallow snowball on the bottle cap, pull back, and let it fly!

Go ENG Girl- Building Confidence in Young Female Engineers

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Decisions, Decisions.

If you think back to your days in high school, having to figure out your future in your last year can be daunting. Even if you’re somewhat sure of what you want to study, how do you know for sure? How do you go forward feeling confident and ready to take on new challenges? Many females who are attracted to engineering often relate their interest to early maker projects where they had the chance to take-apart and build new creations, and solve creative problems. Many also find support and guidance along the way from a parent or close family member who also has a vested interest or background in engineering.

However, not everyone has access to these opportunities, so solidifying their decision and confidence to pursue an interest in engineering can be challenging. It’s been noted that girls are often more likely than boys to think that engineering is too difficult, and lack confidence in their ability to succeed and persevere- especially so if that support system is non-existent. This is where events like Go ENG Girl come into play.

Keynote speaker Katelyn Poyntz, Manager Project Engineering at St. Michaels Hospital.

The Wonderful World of Engineering

Each year, the University of Waterloo’s Engineering Outreach Department runs an event entitled Go Eng Girl, where over 100 Grade 7-10 girls are engaged in learning all about the wonderful world of engineering and its possibilities. Engineering Outreach’s Women in Engineering branch is lead on the event and passionately believes that every girl should have the opportunity to explore her passion, interest, and options in engineering. Through the event, participants are exposed to a network of peers, families, and role models that help answer questions and demystify concerns and stereotypes.

Panelists and role models answer questions.

From keynote speaker Katelyn Poyntz, Manager Project Engineering at St. Michaels Hospital, who shared her journey through the world of engineering, to a panel of current female engineering students, the event provided participants with a network of role models and an opportunity to ask questions and get inspired. The panelists highlighted their experiences, their successes, struggles, hobbies, and inspirations. It was a great opportunity to show these young girls that the panelists are just like them.

After the panel, participants were engaged in a design challenge which gave them a small glimpse into what engineering is all about. The girls were split up into small teams where they learned about the engineering design process and worked together to solve a problem. Ultimately, the design challenge was a way to empower these young women to experiment, create, and learn the importance of teamwork, failing and perseverance.
While it’s unrealistic to expect that every girl will become an engineer, it is important to show them possibilities they never imagined and help them build the network and support system needed to pursue their passion and get that iron ring.

5 Games to Flex your Engineering Brain

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1. Mouse Trap

To win this game you take turns to build the trap and then try to spring it on your opponent’s mouse without yours getting caught! Problem solving and innovation is the key to being an engineer, and this will test your strengths in both!

2. Jenga

Jenga is a game of careful movements and calculations. Every civil engineer knows that to build the tallest structures, you need the strongest foundation. Test your tower by pulling blocks out until it can no longer stand and then build it back up to topple again!

3. Sudoku

Practice your math and logic skills with a game of Sudoku. Each line needs to contain the numbers 1-9, both vertically and horizontally, and no number can be repeated in a line. Math and engineering are partners in crime, and this is one game that will strengthen our skills in both.

4. Tetris

Tetris began as a classic video game but over time has been adapted into a board version! Fitting together different shaped boxes helps with concentration and organization, which mechanical engineers especially appreciate.

5. Operation

For all the biomedical engineers out there, Operation is the game for you! Practice your steady hand-eye coordination (and client relations!) by pulling out different pieces from your patient. Electrical engineers will also love this game, as the game contains a circuit to make the buzzing noise.

HOW TO: Make a Rubber Band Car

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Mechanical Engineers focus on how to make things move and work, and cars are no exception! In this activity you will be practicing motion, elasticity and mechanics. Make sure to look up Newton’s Laws of Motion after you finish to learn more about the science behind this activity!

You will need:

  1. One Toothpick
  2. Hot Glue
  3. Hot Glue Gun
  4. Five Rubber bands
  5. Scissors
  6. Straw
  7. Two 4” dowels
  8. Two 4.5” thick popsicle sticks
  9. Cardboard
  10. One-hole punch
  11. Two bolts
  12. Four nuts

STEPS:

  1. Cut the straws into four 1” pieces.
  2. Cut the toothpick into two halves.
  3. Cut out four 2” cardboard circles for wheels. Punch a hole through the centre.
  4. Fasten the remaining four rubber bands around the cardboard wheels to increase friction.
  5. Twist one 4” dowel through the centre hole of one cardboard wheel to make an axel. Repeat with the other dowel and one other wheel. Leave the other two wheels to the side.
  6. Secure the dowel to the wheel by hot glueing it together on the outside of the wheel. Repeat for both wheels.
  7. Insert two straw pieces on each dowel.
  8. Attach the remaining two wheels to the two dowels, and secure on the outside of the wheel with glue. You will now have two completed wheel-and-axles.
  9. Separate the straw pieces on the dowel to each side, and hot glue a small toothpick piece in the centre of each dowel.
  10. Hot glue one end of one popsicle stick to one piece of straw on the first wheel-and-axle, and then connect the other end to the second wheel-and-axle straw piece with hot glue. Repeat on the other side with the second popsicle stick. This is the chassis (framework) of your car.
  11. Hot glue the bolts upright on the popsicle sticks at the back of your chassis near the wheels to add weight. Add nuts as needed, depending on the size and weight of your bolts.
  12. Attach a rubber band to the front axle at the toothpick.
  13. Connect the other end of that rubber band to the back axle on the toothpick, twist it to wind it up, and then let go for it to run.
  14. Congratulations! You’ve just successfully completed a mini car.