15 October 2010

New website
Seize golden opportunities with IMechE this Autumn
The IMechE hosts events for its members all through the year, and these are an excellent way to meet your fellow engineers and enhance your CV; have you been involved in one yet? In this month's newsletter, we interview Team Bath Racing Project Manager Tom Yates about Formula Student, find out how you can get involved in IMechE events, and get the lowdown on September's Cardboard Boat Regatta in Portsmouth.
IMechE Member Profile
Thomas Yates, University of Bath student, Project Manager for Team Bath Racing at Formula Student
Why did you decide to join the IMechE?
I enjoyed a number of presentations they gave on various subjects, including Flybrid engines and Formula One, plus membership enabled me to compete in the Formula Student competition.
How did you get involved with Team Bath Racing?
I saw them at UCAS tours and knew immediately that I wanted to be involved. I found the Bath team within my first week at uni, offered to help build a car jack, and the rest is history!
What did you enjoy most about this year's Formula Student?
Hearing the fantastic roar of Team Bath's twin exhaust car in the dynamic events (Officially the loudest at 109dB!)
How has being involved in Formula Student benefitted you?
Thanks to the nature of the project, I've picked up lots of skills and experience for my future career; including management, marketing and presentation, team building and self-discipline.
Would you recommend other young engineers get involved in the program?
I would 100% recommend the project, it's a fantastic experience and looks great on your CV! If you're looking to manage a team, make sure you prepare by learning all you can about the event and teams involved.

IMechE makes a splash in Plymouth
Earlier this month, several teams of young engineers descended on Plymouth for the inaugural IMechE "Cardboard Boat Regatta". Run by the Devon and Cornwall YMP, and sponsored by Babcock International andCardboard Future Limited, the event saw the teams competing to design, build and then race their boats at Mayflower Sailing Club. 'The Short Planks' won the hotly-contested race on the day in front of hundreds of spectators, with prizes also awarded for a range of achievements including "Most Impressive Sinking". Pictures from the day and a full run down on all action can be found on the IMechE website.
Topic of the month – Charging ahead with transport technology
After decades of failed attempts to introduce electric vehicles into the mainstream, manufacturers worldwide are investing in headline-grabbing models. Jaguar recently unveiled their new C-X75 at the Paris Motor Show, a 200mph supercar with compact turbines and four electric motors, and we asked you whether you thought this would change the face of the industry. Many IMechE members have been positive about the car, with Mohammed Shadab predicting "it will work and it is eco friendly", whilst others like Mike Wilkinson and Yatine Nirvan highlight the car's astronomical price tag and potential problems with the limited range of a single battery charge. With more affordable vehicles, including the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt available in the coming months, it will be interesting to see whether consumers become confident in this technology.

03 October 2010

RE-CREATE COMPETITION 2010/11

Re-Create Competition: RULES & REGULATIONS

RULES & REGULATIONS


1. Deadline for registration is 11 October 2010. Price giving and submission of models is on the 15th October will give the teams ample time to prepare accordingly (2 weeks)

2. The prototypes built and the team's presentation will be judged based on the marking scheme. The decision of the judges are final.

3. Teams are not allowed to alter/fix/improvise/upgrade/add-on etc. after they have submitted their final product on the day of the competition.

4. Teams cannot use items that are pre-assembled. Pre-assembled items include figurine models (GUNDAM, etc), electrical components.

5. Teams are permitted to use spray paints or any equivalent types to 'touch-up' their prototypes.

6. The committee deserves the right to reject or disqualify competitors if they are found to have not adhered to the rules.

7. The committee deserves the right to keep in their possession any or all of the submitted items. Participant(s) are allowed to keep their submitted models under certain circumstances.

8. The final product of the prototype must be submitted at the end of the competition period in a single form of item. All detachable parts must remain in their particular housing or frame.

9. Teams are advised to be disciplined otherwise they will be penalized. Teams are not allowed to convey any form of sarcasm, taunts or outright remarks to other teams , the judges, and the committee during the competition.

10. Teams are encouraged to be creative and innovative in choosing their materials and construction methods. More marks will be allocated for teams that take the initiative to use recyclable items to manufacture their products and also based on the complexity of the model.

11. Teams cannot use dangerous items to construct their models. Dangerous items include sharp objects, flammable liquids, poisonous metal/organic/in-organic products.


STRUCTURE

In this category, you are required to construct a model of ANY structure that is of interest to you and your team; You will be judged based on the level of complexity and creativity. The model cannot be larger than 1m x 1m x 1m

TRANSPORTATION

In this category, you are required to construct a model of ANY automobile that is of interest to you and your team; You will be judged based on the level of complexity and creativity. The model cannot be larger than 0.5m x 0.5m x 0.5m

PRIZE MONEY: RM125

02 October 2010

Student Member Newsletter - September 2010

Spreading their wings
Airbus Graduates Relay for Charity


Super, G
Future Olympic Skier Jai Geyer

Great Britain Alpine Ski Team member Jai Geyer tells us how his mechanical engineering skills could help him achieve a medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

President Goes East
Visiting high-tec industry in the East of England

President John Wood observed cutting-edge engineering at E.ON and Lotus in East Anglia, as well as meeting young engineers of the future at Lowestoft College.

Business and pleasure
The Institution’s Annual Dinner

Top class business networking, Ross Brawn OBE and the Rt Hon Michael Portillo are the attractions at this year’s Annual Dinner on 17 November 2010.

Could you be mechanical engineering’s
Most famous agony aunt?

Scumrum, the UK’s biggest charity car rally, is looking for an Institution technical ‘agony aunt’ to help competitors as they race to raise £100,000 for Dreams Come True.

Pride of Scotland
Professional Development Achievements

The Graduate Schemes at Babcock, and Halliburton Manufacturing & Services in Aberdeen, have recently been accredited by the Institution.

Sink or Swim
The cardboard boat race

The Devon and Cornwall Young Members’ Panel raised the profile of engineering with the first ever cardboard boat regatta in Plymouth.

Professional Protection
Insurance partner appointed for members

The Institution has appointed Jelf as its approved partner for insurance services.

University less challenging
New online resources for students

A new online form will enable undergraduate students to become affiliate members instantaneously.

Upcoming Events

Fleet Reliability Seminar - Building Relationships to Deliver Reliability

06 October 2010 | LondonTake this opportunity to find out how to improve performance and meet higher demands in the railway industry by working in partnership.

Understanding and Exploiting Intellectual Property for Engineers

14-15 October 2010 | LondonThis course will help you secure your own IP and manage the risk of infringing third party IP. 

Ocean Power Fluid Machinery

19 October 2010 | LondonGain insight into the latest engineering research, development, design, installation, site testing, operation and maintenance of Wind, Wave, Tidal Current and Tidal Range machinery at sea.
Energy, Environment and Sustainability Group
  
Newsletter - September 2010
  
  
  

The Green Face of IMechE

Welcome to the seventh newsletter of the Energy, Environment and Sustainability Group (EESG).
Daphne Wassermann
Newsletter Editor
  
  

EESG News

The EESG Board meet four times a year. To mitigate environmental impacts, two of these meetings are now held as telephone conferences. Our most recent meeting was held at Birdcage Walk on 25 May 2010.
Find out more about the Energy, Environment and Sustainability Group.
 

Low-Carbon Vehicles

Brian Robinson, former technical staff member of the IMechE, has joined the Board. He is now working for TRL Ltd. Read how he considers the safety of low-carbon vehicles in the article Saving Carbon, Saving Lives.
 

Nuclear Power

John Earp has also joined the board bringing his experience in the area of nuclear power and keeping us  up-to-date on current thinking. Read his article Nuclear Energy in the Context of Climate Change 2050.
 

Scotland's Renewable Energy Targets

Ian Arbon has been busy considering Scotland’s renewable energy targets. Read his article that originally appeared in Holyrood magazine, Scotland’s leading political and current affairs magazine.
 

Polution Control in Outer Mongolia

Michael Reid advises the Mongolians on pollution control and energy efficiency in the artilcle Smoking Mongolia. Will this struggling new democracy emerge as one of the leading lights in renewables not through ideology but through necessity?
 

Carbon, Capture and Storage

 

Carbon, Capture and Storage

Those of you for whom Edinburgh is nearer than London might be interested in a conference on Environmental and Clean Technologies: Scotland’s Green Technology Revolution. It is on October 26th at Our Dynamic Earth.http://greenrevolution.holyrood.com/
 

Over to You

As usual, we welcome feedback on the newsletter and on the EESG in general. Please let us know what you think and submit your letters, articles and news items by emailing us at: eesg@imeche.org.
You can also check out the EESG discussion forum, which is on-line whenever you are.
   Upcoming events 

Building Carbon Neutrality - What is the Reality? 

2 November 2010 | London
Delivering carbon neutral buildings in line with government targets will depend on defining what can be achieved, and implementing the technologies available. This seminar will benefit engineers working in the built environment by providing them with workable technically and commercially deliverable energy solutions for developments. 

Living Well - Hidden Impacts and Sustainable Consumption

22 November 2010 | London
Sustainability is usually interpreted in terms of three “pillars” or constraints: techno-economic, environmental or ecological, and societal. Applying this approach to consumption suggests that the sustainability of supply chains should be assessed by examining the distribution of positive benefits and negative impacts along the supply chain.