2006 COMPLETED PROJECTS

University of Canterbury (Department of Engineering) - Warwick Banks, Carter Holt Harvey

Students in the University of Canterbury’s course on Timber Engineering had identified the need for more contact with industry in a survey in 2005. For Massimo Fragiacomo, who runs the course, structural engineer Warwick Banks was an obvious choice.

“Mr Banks is one of the few New Zealand structural engineers with lots of experience of timber engineering. This quality makes him unique for the delivery of my course”, he says.

Mr Banks delivered a series of lectures on multi storey timber building design, with examples of how the students’ knowledge could be applied practically, and also reviewed the students’ projects. In addition he was able to use his time at the university to work on a research project with Carter Holt Harvey.

For Dr Fragiacomo, the collaboration was such as success that he intends to apply for funding again next year.

“The students are more interested in the course, which means better word of mouth and more students enrolled in this and other courses in the engineering department.
The VIP is also able to give some directions on research, which means that research projects are more relevant to industry, which in turn makes it easier to get funding for research and improves the reputation of the department.”

Mr Banks also regarded his involvement as a success, and enjoyed being able to assist the students with their design projects. While he commented that fitting his commitments at the university around the pressures of his day job took some juggling, he has nevertheless agreed to return in 2007.

 

University of Waikato (Materials and Process Engineering) - Namasivayam Navaranjan, mechanical engineering research scientist

Namasivayam Navaranjan, a mechanical research scientist, spent time at the University of Waikato in 2006, teaching final year mechanical engineering students. He gave presentations and tutorials on the applications of the finite element method, as well as establishing the prospects of collaborative research work with the mechanical engineering staff.

“I always enjoy teaching so it was a very good opportunity.”

He regretted the fact that the time was limited, but was pleasantly surprised by the response of students.
“Some students were thinking of doing their projects in topics relating to finite element. Their enthusiasm was more than I anticipated.”

Professor Ilanko, who coordinated the visit, commented that were it not for Mr Navaranjan’s involvement it would have been difficult to teach the practical applications of the course.

“I believe the students would have found it more difficult to cope without the VIP’s help.”

 

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