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FROM THE DEANThe year is continuing as it started; as one of Celebration. As an Alumnus of the Faculty of Engineering you will have received a Centennial Year Brochure which describes our �00 year history, includes a message and biography from each of our Centennial Patrons – Sir Ron Carter, Dr John Hood and Chris Liddell; a calendar of events and event details, and an opportunity help us establish a strong foundation for the future.

The Centennial Year’s maxim of Celebrate Engineering, has been epitomised by a number of Faculty staff and students recently – with Dr Mervyn Rosser, a former Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering Science receiving the New Zealand Order of Merit in the Queen’s Birthday Honours; Professor Peter Hunter, the founding director of the Bioengineering Institute being elected a Fellow of London’s prestigious Royal Society; Andrew Pullen of the Bioengineering Institute being promoted to Professor ; and Andrew Graham, a Mechanical Engineering student named joint runner up in the ‘Future Science’ category of the MacDiarmid Young Scientists of the Year Awards.

During April all Faculty of Engineering Staff were invited to attend a Cocktail Function in the Dean’s Suite to commemorate �00 years of Engineering at The University of Auckland. Staff delighted in the opportunity to reminisce.

As tradition would decree Autumn Graduation occurred in May with 454 graduates from the Faculty of Engineering. Staff, friends and family attended the Faculty’s Graduation Lunch in the Marquee on Old Government House Lawn to acknowledge the accomplishments of each graduate. Again, I congratulate you. The Auckland University Engineers Association (AUEA) had a visible presence at the event with the launch of membership cards to all new Engineering graduates. The Engineering Alumni News is one means to continuing your relationship with the Faculty and the University. As an alumnus you will have the opportunity to support those who will follow you by providing advice, encouragement, mentorship, employment, scholarships and funding. Contributions from previous graduates have benefited you as a student and we will welcome your involvement in assisting future generations of students.

It is with regret that I inform you of the passing of Neil Kirton, a member of staff for over 40 years. A man whose career spanned each of the physical locations of our history – from our beginning in the infamous Tin Shed to the Ardmore years to returning to the City Campus and the grander School of Engineering building standing today. Neil was honoured at Spring Graduation last year for his distinguished service to Engineering and the University, receiving an honorary Master of Engineering degree.

June was an eventful month – firstly with one of our key stakeholders, Industry, being invited to attend the Faculty’s Centennial Cocktail Function, at which we thanked Industry for their support and commitment throughout our �00 year history. Sharon Andersen, External Relations Manger and Dr Joe Deans, Mechanical Lecturer accompanied the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stuart McCutcheon to The University of Auckland Australian Alumni and Friends Functions held in Sydney and Melbourne respectively, they were pleased to have the opportunity to meet a number of our Alumni presently living across the ditch. I look forward to the same opportunity at the Faculty of Engineering Alumni and Friends Brisbane Function to be held in early August. Finally, June was the month where more than 700 Year �2

and �3 North Island school girls attended Enginuity Day – a day designed to discover Engineering and its possibilities. Girls took part in hands-on activities ranging from building a bridge to carry as much load as possible to writing computer programs for the LEGO Rover Robot and mixed with staff, students and professional female engineers working in Industry. We hope to see a large a number of these girls as future Engineering students.

In considering the future of Engineering I would like to recognise and acknowledge the commitment and contribution of members of Industry who have established six new scholarships and two prizes in 2006 to date, details are outlined within; and Alumni who have made generous donations to the Cecil Segedin Endowment Fund, the Ardmore Fund, Colombo Plan Scholarships and the Engineering Endowment Fund, ensuring our centenary is not only about celebrating the past, but providing a strong foundation for the future.

July will note the start of the University’s Winter Lecture Series, this year hosted by the Faculty with the theme ‘Engineering Technologies for today and tomorrow. Please find enclosed your detailed programme. I invite you to attend the Winter Lecture Series and Celebrate Engineering and Thinking.

There has been strong interest from Alumni wishing to attend the Faculty of Engineering Centennial Dinner (in November) with registrations from around the world. It is going to be a great time; I encourage you to join us in celebrating our historic milestone. To that effect please find enclosed a Centennial Year Registration Form for events occurring during the Centennial Weekend.

I thank you for your interest and support of the Faculty; your involvement in our world is always welcomed.

Professor Peter W. BrothersDean of Engineering

100 Years

Celebrate Engineering

1906 - 2006

ENgiNEERiNg AluMNi NEWs

NuMBER 12, july 2006 YEARS

C E L E B R A T EENGINEERING

1906 - 2006

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QuEEN HONOuRs FACulTy OF ENgiNEERiNg sTAFFThe 2006 Queen’s Birthday Honours recognised the outstanding achievements of a number of University of Auckland staff, both past and present.

Among new Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) is Dr Mervyn Rosser, an Alumnus of The University of Auckland [BSc (�947), MSc (�948), BMus (�953)] and a former Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering Science, who was honoured for his service to tertiary education and the community.

The Department of Engineering Science and the Faculty offer our congratulations to Merv for this regal recognition of his contribution to tertiary education and the community.

ENgiNEERiNg sCiENCE PROFEssOR AND BiOENgiNEERiNg iNsTiTuTE DiRECTOR jOiNs ROyAl sOCiETyThe founding director of the Bioengineering Institute, Professor Peter Hunter, has been elected a Fellow of London’s prestigious Royal Society.

Peter Hunter says he feels honoured to have been recognised in this way, but is also very conscious that there is a whole team contributing to the pioneering work that has brought this recognition.

“The wonderful thing we’ve produced in the Bioengineering Institute is a collegial group of people whose talents have combined to create something special,” he says. “I think we’ve created a new way of looking at computational biology, with a very close integration of anatomical structure and biophysical mechanisms within a mathematical framework.

“This is helping bridge the spatial scales from proteins through cells and tissues to the whole organ and the body — and is applicable to a very wide range of biological and medical problems.”

Peter is the only New Zealander among 44 scientists from the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth who have been recognised by the Society this year for their exceptional contributions to science, engineering and medicine.

He follows in the footsteps of science greats like Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein, and joins an elite group of more than �400 current Fellows and Foreign Members of the Royal Society. These include Stephen Hawking and Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web, as well as more than 60 Nobel Laureates.

A professor of Engineering Science at the University since �978, Peter pioneered mathematical modelling of the human body, most notably of the heart. His work focuses on creating workable computer models of human organs to solve medical problems. The models can be used to predict effects of defined situations, from individual cell to complete organ level.

Together with Associate-Professor Bruce Smaill (Physiology) he also founded and built Auckland’s Bioengineering Institute which grew out of the Department of Engineering Science in the School of Engineering and the Department of Physiology in the School of Medicine. The institute is now recognised internationally for its work on developing sophisticated computer models of living organisms, and has active collaborations with many institutions across the world, including the University of Oxford and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Only 40 New Zealand-born scientists (eight living) have been elected Fellows of the Royal Society since the first, ornithologist Walter Buller, in �879. Among previous Fellows are Nobel prizewinner Lord Ernest Rutherford, Professor Ian Axford (�986), head of Germany’s Max-Planck Institute and Vaughan Jones (�990), Professor of Mathematics at The University of Auckland.

The last time New Zealanders were elected to the Royal Society was in 2003 when Professor Alan MacDiarmid and Professor Richard Sibson both received the honour.

The Royal Society is the world’s oldest scientific academy in continuous existence, and has been at the forefront of enquiry and discovery since its foundation in �660. Its core focus is the Fellowship of the most eminent scientists of the day who are

elected for life by rigorous peer review and entitled to use FRS after their name.

The Bioengineering Institute, Department of Engineering Science and the Faculty offer our sincere congratulations to Peter for this fitting recognition of his contributions to research in science, engineering and medicine.

Published in The University of Auckland News Volume 36 / Issue 9 / June 2 2006

Photograph Godfrey Boehnke

NEW PROFEssORs APPOiNTEDSix academic staff members have been promoted to professor in the latest promotion round, including one from the Faculty of Engineering.

The University regards promotion to professor as a mark of distinction. Such a promotion is only awarded when the applicant has demonstrated professional and academic eminence at an international level, and in accordance with the highest ethical standards.

Successful applicants have achieved, demonstrated and maintained a profound understanding of their discipline, a capacity to extend knowledge in that discipline, and the ability to communicate the results

RECENT AWARDs AND sCHOlARsHiPs

Professor Peter Hunter

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of scholarly endeavour to students at undergraduate and graduate level. They have also demonstrated qualities of academic leadership.

Professor Andrew Pullen (Bioengineering Institute) leads ground-breaking work on computer modelling. He and an active research group have created computer models of the electrical activity of muscle including the heart, skeletal muscle and muscles of the gastrointestinal system.

Andrew has been a visiting faculty member

at several overseas universities and has an adjunct appointment at Vanderbilt University. He currently holds grants from several funding sources including the Marsden Fund, the Foundation for Research Science and Technology, the Health Research Council (NZ) and the US National Institutes of Health.

Last year he published he first book Mathematically Modelling the Electrical Activity of the Heart: From cell to body surface and back again, co-written with two former PhD students.

Published in The University of Auckland News Volume 36 / Issue �� / June 30 2006

Photograph Godfrey Boehnke

MACDiARMiD yOuNg sCiENTisTs OF THE yEAR AWARDsThree University of Auckland students have been named in the MacDiarmid Young Scientists of the Year Awards, including the winner of the overall title of Young Scientist of the Year.

Claire French, a PhD student in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences has been given the top accolade in the annual awards. Winner of the ‘Science in Our

Communities’ category, Claire’s research, in association with crown research institute ESR (Environmental Science and Research), has identified a method of distinguishing between skin, vaginal and mouth cells. This easy-to-use test, which identifies the source of cells through colour staining techniques, is of particular interest to forensic scientists and has potential for providing additional evidence in sexual assault cases.

Andrew Graham, a mechanical engineering student at the University, has been named joint runner up in the ‘Future Science’ category of the awards. Andrew works with a team of engineers designing medical robotics, focusing on revolutionary robotic equipment that will aid in the fast, accurate realignment of bones during leg surgery.

Another runner up, in the ‘Advancing Human Health’ category, is Hayley Reynolds, whose research is funded by the Centre of Biomolecular Discovery based at the University. Hayley has developed technology that may assist doctors to monitor and predict the spread of melanoma in cancer patients using 3D computer models.

“It is a great pleasure to see our graduates so successful in the MacDiarmid Awards this year. It’s particularly pleasing to see winners from across our major research faculties, Science, Medical and Health Science, and Engineering. Outstanding students like Claire, Hayley and Andrew, who have experience working with some of the best researchers in New Zealand, will be key figures in our future knowledge society. We are very proud of them and offer our heartiest congratulations on this fitting recognition of their ability and hard work,” says Professor Tom Barnes, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research).

The MacDiarmid Young Scientists of the Year Awards are presented by the Foundation of Research, Science and Technology. The awards are designed to recognise excellent research, science and technology while also promoting the importance of good science communication. In 2006, 2� of the �03 entries were from University of Auckland students.

The Faculty of Engineering offer our congratulations to Andrew for his achievement.

L-R Hayley Reynolds, Faculty of Science; Professor Tom Barnes, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research); Andrew Graham, Faculty of Engineering; and Claire French, Young Scientist of the Year, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences’

Professor Andrew Pullen

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Neil Kirton died 11 June 2006, in his 88th year.

It is with regret that the Faculty of Engineering informs you of the passing of Neil Kirton.

Our sincere condolences to Neil’s family.

sPRiNg gRADuATiON - HugE CONTRiBuTiONs sAluTEDAs published in the Engineering Alumni News, Number �0, December 2005.

Two individuals associated in different ways with engineering were honoured at the Spring Graduation for their distinguished service to the University.

[Peter Menzies, chairman of the board of Auckland UniServices Ltd and a member of the University Council, was made a Fellow of the University. He is only the sixth person to be acknowledged in this way.]

Neil Kirton, a staff member of the Faculty of Engineering for more than 40 years, received an honorary Master of Engineering degree.

Excerpts from citations read by the Public Orator, Professor Vivienne Gray, appear below.

NEIL KIRTON

The University is made up of various types of people. One is the fellowship of academic staff who teach and research into subjects as various as engineering and art history, geology and classics. Another is the group of technicians and administrators and other that support research and teaching, whose talents also cover many fields. Neil Kirton contributed to the Engineering Faculty as a member of this group of staff for over 40 years.

He has been called Technician, Personal Assistant, Administrative Officer, Paymaster and Purchase Officer. One word, it seems, was insufficient to describe the many capacities of the man. He was with you from �942-�984, from the times when Professor Leech led the School through to the times of Professor Meyer. He was here when you were accommodated in the tin shed by the old Physics building. He was with you when Professor Leech moved you to Ardmore against your will in �948. Neil Kirton supervised the building of the laboratories around the old parade ground in the plywood and timber hangars at the old airfield at Ardmore, and the creation of the library out of seven dilapidated huts used in the Pacific Islands by US troops.

He got the services up and running. He was still with you when he returned from Ardmore in �969 to the grander School of Engineering that you now occupy.

It is in his contribution to the Ardmore years that is remembered best. There he developed the expertise he had in an earlier life when he had been a radio operator in the Merchant Marine and he gave technical advice and support to the research projects of students and staff. He indeed exposed himself to danger for the good of Professor Leech, who had many ideas relating to military matters in those war years and carried out experiments involving novel ways to use explosives for “non-standard” ends. One of these was a commission to produce “offensive inundations” by means of TNT, in order to swamp Pacific atolls being held by Japanese in the Second World War …

Histories of universities are mostly written in terms of what professor achieved or the higher echelons of management administration. With this honorary degree in Engineering we recognise a member of the general staff who gave long and distinguished service to the School of Engineering and thereby to the whole discipline and profession of engineering.

OBiTuARy

Neil Kirton receiving his honorary Master of Engineering degree at Spring Graduation, 29 September 2005

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VOluNTEER sTEPs FORWARD TO HElP FEllOW sTuDENTs

At a time when many students are struggling with the prospect of looming exams, 2�-year-old Sam Gordon is busy helping others.

The fourth year engineering student has played a key role in establishing STEPS, a new mentoring initiative for engineering students.

STEPS, short for Student Engineer Partnerships, is the brainchild of a core group of students headed up by Sam.

Sam says he saw an opportunity to bridge the gap between new students and their more experienced peers.

“I noticed there was very little interaction between students from different year levels and decided to organise something that would bring people together.”

With that, STEPS was born. The scheme was launched in August last year with �6 mentors and 40 first year engineering students.

The objective of STEPS is to provide personal support to students so they can achieve their academic potential. Each mentor is assigned a group of three or four students and meets with them once a week to help with any academic issues and provide peer support.

As with any new venture, Sam says their main concern was keeping the numbers up. They had little reason to worry. Eight months down the track, the scheme has 280 engineering students on board.

Sam’s main responsibility as leader of the STEPS coordinating team is to oversee the whole programme and make sure everything is running smoothly.

“It’s about linking people up and sharing ideas,” says Sam. He takes inspiration from the stories that have filtered back about struggling first year students who found their feet after a few mentoring sessions.

Once he finishes his undergraduate degree at the end of this year, Sam will begin a Masters thesis on the implementation of sustainable technologies and hopes to finish this overseas.

“I hope to see STEPS introduced across all years. The idea is that when I graduate and step away, it’ll have the momentum to keep going,” says Sam.

This vision already has the backing of the Faculty of Engineering, which hopes to see STEPS become a prominent part of university life for engineering students.

“It’s been great watching this mentoring programme thrive under the leadership of an outstanding group of students who are committed to fostering a healthy university community,” says Faculty of Engineering Dean Professor Peter Brothers.

“I think this initiative has the potential to have a tremendous impact on campus life.”

Ever since secondary school Sam has thrown himself into volunteer work. His first foray into mentoring was as a Year �3 peer mentor at Wanganui High School. The move to study in Auckland inspired him even more to follow the example of those who mentored him during his early years.

A past president of the O’Rorke Hall Resident’s Association, Sam is no stranger to youth work. He still manages to find time to coordinate the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme at The University of Auckland and is heavily involved in Rotaract and the Spirit of Adventure Trust Voyagers Club.

Sam is helping with the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards in July, and recently co-organised a one day conference for engineers to learn about the issues surrounding sustainable development today.

As if he needs another ball to juggle, Sam is also taking singing lessons with the aim of completing his Grade Eight exam this year.

Sam humbly insists he just wants to give something back to the university. “It’s good to know STEPS is making a difference for some people.”

syDNEy AND MElBOuRNE AluMNi AND FRiENDs FuNCTiONs A broad range of alumni attended events at The Cellars at The Wine Society in Melbourne and at the Music Café in the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in June; where the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stuart McCutcheon presented an update on the University’s progress and plans for the future.

Guest speaker at each event, David Skilling, the 2006 Young Alumnus of the Year and Chief Executive of the New Zealand Institute gave a well received and stimulating talk on “The New Zealand economy: Prospects and priorities”, which was followed by a lively question and answer session.

The Melbourne Alumni Group, headed by Rupert Saint, announced their plans to run another alumni function later in the year for Melbourne based alumni. Further details will be posted to all alumni based in Melbourne nearer to the time.

Malcolm Castle spoke on behalf of the Sydney Alumni Group, (headed by George Barker) to announce their plans to run future alumni events and to express the group’s desire to support the University’s Advancement initiatives.

KEA (Kiwi Expatriates Association) members were also well represented and acknowledged at the Sydney function.

Guests then enjoyed further time to network and meet other alumni living in the area.

We enjoyed meeting alumni and friends at this event and look forward to seeing some of you again at future events.

ENgiNEERiNg sTuDENTs AND AluMNi

Sam Gordon

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FACulTy OF ENgiNEERiNg AluMNi AND FRiENDs BRisBANE RECEPTiONThe reception will provide the occasion for the Dean of Engineering, Professor Peter Brothers to update you on the Faculty’s progress and plans for the future in this our Centennial Year, and for you to socialise with other Engineering Alumni and Friends.

A number of you may have been contacted by Alumnus George Walker advising you of this event. Details are:

Brisbane Reception

Date: Wednesday 02 August Time: 6.30pmVenue: Sofitel Brisbane, 249 Turbot St BrisbaneIf you wish to attend please RSVP by Friday 28 July online at:www.alumni.auckland.ac.nzSelect: News & Events

or contact:

Sharon AndersenExternal Relations ManagerEmail: s.andersen@auckland.ac.nz Phone: +64 9 373 7599 ext. 88225

For those of you who have recently advised the University of your attendance we look forward to meeting you.

EXPERiENCED ENgiNEERs Are you looking for change or thinking of returning home to New Zealand?

Alumni Engineers of all disciplines are welcome to contact the Faculty of Engineering Employment Manager, Kevin Healey, who may be able to put you in direct contact with the right people in New Zealand Industry. Email: k.healey@auckland.ac.nz for further information.

ATTENTiON gOlDEN gRADuATEs!Did you graduate in �956 or before? Were you born before �937 but graduated more recently? Then it’s time to renew contact with former classmates and plan to attend the 2006 Golden Graduates reunion

to be held at the university’s city campus on October �8th. Look out for your invitation with full details in your mailbox at the beginning of September. Information will also appear soon on the University’s Alumni website,

www.alumni.auckland.ac.nz

AuTuMN gRADuATiONNearly 6000 students graduated from The University of Auckland during Autumn Graduation. The 5890 students were capped during a record �3 ceremonies, receiving a total of 65�� qualifications. For the first time, graduation occupied four days (27 April, �, 3, 5 May).

In time-honoured tradition, graduands and staff processed through the city in colourful academic regalia from �0am each graduation day - along Princes Street, Bowen Avenue, Victoria Street East and up Queen Street to the final destination of the Town Hall.

And for the first time, the Auckland University Engineering Alumni (AUEA) provided each of the Faculty of Engineering’s 454 graduates their own personalised membership card, as launched by Carron Blom, Environmental Manager / Environmental Design Leader for Beca and a graduate of the University, at the Faculty’s Graduation Lunch.

The membership card is unique in that it bears the Faculty of Engineering’s Centennial Logo, with 2006 being our Centennial Year. Each graduate was earnestly encouraged to join us in celebrating this historic milestone as we honour our traditions, celebrate our achievements, and continue our evolution towards becoming the leading engineering school in Australasia.

The Faculty of Engineering is proud of each of you and your achievements in completing your degree or diploma and offers our heartiest congratulations. The Faculty would like to welcome you to its ranks of Alumni. We wish you every success in your future endeavours.

AluMNi AND gRADuATiON

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WiNTER lECTuRE sERiEs ENgiNEERiNg TECHNOlOgiEs FOR TODAy AND TOMORROWWINTER LECTURE SERIES 2006 at The University of Auckland

A series of six weekly lectures in the Maidment Theatre, 8 Alfred St from �-2pm, 25 July-29 August.

Presented by the Faculty of Engineering in celebration of our Centennial Year.

The six lectures will be based on the common theme of “Engineering technologies for today and tomorrow”. Each lecture will develop the theme in areas corresponding to the disciplines of Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Engineering Science, and Chemical and Materials Engineering. The lectures will highlight the state of the art in engineering technology today and its potential impact on society and our way of life in the foreseeable future.

25 JULY LECTURE 1ENGINEERED COMPOSITE MATERIALS:FROM EARTH TO SPACE

1 AUGUST LECTURE 2ENGINEERING IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE:A VISION INTO THE FUTURE

8 AUGUST LECUTRE 3CHANLLENGES IN ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING:WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED FROM THE PAST AND WHAT WILL THE NEXT TEN YEARS BRING?

15 AUGUST LECTURE 4CIVIL ENGINEERING FOR LIFE

22 AUGUST LECTURE 5FROM NO 8 WIRE TO THE NANO WORLD:A PILGRIMAGE FROM CLASSICAL ENGINEERING MATERIALS TO THE ULTRA HIGH-PERFORMANCE MATERIALS OF TODAY AND TOMORROW

29 AUGUST LECTURE 6ENGINEERING SCIENCE:CREATING THE FUTURE USING MATHEMATICAL MODELS

Please find enclosed your detailed programme of the Winter Lecture Series 2006 ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIES FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW. Complete with the presenters and chair of each lecture and abstract.

We invite you to attend the Winter Lecture Series and Celebrate Engineering and Thinking.

giRls AsKED TO gET BEHiND sCiENCE AND ENgiNEERiNg The University of Auckland brought out its best robots in a bid to lure more women into engineering and science.

Clifford the B2� robot guide was among the robots on show as the University’s Women into Science and Engineering (WISE) group hosted high school girls from across the North Island in an effort to encourage more females to take up these professions.

Two events were held at the University to cater to different age groups. Girls into Science took place on 28 and 29 June and targeted Year �0 students. Enginuity Day, hosted by the Engineering Faculty, was

aimed at Year �2 and �3 students and was held on 28 June.

Half of our engineers and scientists should be women, says the Faculty of Engineering Women in Engineering Equity Adviser Robyn MacLeod. Currently only about 20% of the University’s engineering students are women and about 48% study science subjects.

“There is a shortage of skilled engineering graduates making it essential to attract more people to the profession,” she says. “While the uptake of women in these areas is increasing they are still significantly underrepresented.”

“Furthermore, engineering graduates earn comparatively high salaries in New Zealand and abroad,” she says.

More than 700 girls took part in hands-on activities and mixed with staff, students and professional female scientists and engineers working in industry.

Some of the activities included testing the emotional “intelligence” of Clifford, a robot designed to interact with human speech; creating jewellery out of deformed materials; attempting to turn mucky water into drinking water ; building a bridge to carry as much load as possible; and designing a ‘podcast’ to transmit from a mobile phone to the Internet.

THE FuTuRE OF ENgiNEERiNg

Robyn MacLeod, Women in Engineering Equity Advisor (Right), and members of WEN - Women in Engineering Network.

Girls participating in the hands-on activities of Enginuity Day

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NEW sCHOlARsHiPs AT THE FACulTy OF ENgiNEERiNgIn 2006, six new scholarships and two new prizes have been established and/or awarded for the first time within the Faculty of Engineering. The companies sponsoring the new awards; Deutsche Bank, Foundation Engineering, Holmes Consulting Group, Phitek, Tonkin and Taylor, Auckland Regional Council, Housing New Zealand and Connell Wagner, have all realised that establishing a scholarship or prize is a unique way of touching the lives of students, and creating a mutually beneficial relationship with the Faculty of Engineering. The main purpose of awards like these is to assist and encourage students studying towards the Bachelor of Engineering degree. However, the benefits of creating a scholarship or prize is that these sponsors are able to not only assist students, but also to raise the profile of their company (or specific area of expertise, product or field of technology), recruit top scholars in terms of vacation and graduate employment and create personal mutually advantageous links between the scholarship provider and the recipient.

THE DEuTsCHE BANK ENgiNEERiNg sCHOlARsHiPSince 2000, The Deutsche Bank has offered a scholarship within the Faculty of Business and Economics – The Deutsche Bank Financial and Investment Banking Scholarship, which is awarded to an Undergraduate 3rd year student in the Bachelor of Commerce degree. However, in 2006, Deutsche Bank representatives generously decided to establish a scholarship within the Faculty of Engineering; The Deutsche Bank Engineering Scholarship.

Deutsche Bank is one of the world’s leading international financial service providers. Deutsche Bank has been operating in Australia since �974 and now has over �,000 employees with offices in Sydney and Melbourne. Today, the franchise ranks as one of the top three investment banks providing a wide range of wholesale investment banking and asset management services, and private client advice. Deutsche Bank competes to be the leading global provider of financial solutions for demanding clients, creating exceptional

value for their shareholders and people.

This scholarship was created to assist and encourage students from the Faculty of Engineering towards a career in Financial Markets or Investment Banking. The Scholarship will be awarded to a student who is in their final year of either a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Civil Engineering or Bachelor of Engineering conjoint degree with Law, Commerce or Science (where the major subject for the Commerce degree is one of Economics, Finance, or Accountancy). The value of the award of the scholarship is $5000. The selection for the scholarship criteria will be based on academic merit, teamwork and leadership qualities, demonstrated problem solving ability, career aspirations, and interview performance. Further consideration will be shown to students who make a significant contribution to social, sporting and/or community activities in addition to their studies.

THE FOuNDATiON ENgiNEERiNg gEOTECHNiCAl ACHiEVEMENT sCHOlARsHiPThe Foundation Engineering Geotechnical Achievement Scholarship was launched in 2006. The main intention of the Scholarship, which is sponsored by Foundation Engineering, is to support and promote students taking the Bachelor of Engineering degree in Civil Engineering, who intend to specialize in Geotechnical Engineering.

Foundation Engineering was established in �972, and is an independent �00% New Zealand owned consultancy. They have branches in Auckland, Orewa and Tauranga, and employ over 40 professional and technical staff to service clients throughout New Zealand. Foundation Engineering provides a wide range of professional, specialist Geotechnical and Engineering Geology services to developers, contractors, local government, corporate and private clients. Foundation Engineering takes pride in providing cost effective, innovative design solutions on a variety of complex land and building development projects.

The Foundation Engineering Geotechnical Achievement Scholarship is open to all students in Part III or Part IV of the BE degree, specialising in Civil/Geotechnical Engineering. There are two scholarships on offer, each with worth a total of $4000

towards compulsory tuition fees. In addition, vacation employment at Foundation Engineering, to gain work experience and a knowledge/understanding of the company, will be available during the summer vacations of Part II and III and Parts III and IV for the scholarship recipient. In terms of selecting a recipient for this scholarship, the Selection Committee will take into account the academic results for Part I / II / III of the Bachelor of Engineering degree; a written statement on why geotechnical engineering is important in today’s world; technical ability and professional skills; character and leadership potential; contribution to the University and /or community activities; and potential to contribute to the Civil Engineering Industry.

HOlMEs CONsulTiNg gROuP sTRuCTuRAl ENgiNEERiNg sCHOlARsHiPThe Holmes Consulting Group Structural Engineering Scholarship was created in 2006 and is financed by the Holmes Consulting Group. Holmes Consulting Group is a structural and civil engineering consultancy based in New Zealand. The group assists developers, owners, clients and architects throughout the world. The central purpose of the scholarship is to encourage excellence in structural engineering at the Faculty of Engineering.

The scholarship will be awarded to a Part III student who is undertaking study towards a BE Degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering, with an interest in Structural Engineering. The scholarship is valued at $2,500 pa for tuition fees assistance. Furthermore, summer internships at Holmes Consulting Group will be available to the successful student during the vacation of Parts III and IV. In making a recommendation for this award the Holmes Consulting Group Structural Engineering Scholarship selection committee will take into account the following factors; a student’s academic results for Part II pro structural design courses; a written statement on the applicant’s general aspirations within the structural engineering industry; communication skills; the leadership potential of the student and the student’s potential to contribute to the industry.

sCHOlARsHiPs

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PHiTEK sysTEMs sigNAl PROCEssiNg sCHOlARsHiPThe Phitek Systems Signal Processing Scholarship was set-up in 2006 and is financed by Phitek Systems. The main objective of the scholarship is to aid and support students undertaking study towards the Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. The scholarship will give Phitek Systems the opportunity to support the engineering profession by being involved in the education of future engineers and create a personal link with the scholarship recipient.

Phitek is a global business designing and manufacturing a range of products for the international aviation, consumer electronics and personal communications markets. Product development is based in New Zealand while the majority of manufacturing is outsourced to qualified contract manufacturers in China. Customers are global airlines, in-flight entertainment hardware vendors and consumer electronics brands based in Europe, Asia and in the United States. Phitek Systems comprises three divisions - Avionics Systems, Audio Products and Audio Technologies. All three are linked by a common thread - Active Noise Rejection™ and audio enhancement technologies.

The scholarship is available to all students who are enrolled full-time in Part III of the Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Students applying for the scholarship will be judged on the following factors; academic results for Part II of the Degree of Bachelor of Engineering; technical ability; professional skills; leadership potential & social skills; contribution to the University and/or community activities and importantly, the potential to contribute to the audio signal processing industry. The scholarship has a tenure of two years and is worth $3000 pa towards compulsory tuition fees. Moreover, vacation employment at Phitek Systems, to gain work experience and a familiarity with the company, may be available during the summer breaks of Part III or IV.

TONKiN AND TAylORThe Tonkin and Taylor Scholarship was established in 2005 and will be awarded

for the first time in 2006. Financed by Tonkin & Taylor, the scholarships will enable the company to support the engineering profession, and be involved in the education of future engineers.

Founded in �959 Tonkin & Taylor are still proudly employee owned and operated. The Company is an established market leader in environmental and engineering consultancy services in New Zealand within its speciality disciplines of geotechnical, civil and water resources and environmental engineering. Tonkin & Taylor is a forward thinking consultancy renowned for its innovative solutions and exceptionally talented people.

One Tonkin and Taylor scholarship will be awarded annually to a Part II student who is undertaking study towards a BE degree in Civil Engineering. The value of the scholarship comprises of 50% of compulsory fees for Part II, 75% of compulsory fees for Part III and �00% of compulsory fees for Part IV of study. Thereafter, the Scholarship will normally be available for each subsequent year of study. Upon completion of each academic year the scholarship recipients status will be reviewed by the selection committee and depending on satisfactory academic progress, will be continued onto the next year of study until completion of BE Civil qualification.

The Tonkin and Taylor Scholarship will be awarded to the successful recipient on the basis of the following factors; academic results for Part I of the Degree of Bachelor of Engineering; a written statement on why civil engineering is important in today’s world; technical ability and professional skills; character and leadership potential; contribution to the University and /or community activities; and potential to contribute to the Civil Engineering Industry. Furthermore, the successful applicant will also have the opportunity to gain experience and an understanding of Tonkin and Taylor, by working during the summer vacations of Part II - III and Part III - IV.

AuCKlAND lOW iMPACT DEsigN sTuDENT COMPETiTiON PRiZEThe Auckland Low Impact Design Student Competition Prize was established in the 2006 and is jointly financed from funds from the Auckland Regional Council and

Housing New Zealand Corporation. The main purpose of the Prize is to promote the concept of Low Impact Design through the awarding of a monetary prize to Faculty of Engineering Civil and Environmental Engineering students.

Low Impact Design is primarily a concept related to stormwater management, the key objectives of the Auckland Low Impact Design (LID) Student Competition Prize are to inspire creative thinking in applying LID design concepts and structural measures to the intensification and redevelopment of urban residential areas, demonstrate how LID can be applied to the intensification and redevelopment of an urban residential area and to add value to the education of engineering professionals. Students will devise innovative Low Impact Design solutions to problems arising from the intensification and redevelopment of an urban residential area.

The Auckland Low Impact Design Student Competition Prize is valued at $2000 and will be awarded annually to the team in the Auckland Low Impact Design Student Competition Prize that submits the best Low Impact Design Solution entry as judged by the selection committee. The competition itself is open to all full and part time Part IV and Postgraduate (non- PhD) Civil and Environmental Engineering students at The University of Auckland and students who will be enrolled in, or have previously completed; ENVENG 70� - Studies in Environmental Engineering �; a course offered through the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department. The entries will be showcased and the prize awarded at the third event in the Auckland Regional Councils’ Low Impact Design series in mid 2006

CONNEll WAgNER PRiZE iN CONsTRuCTiON MANAgEMENTThe Connell Wagner Prize in Construction Management was established in 2006 and is financed by Connell Wagner. Connell Wagner has had a presence in New Zealand since �992 and is now one of New Zealand’s major multi-disciplinary consulting firms. Key projects for Connell Wagner include the 24 ha Sylvia Park town centre in Auckland; the Clearwater residential development in Christchurch; concept development and design services for Project Hobson; and the Shell Design

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sCHOlARsHiPs CONTiNuED

Services Contract which involves design work on Shell’s bulk oil terminals throughout the country and Genesis Energy’s P40 – 40 MW gas turbine at Huntly Power Station.

The main purpose of this Prize is to recognise students in the winning team on the Construction Management Connell Wagner Tender Project in the course CIVIL 409 - Construction Management. The Connell Wagner Prize in Construction Management is of the value of $500. This amount is to be shared equally amongst the members of the winning team.

On behalf of The University of Auckland and the Faculty of Engineering, I would like to thank Deutsche Bank, Foundation Engineering, Holmes Consulting Group, Phitek, Tonkin and Taylor, Auckland Regional Council, Housing New Zealand and Connell Wagner for putting their time and effort into these new scholarships and prizes – your assistance is greatly appreciated, especially by the students who will reap the rewards of your generosity. The Faculty of Engineering looks forward to awarding these scholarships and prizes in 2006.

If you would like further information about establishing a scholarship and/or prize within the Faculty of Engineering please contact;

Sophie PowerScholarships ManagerFaculty of EngineeringEmail: s.power@auckland.ac.nzPhone: +64 9 3737 599 Ext 85347

RACE CAR TO RiVAl gERMAN ENgiNEERiNgIt’s lighter and nimbler than last year, and can still beat a Ferrari hands down. The Formula-One style race car engineered by students at the University of Auckland has been redesigned to compete in Germany next month (August).

The new-look racing car was unveiled to an audience of supporters on Thursday �3 July at an evening function in the Faculty of Engineering’s Atrium.

The international Society of Automotive Engineers (Formula SAE) annually invites university students to construct a small formula one style race car to compete in events around the globe. It hosts a race and judges an engineering competition where the overall package of construction, performance and financial planning is assessed.

The team from the Faculty of Engineering has entered the Australasian competition twice, but this will be the first time they have competed in Europe. About 30 students have laboured for the past six months to develop the race car used last year.

Team Leader and student Craig Shannon says although the competition limits physical dimensions and engine size, the possibilities for engineering the design of

the car are wide open.

“We believe our design is different to anything tried before, and we want to prove that it can compete with the best in Europe.”

“We’ve redesigned the innovative carbon fibre chassis rear section and drivetrain assembly, retuned the supercharged Yamaha R6 engine with a custom dry sump system and fine tuned many other components.”

Specifications for the New Zealand entry include:

It can go from 0 to �00km/h in 3.5 seconds (faster than a Ferrari or Porsche)

At �60km/h its wings create a downward force of approximately 230kgs, the same weight as the vehicle, which means it could theoretically drive upside down.

By the time the car gets to Germany, some of the original team members would have spent in excess of 7000 hours each working on the project since it began.

A field of 40 entries from �� countries will compete at Formula Student Germany from August 3-7. They will be using the same track and pits as the real Formula One, held at Hockenheim one week before Formula SAE moves in.

The Formula SAE team’s major sponsors are V Energy Drink, Fisher and Paykel and the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Engineering.

To track the progress of the Formula

SAE team in Germany please check their website at: www.fsae.co.nz

We wish the Team the best of Luck.

FORMulA sAE

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The 49th AGM of the Auckland University Engineers Association (AUEA) was held on �6th of May. The Executive Committee was further strengthened by the election of senior consulting engineers Graham Wheeler and John Duder and independent businessman Keith Brockelsby. Another independent businessman, Neil Carter was elected as Treasurer.

The addition of this competent, experienced group has allowed the Committee to continue the work of its existing subcommittees and to form additional subcommittees to deal with other issues.

During the last six months the Student Support subcommittee has confirmed the need for financial support for some students and the Dean has provided the Committee with an appreciation of Faculty needs. As resolved at the 48th AGM the Committee will raise funds to assist to provide for student and Faculty needs.

The Committee has endorsed recommendations by the Fundraising subcommittee, convened by Ian Parton, to form a charitable trust to manage and disburse funds raised by the AUEA. The trust will be known as the AUEA Charitable Trust and have as its purpose the advancement of education, preferentially through the support of students and faculty of the University of Auckland School of Engineering. The Trustees of the Trust will be appointed by the Committee of the AUEA and it is anticipated that the Trustees will distribute funds from the Trust in consultation with both the AUEA and the Dean. We have been fortunate to have secured the agreement of Sir Ronald Carter, Bruce Goodfellow and Ian Parton to act as Trustees. This is a very competent trio who have all had experience in major fundraising and management of funds raised. Furthermore they are all alumni committed to the support of the School of

Engineering and donors to the Trust can be confident that their donations will be well managed and applied to the students and Faculty benefit.

Graham Wheeler is convenor of the new Communications subcommittee. This subcommittee has set long term goals to improve communications between the AUEA and alumni and the ability of alumni to maintain links with other alumni or alumni groups. The communications between the AUEA and alumni will be addressed by working closely with the Registrar, Keith Willson, to continue to upgrade the School of Engineering database and to manage the recently established website. The ability of alumni or alumni groups to maintain links will be addressed by the establishment of an electronic database accessible to alumni. The primary purpose for this is for personal use, but it would also be of assistance as an international networking tool for non-personal use.

The Dean has advised the Committee that he will be visiting schools in North Island towns to encourage them to interest their students in engineering. This visit will provide an opportunity for alumni to meet the Dean and get an update on the School’s activities. Dates will be advised when his itinerary is firmed up.

A separate subcommittee, convened by John Smith, will be responsible for the alumni who were at Ardmore. The annual luncheon is a successful function but is now virtually an Ardmore graduates reunion, and will continue to be so. The subcommittee’s database of Ardmore alumni up to �960 is in good shape and steps will be taken this year to update the database for the remaining Ardmore graduates.

The Committee is concerned at the lack of interest in the AUEA of younger graduates. A subcommittee has been convened by Des Mataga to investigate what activities or

actions of the AUEA would increase their interest.

Some changes were made to the AUEA’s rules at the AGM relating to the ending of the financial year and the appointment of auditors. While making these changes it became apparent that the AUEA’s Rules could be improved to match the goals the Committee has set. A subcommittee convened by Alan Routley will review the Constitution with a view to the Committee proposing changes to the Constitution at the next AGM. No changes to the objectives of the AUEA are contemplated.

Rosalind Archer continues as convenor of the Student Support subcommittee. The need for student support has been reviewed by the subcommittee and the role of this subcommittee has been extended to include relationships between the AUEA and undergraduates.

Although the Executive Committee has been strengthened by new members, Graeme Brown was unavailable for re-election due to family matters. Graeme was a co-founder of the AUEA in �957 and his long service to the AUEA was acknowledged with thanks by members at the AGM. It is with regret that the Committee acknowledges his unavailability.

Finally, the AUEA were saddened by the death of Neil Kirton, a long term friend of students and Faculty. Neil’s years of unstinting services to the School of Engineering were recognized last year by the award of an honorary Master of Engineering degree and he will be remembered by alumni with respect and affection.

Des MatagaAUEA President

NOTEs FROM THE AuEA

EMAil AluMNi NEWs In the interest of a sustainable future, the Faculty of Engineering produces and distributes Engineering Alumni News electronically. If you would like to receive this publication via email please confirm your preferred email address to Catherine Kerins, Communications Manager at c.kerins@auckland.ac.nz

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YES, I would like to support THE ARDMORE FUND UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP

THE CECIL SEGEDIN ENDOWMENT FUND

NAME:

ADDRESS:

TELEPHONE: EMAIL:

YOUR DONATION: $

CHEQUE made payable to The University of Auckland Foundationor

CREDIT CARD Card Type: VISA MASTERCARD AMEX (CIRCLE ONE)

Card Number:

Expiry Date: Name on Card:

Signature:

Please complete form and return to: Sharon Andersen, External Relations Manager, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 920�9, Auckland, New Zealand Email: s.andersen@auckland.ac.nz Phone: +64 9 373 7599 ext. 88225 Fax: +64 9 373 76�3

THANK yOu FOR yOuR gENEROsiTy. yOu CAN BE PROuD OF yOuR COMMiTMENT TO MAKiNg A DiFFERENCE iN OuR yOuNg sTuDENTs’ liVEs.

suPPORTiNg THE FuTuRE OF ENgiNEERiNg

Thank You Donors

Our Ardmore and Cecil Segedin Funds continue to be generously supported by Alumni and friends of the Faculty, we are very grateful for your involvement.

Donations have not only been domestic but have come from all over of the world. Recent Alumni events held in Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur have strengthened the links between Alumni and the School.

Many Alumni attending these functions have gone out of their way to contact fellow graduates they know living and working overseas. These valued advocates for the School have increased the numbers attending functions; subsequently there has been a proportionate increase in donations as individuals reflect on their successes and are willing to recognise the financial assistance needed by young Engineers of the future.

You will remember that in our Alumni News Number ��, March 2006 we clearly outlined the purpose of the previously mentioned funds. We also indicated the cost involved in studying a Bachelor of Engineering degree in 2006 - items such

as fees $5500 p.a., Accommodation $9800 p.a. and with student loans ranging between $25 - 50,000 on graduation. In simple terms there are many talented students who may not be able to start or continue their Bachelor of Engineering degree due to the financial demands of tertiary study. The Ardmore and Cecil Segedin Funds provide material financial assistance through either Scholarship or direct monetary support.

Your donation will have a life which will reach well into the future. As your assistance sees graduates prosper and grow in their chosen disciplines the real dividend surfaces. The legendary tales of the Ardmore days lives on as does the aura of the much loved Cecil Segedin.

In this our Centenary Year all Alumni can ensure that the spirit and achievements of the past will meet the challenges of the future.

Please make the decision to participate.

Which fund should I give to?

The Ardmore Fund:

The Ardmore Fund is currently operative in terms of disbursement to students in the form of scholarships. This may appeal

to those generous donors who prefer to be associated with an instant or more rapid provision of assistance.

The Cecil Segedin Fund.

A fund established in memory of Cecil, who had a compelling belief in the contribution that Engineers can make in Engineering Science and Applied Mathematics. The fund will provide financial support to undergraduate students once it has reached its financial benchmark.

The choice of fund is yours; a donation to either will result in immeasurable benefits for students at the Faculty of Engineering.

How can I give?

You can make a donation using the ‘Giving Form’ attached.OrIf you would like to establish an automatic payment or discuss other ways in which you can support your Faculty we would be delighted to assist. In the first instance please contact:

Sharon Andersen External Relations ManagerFaculty of EngineeringPhone: +64 93737599 ext 88225Email s.andersen@auckland.ac.nz