Student engineers win sponsored spot at nationals

A team of four Engineering students will compete at a major design competition run across Australia and New Zealand, after winning the University final at USQ Toowoomba, yesterday.

Neil James, Josh Kliese, Ed Cleary and Nathan Vagg battled it out against nearly 30 second year Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering students before taking out first place.

The team will now be sponsored to compete at the national finals of the Warman Design and Build Competition held at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney from 22-24 September this year.

The sponsorship covers airfares, accommodation and some meals, including the presentation dinner.

Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering, Chris Snook said the competition, sponsored by Weir Minerals Australia Ltd and Engineers Australia, gives the students real world experience in building an actual device and competing as a team.

"Working in teams of four, the students had to design and build devices to quickly and accurately deliver ‘seeds' into specified locations on a test track," Mr Snook said.

"The winning team of the campus final will now compete against the best from 20 other Australian and New Zealand Universities."

Prizes at the Nationals include, first prize of the prestigious Warman Perpetual Trophy and $2000 for the team, second prize of $1000 and third prize of $500. There is also an Encouragement or Innovation Award of $500.

Mr Snook said traditionally USQ has done rather well at the nationals.

In the nine years that USQ has been involved in the competition the University has been awarded four Encouragement/Innovation Awards, and twice tied for third position but lost on countback.

"The senior design staff of Weir act as judges for this competition and students benefit greatly from the experience of working with senior Engineers so early in their academic career," Mr Snook said.

"Students also get to benchmark or compare themselves with students from all the major universities that offer Mechanical Engineering – and have a good time!"

Weir are the world leader in design and manufacture of specialist mining equipment including slurry pumps, and have a state of the art design office and manufacturing plant.

Media Contact: Fiona Taylor, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2559 or +61 423 808 462