Tuesday 14 March 2017

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The ‘Engineers Ireland South East Student of the Year Award at Level 7’ was presented recently at the Institute of Technology Carlow Faculty of Engineering Conferring Ceremony. This prize is presented on an annual basis to the top-performing student on an Engineers Ireland accredited programme in IT Carlow. This year, the prize went to Anthony Mullen who had just graduated from the Bachelor of Engineering in Electronic Engineering (Military Communications Systems). Mullen is a member of the Irish Defence Forces. The Engineers Ireland South East Region (EISE) has a strong relationship with Institute of Technology Carlow, with active participation by staff and students in region activities and volunteering. The Institute is a central venue for talks, CPD events and committee meetings. Past region chairs from the Institute include Shane Murray and David Denieffe. The Institute is a recognised engineering education hub with accredited programmes in mechanical, electronic, aerospace and civil disciplines. The EISE has also, over the past number of months, enjoyed collaborating with Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) on a number of events. In September, it hosted a well-attended STEPS training session. In October, the Region was involved with IndTech Conference [Industrial Technology] in conjunction with Waterford Chamber of Commerce and WIT, which was held in the Tower Hotel showcasing industry in the region. In November, staff from WIT organised a visit to Smartply, which was a very enjoyable and well-attended event. [caption id="attachment_35079" align="alignright" width="300"] Twenty two WIT mechanical and manufacturing students headed to Berlin in February to see the BMW factory[/caption] Twenty two of WIT’s mechanical and manufacturing students headed off to Berlin in February and had an amazing time visiting the BMW motorbike factory and Wolfsburg’s VW plant. EISE Region was delighted to sponsor one of these outings for the students and they thoroughly enjoyed it. On Thursday, 26 January, Engineers Ireland’s South East and Biomedical Divisions hosted – together with the support of Waterford Institute of Technology’s School of Engineering – an event entitled ‘The Changing Face of the Biomedical Plastics Industry: New challenges and solutions’. Dr Seán Lyons was the guest speaker, presenting both the challenges and opportunities facing the medical plastics industry in Ireland, covering aspects of production such as additive manufacturing and micro-moulding, new materials for bioresorbable applications in implants (e.g. stents) and drug-delivery devices, and advanced coating technologies. Mark Kelleher, vice chair of the Biomedical Engineering Division of Engineers Ireland, also spoke explaining the how the division was undertaking a series of talks nationwide. During Engineers Week, Waterford Institute of Technology hosted over twenty events aimed at primary and second level students, which attracted over 1,700 young people. Events included ‘Electric Motor Make and Take Workshop’, ‘Structures Workshop’, ‘WIT RoboCar talk’, ‘Junior Cert Heat and its Applications in Engineering Presentation’, ‘Fundamentals of Electricity Presentation’, ‘Buildings – How Do They Stand?’ presentation as well as the Ladies Engineering Coffee Morning and an Engineering Quiz. From 9-11 May, the ‘Engineering your Future’ transition-year programme will be held in WIT as part of the STEPS TY outreach programme. Forty places will be offered to local TY students who will get a ‘taster’ of mechanical, manufacturing, civil, electrical, electronic, building services and sustainable energy engineering. Finally, on 20 May, our first charity cycle along the Waterford Greenway will take place in aid of St Patrick’s Special School in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford – our first fundraiser. You support and help would be appreciated!