Andy Thomas to launch MechExpo
One of the University of Adelaide's most famous graduates, NASA astronaut and aerospace engineer Dr Andy Thomas, will help launch this year's MechExpo, the School of Mechanical Engineering's annual project exhibition for final-year students. Dr Thomas, who graduated with First Class Honours in Mechanical Engineering in 1973 and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering in 1978, will be a special guest at the launch of MechExpo at the Adelaide Showgrounds on Wednesday 26 October. He will join the Hon. Tom Kenyon, Minister assisting the Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, industry representatives, sponsors and other invited guests, at the exhibition opening and special viewing ahead of the general public exhibition on Thursday 27 October. MechExpo is the culmination of the final year's work for Honours students in the School of Mechanical Engineering. More than 60 teams of students - specialising in mechanical, mechatronic, aerospace, sports and sustainable energy engineering - exhibit their projects and discuss their work with hundreds of visiting school children, industry representatives, friends and family and the general public. Among this year's projects are a four-metre autonomous sailing vessel, a magnetically levitating platform for isolation from vibration, a retrofitted van with electric drive, a cricket bowling machine and the "Death-defying Diwheel", based on a droid from Star Wars, which has captured the imagination of media around the world. The Head of the School of Mechanical Engineering, Associate Professor Bassam Dally, said the MechExpo was a highlight in the University's calendar. "MechExpo attracts hundreds of school students, teachers and industry representatives," Associate Professor Dally said.
"It's a wonderful showcase of the talent, ideas and innovation of our students and it receives considerable support and interest from industry and government. "For school students, it's a chance to come along and talk to our students and find out what it really means to be an engineer."
MechExpo is free and open to the public from 6.00pm-9.00pm on Wednesday 26 October and 9.00am-4.00pm on Thursday 27 October at the Goyder Pavilion, Adelaide Showgrounds. Other engineering events being held this month include:
The School of Chemical Engineering's Research Event, to be held in the Innova21 Atrium from 11.30am-2.30pm on Thursday 20 October. The School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Project Exhibition, to be held in the Innova21 Atrium from 10.00am-12.30pm on Friday 28 October. Story by Robyn Mills
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