I Think I Can

November 24, 2004

I Think I Can

Engineering designers win at first CANstruction®

by Leigh Day

	I Think I Can: the award-winning entry by the engineering team. (Berryhill Photo)

I Think I Can!, the little engine that could, has pulled through again. Four Dalhousie engineering students, have designed and built a winning entry in the first annual CANstruction® Nova Scotia competition.

After reviewing over fifty concepts, the team settled on "I Think I Can!" the little engine that could. The engine is built using only cans of food. Consistent with the competition rules, the students welcomed the assistance of a Civil Engineering professor and an engineering consultant to help build their unique creation.

The little engine, called "I Think I Can" won the prize for 'Best Meal.' In addition to a great design, a complete well balanced meal, consistent with Canada's Food Guide, could be made from the various parts of the structure. As a result of this win, the Dalhousie Engineering team will go to the National CANstruct Competition in the spring of 2005.

	(Back row, left to right) Student team members Jeramy Slaunwhite and Eric Lizotte with Bryan Darrell, of Darrell Consultants. (Bottom row, left to right) Carl Day, APENS representative; Dr. Larry Maloney, Associate VP Academic, Dalhousie University; Dr. Mysore Satish, Associate Dean Graduate Studies and Research, Faculty of Engineering; student Tiffany Vaughan, team captain; and Irma Friesen, Executive Assistant, EnCana Corporation. Unable to attend, but part of the success, were team members Dr. Jane Thorburn,  Amy MacFarlane, and Lori MacLean, of EnCana. (photo: Leigh Day)

Team Captain, Tiffany Vaughan, is a third year Chemical Engineering student from Ottawa, Ontario. Team members Jeramy Slaunwhite, from Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, Eric Lizotte, of Quebec City, Quebec and Amy MacFarlane, of Truro, Nova Scotia  are in the Mechanical Engineering program.  Dr. Jane Thorburn, P.Eng. Assistant Professor, Civil Engineering and Mr. Bryan Darrell, P.Eng., with Darrell & Associates, were the professional engineers on the team.  Both, however, give the students full credit for the concept and design. They assisted in building the engine and providing safety guidance.

"I Think I Can" was one of six entries and was on display for the community at the Halifax Shopping Centre. The Dalhousie team was sponsored by EnCana Corporation.  Sponsorship included the registration fee as well as the purchase of all of the cans of food. The Atlantic Superstore, on Barrington Street, ordered and shipped the canned goods to the Shopping Centre.

"In Atlantic Canada, EnCana supports programs that focus on education and learning," saidLori MacLean, Community Relations Advisor for EnCana Corporation. "Sponsoringa Dalhousie Engineering student team for CANstruction is a great way to contributeto a good cause, while helping students have some 'hands-on' fun."

Each team had to write a short account of their structure. The write-up posted beside 'I Think I Can' says as much about the students as it does about the structure itself.

'This structure was designed based on the well known children's story, "The Little Engine That Could", written by Watty Piper. Just like the moral of the story, you can achieve anything you put your mind to - such as building a nine foot long train made entirely of canned food, in an effort to fight hunger in our community.  The cans were selected with children in mind. The bright, colorful labels and the use of popular children's foods are bound to attract the eye of the young and the young at heart.'

Competition rules dictated that the structures be built within a 10'w x 10'l x 8'h space.  But within that square footage imaginations ran wild.  The students were among teams of professionals that design our skyscrapers and bridges.  All were challenged to transfer that ability to stacking cans into structurally self-supporting objects held together with only tape, cardboard, rubber bands and a prayer.       

Once the can sculptures were completed at Mic Mac Mall and the Halifax Shopping Centre, a panel of judges visited both malls to evaluate the sculptures and present ribbons to the winners.        

Awards were officially presented at a cocktail reception at the Lord Nelson.  Award presenters included The Honourable Myra A. Freeman, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia.        

After the exhibit closed Saturday night, all of the canned food and proceeds was donated to Metro Food Bank Society-Nova Scotia to feed hungry people across the province.       

 "These sculptures generated 26,085 pounds of food (over 22,000 cans) for hungry Nova Scotians," said Dianne Swinemar, of the Metro Food Bank. "And it gave architects, construction workers, designers and engineers a great way to help while having fun at the same time."        

CANstruction® Nova Scotia is operated under the auspices of the Society of Design Administration, and supported by the design and construction industry to give back to the communities it helps build.