Media release
Students demonstrate engineering solutions to real life problems
21 November 2007
La Trobe University's civil engineering students will demonstrate their green credentials when they present their final year projects at a seminar in Bendigo tomorrow (Thursday 22 November.)
Projects with a heavy emphasis on the environment include: managing carbon emissions through carbon sequestration to reduce the impact of global warming; low energy prevention of black ice formation on bridge decks, to replace current methods such as electric heating; and, an investigation into how to make communities more sustainable through different construction methods and more efficient subdivisions that make new communities less dependent on mainstream supplies of water and energy.
Dr Andrew Kilpatrick, Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering at the Department of Civil Engineering and Physical Sciences in Bendigo, says civil engineers have always placed a strong emphasis on dealing with environmental issues, but this has been growing over recent years.
He says the aim of the seminar is to give graduating students invaluable experience in presenting to their colleagues and industry, and this year's students have set a high standard with the quality and variety of work produced.
"It's the pinnacle of their course. It's an educational exercise but, bearing that in mind, we do encourage projects that are reality-based," Dr Kilpatrick says.
"It's where they get to learn something in depth. On the one hand they find it challenging and stressful at this time of year, on the other hand it is something they really enjoy - coming up with something solid with recommendations at the end."
Dr Kilpatrick says that depending on the subject tackled, students may get to see their work taken up by industry - with one project's recommendations on erosion control on a property 60km out of Bendigo likely to be implemented.
Representatives from industry such as the water authorities and local council will attend the seminar but Dr Kilpatrick says those on the prowl for new employees are probably too late as most of the graduating students have already been offered work.
'We can't produce enough graduates - rural employers in private and public sector are screaming out for civil engineers."
The seminars will be held in the McKay Lecture Theatre/ Health Sciences Building beginning at 9am on Thursday, 22 November. Staff and students will be available for interviews and photos at 11.45am.
Further information: Professor Joe Petrolito T: 03 5444 7372 or Dr Andrew Kilpatrick, Senior Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering and Physical Sciences T: 03 5444 7302
Media Inquiries: Sally Routledge 03 5444 7374 or mobile: 0408 357 972