New research equipment will benefit Fanshawe community
Fanshawe College is strengthening
its research faculty and its relationships
with city industries by purchasing
new research equipment with a
grant of just over $330,000.
The grant is giving Fanshawe the opportunity to purchase a solar simulator, a 3D scanner, an electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) equipment and acoustical/vibration measuring equipment, giving the college an edge with research. The college will also assist industries in the London area in terms of research, design, development and product testing.
"We're excited about receiving this grant as it will allow us to purchase new equipment and give us great capacity to support companies. Many of those businesses are small- and medium-sized enterprises that come to Fanshawe for assistance with research and development and product validation," said Jennifer Cade, Fanshawe's Manager of Industry Liaison.
She added that the equipment supports Fanshawe's new Centre of Sustainable Energy and Environments and will be used for some CSEE projects. CSEE is an applied research centre that focuses on renewable energy technologies, green manufacturing and sustainable buildings and infrastructure. "Our research consultants are playing a monstrous role in bringing Fanshawe's ability to conduct and work with research and are really bringing it up to great levels," stated Cade.
"Research used to be done exclusively by the universities, because that wasn't the original purpose of colleges," added Leslie McIntosh, Senior Project Developer and Editor of Research Fanshawe Magazine. Around a decade ago, provincial legislation was changed to allow colleges to do applied research and apply for funding. "With applied research, we are targeted with finding the practical solutions and practical results."
The research is not only applied to the pure sciences, but the social sciences as well, such as in nursing and ways to better manage a hospital or emergency department.
"It's a win all around because Fanshawe believes very strongly that students are the ones who do the research. When students do research, they gain problem solving skills and it's a win-win situation."
What the new equipment does
The solar simulator measures the efficiency and electrical output of solar panels, replicates sunlight and can be adjusted to stimulate different weather conditions such as cloudy or sunny days. It provides increased capacity for projects involving design, manufacture and integration of solar panels and solar cells.
The 3D scanner scans inorganic objects using a laser light in order to collect precise measurements and render the objects in 3D. It is used in prototype designs and as a quality control tool to ensure prototypes meet design specifications.
The EMC equipment will help develop prototypes that won't interfere with other signals and devices, such as when electromagnetic emissions interfere with devices like cell phones, emergency communications and medical equipment. This equipment is particularly useful to makers of vehicles, consumer and medical electronics, communications devices and related products.
The acoustic and vibration measurement equipment provides the capacity to test structures, such as wind turbines, for levels of both noise and vibration. It can be used to test many different types of freestanding and fixed machines, such as a wind turbine mounted on a building, where noise and stability of the equipment are major design considerations.
The grant is giving Fanshawe the opportunity to purchase a solar simulator, a 3D scanner, an electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) equipment and acoustical/vibration measuring equipment, giving the college an edge with research. The college will also assist industries in the London area in terms of research, design, development and product testing.
"We're excited about receiving this grant as it will allow us to purchase new equipment and give us great capacity to support companies. Many of those businesses are small- and medium-sized enterprises that come to Fanshawe for assistance with research and development and product validation," said Jennifer Cade, Fanshawe's Manager of Industry Liaison.
She added that the equipment supports Fanshawe's new Centre of Sustainable Energy and Environments and will be used for some CSEE projects. CSEE is an applied research centre that focuses on renewable energy technologies, green manufacturing and sustainable buildings and infrastructure. "Our research consultants are playing a monstrous role in bringing Fanshawe's ability to conduct and work with research and are really bringing it up to great levels," stated Cade.
"Research used to be done exclusively by the universities, because that wasn't the original purpose of colleges," added Leslie McIntosh, Senior Project Developer and Editor of Research Fanshawe Magazine. Around a decade ago, provincial legislation was changed to allow colleges to do applied research and apply for funding. "With applied research, we are targeted with finding the practical solutions and practical results."
The research is not only applied to the pure sciences, but the social sciences as well, such as in nursing and ways to better manage a hospital or emergency department.
"It's a win all around because Fanshawe believes very strongly that students are the ones who do the research. When students do research, they gain problem solving skills and it's a win-win situation."
What the new equipment does
The solar simulator measures the efficiency and electrical output of solar panels, replicates sunlight and can be adjusted to stimulate different weather conditions such as cloudy or sunny days. It provides increased capacity for projects involving design, manufacture and integration of solar panels and solar cells.
The 3D scanner scans inorganic objects using a laser light in order to collect precise measurements and render the objects in 3D. It is used in prototype designs and as a quality control tool to ensure prototypes meet design specifications.
The EMC equipment will help develop prototypes that won't interfere with other signals and devices, such as when electromagnetic emissions interfere with devices like cell phones, emergency communications and medical equipment. This equipment is particularly useful to makers of vehicles, consumer and medical electronics, communications devices and related products.
The acoustic and vibration measurement equipment provides the capacity to test structures, such as wind turbines, for levels of both noise and vibration. It can be used to test many different types of freestanding and fixed machines, such as a wind turbine mounted on a building, where noise and stability of the equipment are major design considerations.
