Engineering Conversations

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What does it take to manufacture complex industrial equipment?  It takes a team of talented individuals to meet with the client and develop a feasible solution.  Engineers involved in the manufacturing sector have to design and build products that meet the client’s expectations, while at the same time satisfy industry standards for safety and efficiency.

In this episode we sit down with Josh Dumalski to learn about his career in design and manufacturing.  Josh has a background in Industrial Systems engineering and seventeen years of experience working in the rail, mining, and consulting industries.  Josh is currently a Project Manager at Rockford Engineering Works.  In this conversation, he talks about his journey in engineering and some of the projects he has worked on in his career.  Josh also offers advice to young people that are thinking about a career in engineering.

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Did you know that before large civil projects are completed they have to undergo a geotechnical assessment?  This is so the engineers can determine the structural properties of the soil.  It does not matter if it is the construction of a new highway, a dam, a new building, or a railroad.  Geotechnical engineers will study the soil conditions and make recommendations to structural engineers so they can design a proper foundation.

In this episode we sit down with Ilyas Akram.  Ilyas has a background in civil engineering and a love for geotechnical engineering.  He has ten years of experience in the field in addition to his academic training.  His career has taking him from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Canada.  Ilyas is currently a Geotechnical Project Manager at the Government of Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways.  In this conversation, he talks about his passion for geotechnical engineering (and cooking!).  Ilyas also offers advice to young people that are thinking about studying engineering at university.

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How many of us have spent time star gazing at night?  Most of us do this for fun, hoping to see a shooting star, spot a planet, or find a constellation.  Scientists take things a step further and use high tech equipment to study our universe.  In order to do this research, scientists need help from engineers to design and build ground-based telescopes.

In this episode we sit down with Sarah Gajadhar.  Sarah has a background in Electronic Systems engineering an over 20 years of experience working on world class astronomical observatories.  In this conversation, Sarah tells us about some of the projects and telescopes that she has worked on in Hawaii and Chile.  Sarah also offers advice to young people that are thinking about going to university to studying engineering.

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Have you ever thought about how many items around your home are made from products that came from a mine?  Whether it is copper, gold, aluminum, diamonds, or iron, these materials came from a mine and the mining industry relies on engineers to help run their operations.

In this episode we sit down with Ibe Marcus.  Ibe has a background in Industrial Systems engineering and twelve years of experience in the energy and mining sectors.  The bulk of his career has been in the mining where he has worked as a maintenance and reliability engineer.  Ibe is currently a Senior Reliability Advisor with Rio Tinto.  In this conversation Ibe tells about his journey in engineering and some of the remote mine sites he has worked at in the Northwest Territories and Mongolia.  Ibe also offers advice to young people that are thinking about studying engineering at university.

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Have you ever thought about starting your own business?  There are a lot of engineers that end up starting their own consulting firms after they have gained sufficient experience in industry.  Pursuing an entrepreneurial path allows engineers to focus their skills and talents in areas they find both challenging and rewarding.

In this episode we sit down with Penny Popp to learn about her career in engineering.  Penny has a background in Environmental Systems engineering and over 25 years of experience working on infrastructure projects.  In this conversation she tells us about some of the large, complex engineering projects she worked on while in government, and we learn how she decided to start her own firm, Pyvot Consulting, which provides engineering and project management services to clients.  Penny also offers advice to young people who might be thinking about studying engineering at university.