University of Alberta Students Win Research Competition

A team of student researchers from the University of Alberta has received top honours in a national automotive research competition. The students were competing in the DaimlerChrysler Canada HQP Poster Competition at the AUTO21 Network of Centres of Excellence
Highly Qualified People (HQP) Conference in Windsor, Ontario.
The winning team contributes to AUTO21’s Electronic Controls VVT and HCCI Combustion project, which investigates new internal combustion engine concepts to replace conventional spark ignition engines, resulting in a more fuel efficent engine that produces lower emissions including green house gases.
“On behalf of DaimlerChrysler Canada I’d like to congratulate the winning team and all the finalists on the quality and ingenuity of their projects,” said Dr. John Mann, Director of Engineering and Regulatory Affairs for
DaimlerChrysler Canada.
“This competition showed us that there is a deep pool of bright young minds that will have a tremendous impact on the future of
Canada’s auto sector.
The 2007 AUTO21 HQP Conference helps to strengthen the bond between university researchers and the automotive industry, and we are very pleased to partner with them in that worthwhile initiative.”
A panel of judges evaluated a total of 66 teams from 26 universities, with 20 teams selected as semi-finalists.
The five winning teams were selected following oral defences of their research.
Together, the semi-finalist and finalist teams received a total prize purse of $15,000 at the DaimlerChrysler Canada HQP Poster Competition.
“It is an honour to support Canadian students pursuing automotive-related research across Canada,” said Dr. Peter Frise, AUTO21 Scientific Director and CEO.
“The calibre of research presented as part of this competition is testimony to the contribution these bright minds are making to Canada’s auto industry.
“We appreciate the support of DaimlerChrysler Canada for helping us to recognize these talented researchers.”
AUTO21 focuses on automotive research and development and the development of highly qualified people for future work in the automotive sector.
The graduate and post-graduate level student researchers contribute to AUTO21’s 41 research
projects across Canada.