NSBE Magazine - Fall 2010 - 20

INtERNAtIoNAl NEWS

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Green Project Wins consulting Design olympiad
implementing a low-cost, easily-maintainable and environmenhe University of Toronto and University of Cape Coast tally responsible design of a wind-powered Wi-Fi network for use (Ghana) teams came away with the gold at NSBE’s 2010 in rural areas,” the winning teams wrote in their abstract. Their Consulting Design Olympiad, which was held during NSBE’s proposed design integrated the Cantenna, a low-cost Wi-Fi trans36th Annual Convention in Toronto, Canada, last April. The mitter, with a renewable energy generator called the Windbelt, Consulting Design Olympiad (CDO) is a design project competiby Humdinger, a wind energy company based in the U.S. tion that challenges NSBE members to be global engineering “We believe that powering the growing teleconsultants, enabling them to take action communications network in the rural areas with on issues that affect various regions of the 2010 CDO FIRST-PLACE WINNERS renewable energy sources will ensure that develworld, in particular, the developing world. oping and emerging economies will close the gap Working with their NSBE International University of Toronto in the Digital Divide without generating significant counterparts, NSBE members develop Allister Lobo, Evelyn Mukwedeya, greenhouse gas emissions in the process,” the strategies and innovative approaches to Thamiso Kgati, Kelvin Guobadia project designers wrote. solving critical engineering problems. University of Cape Coast CDO organizers say the competition increases The UT/University of Cape Coast Billy James Dega, Raymond Kojo the cultural awareness and international commuteams’ winning project was titled “ImpleGomashi, Kester Quist-Aphetsi, nication skills of participants, expands their engimentation of Wi-Fi Network in Rural Emmanuel B. Manful neering aptitude, develops their consulting skills Areas Using Windbelt-Cantenna Techand enhances their understanding of business and nology.” The teams addressed the rapid engineering concerns — all of which makes them expansion of telecommunication networks more appealing to employers. Participants in the CDO are also in developing countries. This expansion has the potential to raise eligible to win a NSBE National Award and regional recognition. the standard of living of the countries’ inhabitants significantly The fourth annual NSBE Consulting Design Olympiad will be but also, if not designed well, might result in environmental damheld at the 37th NSBE Annual Convention in St. Louis, Mo., in age: Telecom networks require electric power, and generation of March 2011. For information about team applications, contact that power might greatly increase greenhouse gas emissions. nsbe.intl.vice.internal@gmail.com. ■ The Windbelt-Cantenna Project explored “the feasibility of

20 • nsbe magazine • fall 2010

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NSBE Magazine - Fall 2010

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