Solar Car Racing
For the past ten years, solar car racing has been my passion. The Blue Sky Solar Racing team was the most challenging and rewarding project I have ever been involved with. As an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, this project threw me into the real engineering world. While involved in this project, I was a team leader and lead designer on two solar vehicles. The races we competed in across the Australian Outback and United States are the most remarkable and unforgettable experiences of my life. This project tested my engineering, management and team work in a way that no class ever could.
A project is only successful if
your successors can learn and build upon what has been done
before. I currently serve as a team adviser, sharing my
experience and technical expertise in the areas of
aerodynamics and design with the undergraduate students
currently working on the project. Check out the teams current
progress at www.blueskysolar.utoronto.ca.
Engineering Design
I have the great pleasure of blending my
research work with something I love to do. I spend a
lot of my free time (that which is available) taking things
apart, figuring out how they work, and trying to make them
better. Whether it be a desalination system,
centerpieces for a formal dinner or an old bicycle, there's no
better way to spend a Saturday afternoon. I just wish I
had more free time.
Community Involvement
One of my favorite and most rewarding ways of
spending my free time is by helping the graduate student
community at MIT. The past four years, I've been a
member of the Sidney-Pacific
Graduate Community. During this time, I've worked
with students on many initiatives to improve the graduate
student experience at MIT. These initiatives concerned
everything from improving access to affordable housing options
to enabling students to share their cultural experiences
through events. The work I did with the team at
Sidney-Pacific resulted in team winning the Stewart Award for
outstanding contributions to student life.
Baking
Over the past couple years, I've developed a interest in baking. It's a great opportunity to work with my hands and explore my creativity. I've had many successes and failures, but my labmates always enjoy the fruits of my labor. I'm currently working my way through the Flour Bakery (an awesome bakery near MIT) cookbook and writing a blog about my experience. Check it out!
Travel
One of my major
passions is experiencing new cultures and places. There is no
better way to learn about the world than to get out and
experience it. So far, my journeys have taken me to five
continents. Check out the pictures
from my latest adventures!