My name is Abby Lewis-Fox and I am a student at Charlottetown Rural High School entering grade 11 in September. I, along with five other girls, have been chosen to take part in the ProGRES Summer Program at UPEI’s School of Sustainable Design Engineering and so far it’s been an amazing experience. I’ve always loved math and science in school, but opportunities to do hands-on learning are few and far between. While I’ve been considering engineering, chemistry and math, I’m really not sure what I want to study at university, or what sort of career I want to have, but with two years of high school left I’m not in any rush to decide. I feel that being in the ProGRES program is giving me a pretty good idea of what it would be like to be an engineer and now it's up to me to decide whether or not it’s something I can see myself doing every day for the next fifty or so years. 

During the five week ProGRES program, the chosen high school students work with advisors and mentors on individual engineering projects. This summer I am working with Dr. Nadja Bressan on robotics and a design project. I have spent the first two weeks building three different robots of increasing complexity, and I will spend the next three designing something that solves some sort of problem in the world. In addition to our individual projects we are doing various other activities from visiting a dairy farm to building windmills in teams using everyday materials like paper cups, straws, corks, and elastic bands. My favourite has been learning to use Onshape (a CAD drawing program) in order to design an object to 3D print. 

On my first day at ProGRES, my advisor, Nadja, introduced me to part one of my design project which would take up the majority of my time during the first two weeks. Prior to this I had no experience with robotics, so I needed to start at the very beginning and learn the basics. Nadja found online instructions for building three different robots and gave me the materials required to build them. On my second day, Nadja gave me crash courses in circuits, electronics, and soldering, then left me get started on them. 

From the very first step there was problem after problem after problem. These included the motor not rotating 360°, there being no way to attach the motor to the frame, and the batteries smoking whenever they were in the battery holder. Very quickly I learned that the only way to get anything done is to ask for help, and luckily everyone is ready to lend a hand. I completed the first robot Wednesday afternoon thanks to a lot of help, but the maiden voyage was… anticlimactic. In a race, I would have put my money on a snail. The next morning Nadja and I tried again with new batteries, which inexplicably began smoking so we were forced to abandon the first robot. We later discovered that the batteries smoking was due to a problem with the wiring, a mistake we easily corrected with the second robot. 

Robot #2 came with a whole new set of challenges, most of which were easily overcome with either help or some creative thinking. Just like the last time, we didn’t realize there was a problem until the robot was completed and turned on. The instructions had said to use metal rulers, but since we couldn’t find any we had to make do with plastic ones which unfortunately couldn’t support the weight of the robot and put too much strain on the tiny motor. 

The final robot started off with a bit of googling, and ended with the destruction of some tupperware, and excessive amounts of electrical tape, zip ties and hot glue. Before starting any construction I did some research which really helped me organize myself and figure out step by step what I needed to do. I disregarded a lot of instructions, and on multiple occasions I made up my own and in the end it was all worth it. When the robot was finally put together there was still a lot of tweaking to be done so it was still another hour before I got it working the way I wanted it to. The robots maybe be simple and not very useful, but I’m still proud of what I was able to accomplish in such a short amount of time. With these basics learned I was ready to move onto part two of my project: applying what I’ve learned about design to the “real world”. 

The second part of my project was an engineering design project. This project was to be an introduction to professional engineering with very loose guidelines giving me the freedom to be creative. Nadja wanted me to experience what goes on during a ‘real’ engineering project, just on a smaller and more manageable scale. 

My Task: Design something that would solve some sort of problem. 

My Design: My design is an electrical plug that is held in place using a magnet and a metal plate. Over the years I’ve found that electrical plugs can be difficult to use; when they fit snugly into the wall it can be very difficult to plug in and unplug them but if they’re too loose they’re prone to falling out, and personally I find it incredible difficult to plug in anything under my desk because I can’t see what I’m doing. I wanted to create a plug that was easier to use, mainly for people with any form of mobility or coordination issues including disabilities, illnesses or diseases such as multiple sclerosis, and for people who have vision loss. My plug design comes in two parts: the first, which is designed to be plugged into a regular wall outlet once then left in, and the second, which plugs onto the plug of a regular electric cord (see diagram below). In addition to the magnet, one thing that makes my plug unique is a safety cap that automatically snaps in place when the part in the wall is not in use, similar to some methods of childproofing. 

The Design Process

This design project had three main components:

•Research

•A prototype

•A written report

The Research: I needed to do some research for three different reasons. First of all I needed to find a problem that I’d be able to create a solution for. After choosing my project I needed to look into what others have done in the past. I couldn’t come up with a solution that already existed, and it can be very helpful if others who tried to tackle a problem write about their challenges and where they were unsuccessful. Finally, I needed to do research to create my own solution. 

The first part of my research took quite a bit of time. Many problems were too large to tackle, in some cases I simply didn’t know enough to come up with a solution, and certain ideas I came up with already existed therefore I couldn’t use them. It was the research I did into assistive technology that eventually lead to my project. 

Next, I spent some time looking into magnetic plug designs that already existed at the same time as doing research for my own. I came across two designs that resembled mine; one in appearance and the other in concept and intended use. 

From my research I learned that while there is some research being done on magnetic plugs, nearly all the products available are chargers for specific items, like handheld devices, laptops or block heaters. As well, the magnetic connection is generally between the cord and the item, not the cord and the wall outlet. The one exception is the Blind Adapter, a design that was never actually produced. Like the Blind Adapter, I wanted my plug to function with as many products as possible, not just a certain brand or item. It can also be moved from item to item meaning that one isn’t needed for every single item that requires electricity, just things that are plugged in and unplugged frequently. It’s nowhere near a perfect solution, but I tried to make it as convenient, unobtrusive, and easy to use as possible.

The Prototype: Early on, I decided that it was worth the effort to create a 3D model of my design. Having a 3D design would make it easier for me to visualize my device and make it easier while presenting it to others both at the end of ProGRES and in my school. I worked on Onshape, tweaking the design as I learned more about what I needed the plug to accomplish. Since the first design of each part was patched together piece by piece, I decided to make new ones, with precise and realistic measurements. During the last week, my designs were 3D printed. I planned for my prototype to be twice the size of what the actual product would be, making it easier to design, print, and show to others. The first part came out far better than I had expected, but there were some problems with the printers, so the second part turned out less than perfect. Halfway through the printer ran out of material and was replaced material of a different colour, and towards the end of the process the printer jammed cutting off the top part of my model. It may not be the best-looking prototype, but it does it’s job well and I found it was useful to have when explaining how the plug works to others. 

The Report: After I completed my designs and the majority of my research, the final part of my design project was to write a report about it. Nadja sent me a few different styles of reports and I chose the format that best fit my project. I spent a couple days on this, detailing things like the problems I came across during the project and their solutions, who benefits from my solution and how, the differences and similarities between my design and some existing designs. Personally, I don’t mind writing report style papers as much as many of my classmates, and really I’m glad that I had the chance to practice writing professionally as well as getting feedback from Nadja, someone who has written countless papers before. Her suggestions and advice will be something I’ll keep in mind when writing papers and lab reports in future classes. 

The Future: This is by no means a finished product; designs like this take years to create, test, modify, and test again. When things like electricity and safety are a concern it is even more difficult to get a product approved for commercial use. I am aware that my design isn’t a perfect solution, and I’m sure if I were to continue work on this I would run into many problems, most of which I’ve probably never even considered factors. Some specific things I would need to test are the strength of the magnet, the materials used to manufacture the plug, and most importantly every element of safety. 

Engineering is hard, and it takes a lot of hard work, time and dedication to complete a project. Despite only spending five weeks at this program, I have gained a lot of respect for those who do this for a living, and one day I just might be one of them.

The Thursday of the second week we spent the majority of the morning collaborating with other potential engineers from halfway around the world. A group of high school girls from Japan were also spending some time at UPEI this summer and together we completed an engineering activity: designing a windmill capable of transforming wind energy into mechanical energy. I was teamed up with three of the girls and at first it was a bit awkward. Soon enough we started asking each other questions and giving both advice and our opinions, and within an hour we had a windmill that could lift a teabag a few feet in the air. Every single team accomplished the task of making a functional windmill, and each had its own unique design. I think we all had a lot of fun, and we learned about collaboration, compromise, and working like professional engineers. This was definitely my favourite activity this far and I’m glad we had this opportunity to work with other girls our age who, despite being from another country, were just like us. 

The single most beneficial opportunity that we have been given here at ProGRES is the chance to meet so many different engineers from all walks of life. Before this program I don’t think that I could say I knew a single engineer. Unlike many who are interested in pursuing engineering as their future career, I have never had any role models, people to look up to or ask questions to. Honestly, I don’t even know where I first discovered engineering or what made me begin to consider it. Everyone has a different story about how they got to where they are, and how they came to be the person they are today, so listening to other engineers talk about their past, present and future is incredibly valuable. One thing I’m afraid of is choosing to do something, then in a few weeks, months, or even years’ time deciding that I hate it and can no longer continue. Many of these engineers have one thing in common: they did the exact thing that I’m afraid of. They changed careers multiple times, or made decisions that surprised everyone including themselves, or loved things they used to hate and hated things they used to love. Hearing that one decision that you make before you’re even an adult will not mess up your entire life if you decide wrong is so relieving, and important for both myself and other potential engineers to hear. Engineers are everywhere, doing pretty much anything you can imagine so you never have to limit yourself to one thing for the rest of your life. 

The biggest field trip that the ProGRES girls and I went on was getting a tour of WEICAN, the Wind Energy Institute of Canada in North Cape. For those who are unfamiliar with PEI’s geography that meant two and a half hours of driving to get there, and roughly the same amount of time to get back. Trapped in a minivan for over five hours is never a fun way to spend a day, but getting to see both the windmill blades up close and the turbines in action was worth it. We didn’t drive directly there and back; our first stop was in Slemon Park, near the building of the aerospace company Vector. In hangar 10, around a dozen windmills blades are being stored in case one needs replacing and we were granted permission to go take a peek. The first thing you notice is that they are absolutely massive; windmills are deceptively small from a distance but don’t be fooled, the blades themselves are longer than a blue whale and the nacelle (the area at the top of a windmills where the blades connect to the tower) is large enough to live in. We didn’t stay long, just enough time for a short tour and some picture taking, and then we were back on the road to Tignish. After stopping for a quick lunch, we arrived at WEICAN and were given a small presentation about windmills, wind energy, and what WEICAN does. We were given hard hats and safety glasses for protection, then we were off to see the turbines. In the hangar the blades were impressive, but out in the open and in action the windmills were truly awe inspiring. The inside was larger than I had expected, enough to semi-comfortably accommodate the eight of us. I couldn’t imagine ever climbing to the top of one. Watching the turbine start up again while shielding our eyes from the sun was another of those moments where you can only stop and stare. The tour seemed far too short, and as it usually is with field trips the ride back seemed twice as long. We made one quick stop at MacAusland's Woollen Mills on the way home and arrived back at UPEI later than normal so everyone was ready to go home and rest. I think everyone enjoyed the trip and we learned a lot about wind energy on PEI which might help some of the other girls on their projects. It was a great opportunity to learn about how PEI is trying to become more sustainable, and just maybe inspire some of us to be the future leaders of green energy on the island. 

First and foremost I’d like to thank my grade 10 math teacher Ms. Walker for stopping me after class one day and asking “You have an interest in engineering, right?”, as well as writing me a letter of recommendation for my ProGRES application.

As a whole I’d like to thank UPEI, the School of Sustainable Design Engineering, and the engineering faculty for welcoming and accommodating the six of us over these past five weeks. Everyone was friendly and willing to lend a hand, making for a great experience this summer. I hope that you can all see the value of this program, and choose to continue it next summer and for the years to come. 

I’d like to thank Dr. Nadja Bressan for being an incredible advisor and mentor over the past five weeks. You’ve taught me so much and given me invaluable advice that will definitely come in handy when I’m making decisions for my future. Thank you for sharing so many of your experiences as a woman engineer, and for teaching me that there is no ‘right’ way to be an engineer. 

In my opinion, Dr. Amy Hsiao deserves the biggest thank you out of everyone for creating this program in the first place. Thank you for caring so much about the underrepresentation of women and girls in engineering, then choosing to do something about it. Thank you for organizing so many different activities and tours as well as for us to meet with engineers from all across the island. Last but not least, I think I can speak for the six of us when I say thank you for going above and beyond to ensure that we had the best experience possible these past five weeks. 

Finally, I’d like to thank Sydney, Katia, Erin, Melanie and Alyssa for all being great people to share this experience with. We had a lot of fun and made a lot of memories together. A special thanks to Sydney for helping me out throughout my project, especially assembling the robots. I wish you all the best of luck in grade 12, university, and afterwards.