Here is your monthly dose of my Canadian engineering news created for licensed and aspiring engineers, geoscientists and technicians in Canada.
Engineers Making Headlines
- Dr. Teng Cui, an assistant professor at the University of Waterloo, has had research from his time at Stanford University and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory published in Nature, one of the world’s leading academic journals. His work focuses on developing safer, higher-performing, and longer-lasting batteries to support renewable energy and electric vehicles. As lead author, Cui represents a new generation of Canadian-based engineers contributing to globally significant battery research.
- Dr. Mona Rahmani, a biochemical engineering researcher at the University of British Columbia, is working to address plastic pollution in local waterways. With Dr. Johan Foster and Ocean Diagnostics, she is studying microplastics in the Fraser River using the company’s automated “Ascension” depth sampler. Her research provides valuable data that could help inform future efforts to reduce plastic pollution and shape environmental policy.
Crowdfunding Engineering/Technology Campaigns
- WLV-01: A Modular Digital Camera Made to Be Hacked is a modular digital camera built around a Raspberry Pi, designed for customization and modification rather than sealed consumer use. It supports swappable sensors and 3D-printable components, giving users flexibility to adapt both the electronics and physical design. The project combines embedded computing, optics, and DIY fabrication into an open platform for experimentation.
- X1 LITE: World’s First Home Use Pen & Torch Laser Machine is a portable laser workstation with interchangeable pen and torch attachments for welding, cutting, and cleaning. Its compact design aims to make advanced laser fabrication more accessible to homes and small workshops. The project highlights engineering challenges in miniaturizing laser technology while maintaining versatility, safety, and portability.
- NeuCharBox is an AI-powered platform designed to connect sensors, smart devices, and dashboards into unified workflows. It helps developers and makers integrate different hardware systems into automated applications. The project combines embedded systems, IoT integration, and applied AI for physical-world automation.
Association News
Here are the news links to every Canadian Association. If there is anything beyond the standard stuff (elections, new appointments, upcoming events), I’ll try to list them below.
- APEGA News – Preparing for CPD Requirement Enforcement and Improving Interprovincial Mobility
- APEGS News – APEGS Member Disciplined for Professional Incompetence and Professional Misconduct
- ASET News – Shining a spotlight on the 2025 ASET Capstone Project of the Year
- EGBC News – New Quality Management Guide on Risk Assessments Published
- EGM News
- Engineers Nova Scotia News – NSAA Seeking Industry Feedback on Skilled Trades Training
- Engineers PEI News – Is this Person REALLY a Professional Engineer?
- PEGNL News – Understanding your Secondary Professional Liability Insurance
- PEO News
Engineer’s Canada – Register today: Licensure 101: What Every Engineering Student Needs to Know
Career: Working Smarter & Job Hunting Help
Preparing for engineering interviews effectively requires more than reviewing technical questions. Candidates should research the company and position, prepare examples that demonstrate both technical expertise and teamwork, and practice structuring answers using the STAR method. Being able to clearly explain past projects, problem-solving approaches, and measurable results helps engineers demonstrate not only what they know, but how they apply their skills in real-world situations. Read more here.
Standing out as an engineering candidate means combining technical knowledge with strong communication and professional skills. Recent engineering career guidance recommends demonstrating practical experience, taking initiative beyond assigned responsibilities, developing relationships across teams, and continuing to build skills after graduation. For new engineers especially, actively seeking opportunities to expand their responsibilities can help accelerate professional growth and create stronger evidence of value for future employers. Read more here.
TED Talks Expand
- In this TED talk, former NASA/Apple engineer Mark Rober explores how curiosity, creativity, and hands-on experimentation can transform the way people learn. Drawing from his experience as an engineer and science communicator, he shows how building, testing, and even failing can make complex ideas more exciting and memorable. It highlights how engineering principles and creative problem-solving can solve technical challenges and make education more engaging and enjoyable.
- In this TED Talk, Schendy Kernizan explores how innovative manufacturing technologies are changing how products and physical structures are designed and produced. He explores new possibilities in manufacturing and industrial design, showing how engineers can rethink traditional production methods to create more efficient, sustainable, and adaptable solutions. It looks at how emerging technologies and creative engineering approaches could shape the future of manufacturing.
Quote To Ponder
“Engineering is the art of directing the great sources of power in nature for the use and convenience of man.”
-Isambard Kingdom Brunel
