Metro Vancouver, B.C. –The winner of Surrey’s inaugural Greater Vancouver Clean Technology Championship will be taking home a trophy worthy of the title.
Designed by product design students at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU), the award itself is sourced from local, sustainable materials, and designed to be entirely biodegradable and recyclable.
“The City of Surrey approached us with the idea to create a trophy that epitomized clean tech, and symbolized the city’s growth in that sector,” explained Iryna Karaush, product design program coordinator. “The enthusiasm from the students was inspiring. This is such a great opportunity, and I have been amazed by how much time, effort and excitement our students put into this project.”
The Clean Tech Championship trophy team comprises students Tzuyun Chang (Surrey), Stephen De Gouveia (Surrey), Guilherme Ortiz (Richmond), Marc Wilkinson, Jaymes Williams (Delta); product design program coordinator Iryna Karaush (Vancouver), instructor Victor Martinez (Richmond) and program technician Alan Rumpel (Delta).
From brainstorming initial concepts to the trophy’s final production, a KPU team of six students and three faculty members pulled the award together in a third of the time it would normally take. The project was their first real-world experience for most of the second- and third-year students.
“Working with a client and collaborating with a team on a tight deadline was a great experience for us as students, something we can proudly put on our resumés,” said second-year student Stephen De Gouveia, a Surrey resident. “It’s opened a lot of doors. We’ve created something that will proudly be displayed across the region for the next 10 years.”
The trophy will be unveiled and awarded at Surrey City Hall during the Greater Vancouver Clean Technology Expo and Championship Jan. 28.
”We are extremely pleased to partner with KPU’s School of Design to create the trophy for this event. The quality of work exceeded all our expectations and speaks to the quality of KPU’s design program,” said Donna Jones, manager of economic development for the City of Surrey.
The trophy design project is just one of many initiatives underway at KPU in the area of clean tech. Surrey is already home to approximately 10 per cent of BC’s clean tech sector and as the largest university in Surrey, KPU is positioning itself to become Western Canada’s top polytechnic institution for innovation in clean tech and green tech for Canada’s resource industry.
“Significant gaps exist in our understanding of how innovations in technology can be used to enhance clean air, clean water, and clean energy and to improve waste management processes,” said Arthur Fallick, associate vice-president of research at KPU. “Through our partnership with the City of Surrey and Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre, KPU is committed to strengthen and broaden its program and applied research focus in this critical sector of the economy.”
From furniture to health technology to athletic gear, KPU’s product design program develops designers who meet the needs of industry and consumers across sectors. For more information, visit: kpu.ca/productdesign.
Kwantlen Polytechnic University has been serving the Metro Vancouver region since 1981, and has opened doors to success for more than 250,000 people. Four campuses—Richmond, Surrey, Cloverdale and Langley—offer a comprehensive range of sought-after programs, including business, liberal arts, science, design, health, trades and technology, horticulture, and academic and career advancement. Over 19,000 students annually have a choice from over 124 programs, including bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, certificates citations and apprenticeships. Learn more at www.kpu.ca.
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Caption: The Clean Tech Championship trophy team comprises (from left) KPU product design instructor Victor Martinez; second-year student Stephen De Gouveia; program coordinator Iryna Karaush; third-year student Guilherme Ortiz; second-year student Tzuyun Chang; third-year student Jaymes Williams; program technician Alan Rumpel. Missing from photo: Marc Wilkinson.
Media contact:
Hayley Woodin
Media Specialist, KPU
t: 604.599.2883
c: 604.364.1288
hayley.woodin@kpu.ca
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