Matt Siniawski, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Loyola Marymount University, thinks it can be good when his students make mistakes – as long as they learn from their mistakes. “My philosophy is that students learn design by doing it,” he said.
Siniawski was selected as a 2010 Society of Automotive Engineers Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award recipient. The SAE Web site describes the award: “Reflecting the firm belief of its donor that engineering educators are the most effective link between engineering students and their future careers, the SAE Ralph R. Teetor Educational Fund’s major program is focused on younger engineering educators.”
Siniawski said he is honored to receive this prestigious award, and that he is pleased LMU is getting recognition. He said the Shell Eco-marathon project is one of the primary reasons he was chosen for the award. For the past three years, the seniors in each of Siniawski’s mechanical engineering design classes have designed and built a small, eco-friendly car. During the fall semester, the students design the vehicle using computer aided design software. In the spring, the students build and test their designs.
Siniawski and some of his seniors went to Houston for the annual Shell Eco-marathon on March 26-28. Students from around the world compete for prize money in the competition, in which vehicles can enter in two categories – prototype and urban concept. The seniors placed 15th out of 58 entries, achieving a fuel efficiency of 832 miles per gallon. Siniawski also brought a group of freshmen, sophomores and juniors — the eco-motorsports club — whose prototype finished 18th, with a fuel efficiency of 764 miles per gallon.
“The sustainability aspect of this vehicle project fits well into the mission of LMU,” Siniawski said, by encouraging them to keep in mind the greater good of the community as they build their cars.
Joseph Schell ’10, one of Siniawski’s students, noted that the Shell Eco-marathon project gives him an opportunity to apply his knowledge and skills. “It’s nice to see [a design project] come to fruition,” he said. Students build the car in the Engineering Design Center, a small building near LMU’s Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering, known as “the Tin Shed.” Schell explained that the students have access to the shed every day and at night. For the next couple of weeks, Siniawski plans to spend all of his nights and weekends in the shed helping his students finish their car for the competition.
When Siniawski began teaching at LMU five years ago, he got a sense that the students were not fully engaged. He felt that giving the students an opportunity to apply their knowledge was the best way to reach and energize them. “Getting the award validates my teaching methods.” Siniawski said.