macLAB announces funding for 2007 projects

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BY McMaster Engineering Society

January 24, 2007

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/maclab logo.jpg” caption=”The macLAB endowment fund will fund nine projects this year. Image courtesy of the Faculty of Engineering.”]Nine projects will receive a total of $52,898.56 in funding from The McMaster Laboratory Advancement Benefaction Endowment Fund (macLAB) in 2007.

The projects were announced at the Fireball Engineering Formal on Saturday, Jan. 20. A project in each of the Faculty's seven departments is receiving funding. The Bio-Engineering program and a special project to provide laptops for a first-year engineering lab are also beneficiaries.

Approved projects include:

  • Coriolis Flow Meter (Engineering Physics): $8,023.40
  • Plasma Cutter for Project Shops (Mechanical): $2,515.00
  • TotalStation and Surveying Equipment (Civil): $8,261.70
  • 32 Computers for ITB/235 (CAS): $10,000.00
  • Materials 3T04 Lab Upgrades (Materials): $6,600.00
  • EE 4B04 Lab Upgrades (Bio-Engineering): $5,990.00
  • Labvolt Electromagnetism Trainer (ECE): $5,035.95
  • Process Control Lab Upgrades (Chemical): $4,548.91
  • Laptop, Carts for Eng 1D04: $1,924.00

    The value of applications received was more than $90,000 this year. It is only the second time in the nine-year history of macLAB that requests exceeded funds available. It is a marked turnaround from past years when the number of applications was decreasing while funding available was increasing.

    “A larger demand than supply for macLAB funding represents a great step forward in the history of the endowment fund,” said Daniel Borrelli, chair, macLAB Board of Directors and vice-president, education, McMaster Engineering Society. “I would like to see this trend continue in the future. macLAB should always be seen as a way to enhance engineering education here at McMaster and to help provide the latest laboratory equipment for students.”

    The increase in funding applications is attributed to a change in 2005 to expand eligibility for submitting funding proposals to include all Faculty students, employees, professors, and department chairs.

    “It is highly unfortunate that all projects cannot be funded,” said Borrelli. “But, on behalf of the Board, I can say that we did our best to assess the need of individual departments and allocate funding in the best way possible. I encourage those who did not receive funding this year to apply again next year.”

    The amount of funding available for next year is estimated to be approximately $45,000.

    “We would like to maintain a high number of applications, so please continue to consider projects,” said Borrelli.

    macLAB is a student-funded program established to assist in the renewal and upgrading of undergraduate laboratory facilities. Each year, engineering students contribute $50 of their tuition to the fund. The student's contribution is voluntary.

    Since its inception in 1997, the macLAB fund has grown to over $1.2 million (in principal), and disbursed more than $260,000 in project funding. Any member or student of a department within the Faculty of Engineering can apply for financial aid to upgrade their undergraduate laboratory facilities, or to fund special projects benefiting their undergraduate student body. The financial aid is based upon the interest generated from this principal. Project funding is determined by a committee of students and faculty members who consider the applications.

    More information about macLAB can be found at: mes.mcmaster.ca/maclab