Who are "WE?" Get to know Garret Book, Western Engineering Accelerated Masters and Co-op student.

How long have you been affiliated with Western Engineering?
Three and a half years. I am currently a Chemical Engineering Accelerated Masters student studying under Dr. L. Briens and Dr. C. Briens.  I am also participating in Western Engineering's Co-op Program. This September I will be moving to Belgium for a year to work at TOTAL (a company based in France) on non-intrusive techniques for the monitoring of pneumatic transport lines. When I return I will finish my 4th year and complete my MESc.  I believe I am the first Accelerated Masters student to also complete an internship. 

What is the first thing you would do if you were Dean of Western Engineering?
I would definitely try to get a giant sculpture of an iron ring in front of the Spencer building.

What do you like most about Western Engineering?
I like the huge number of opportunities. There are so many ways to go about making your degree perfect for you: Concurrent degrees, Accelerated Masters, and Co-ops. Then, if you come up with something new you want to try, the faculty and staff will work with you to make it happen.

What advice would you give to someone considering a career in engineering?
Engineering gives back what you put in to it. The harder you work, the more you get out of it. You can coast by, pass your courses and never get anywhere. Or, if you want to really succeed, you can get involved with student projects and talk to professors. You should make use of every opportunity available to you.

On a typical day, what would we find in your lunch box?
$5 for lunch at The Spoke.

What is your favourite movie?
Titus with Anthony Hopkins. I think it was a great version of Shakespeare's play.

Which engineer (famous or not) do you respect the most?
I always like stories about people who come from nothing and do extraordinary things. Herbert Hoover, an orphan from Iowa and later the 31st President of the USA, was a 26 -year-old mining engineer in Tientsin, China, when the city was attacked by 5,000 Chinese troops and 25,000 members of the martial arts group known as the Boxers - the Boxer Rebellion was a violent 1900 uprising against foreign business interests in China. Hoover took charge of setting up barricades to protect Tientsin until its rescue after 28 days of bombardment. He wasn't a military man, just a good engineer. I recommend looking up what he did for Belgium in WWI.

Tell us about your favorite spot on campus.
The patio at The Spoke.  It is a great place to just hang out with your friends on a sunny Friday afternoon.

How has Western Engineering changed since you’ve been involved with the Faculty?
Western Engineering's facilities have really grown since I came here. The Thompson Engineering building was built and now they are planning to build the Green Building to replace the Bio Building. Some huge industrial projects have also been built in the pilot plant.

What is your most memorable moment at Western Engineering?
The very first day when the Engineering Sophs took me from Essex to meet the rest of the first year engineers. I am still great friends with a lot of people I met in just that one day.

What are you most proud of accomplishing over the past five years? Publishing my first paper. Two other students and I did some research this year during the term and I just got to present my paper in Montreal at a pharmaceutical conference.

If there is someone in Western Engineering you would like to learn more about or if you would like to be profiled yourself, contact Allison Stevenson via email (astevenson@eng.uwo.ca), telephone (ext. 82917) or stop by her office (SEB Room 2074).  Your comments and feedback are also greatly appreciated.