n.marouhos (at) gmail.com
(778) 846-9478
project name
project overview
The McMaster Solar Car Project (MSCP) is a student run initiative within McMaster University that builds and races solar powered vehicles and raises awareness regarding environmentally friendly technologies.
responsibilities
During my tenure on the MSCP, I was involved with the structural and business subteams. On the structural subteam I had risen to the role of Structural Manager. As Structural Manager I was responsible for overseeing the design and construction of the structural components of the solar car. This included composite layups, chassis design and aeroshell design/construction. When I graduated from McMaster, the team was working on designing their next generation solar car.
Managing the structural subteam provided valuable experience in team management. This was particularly interesting, as the team was comprised entirely of volunteers; the students. As such school obligations had to come first. Scheduling around academic obligations was always a constant challenge. We made due as best we could. A dedicated core of talented individuals made it all the more enjoyable.
On the business side of the team, I was involved in awareness events and sponsor relations. A major aspect of the MSCP was attending community events and educating the public regarding the benefits of solar energy, efficiency in design and environmentally friendly technologies in general. We acted as hosts to youth engineering camps as well as visiting various conventions including the Toronto Auto Show and Earth Day conventions.
Participating at these events provided many opportunities to speak with the public and teach them about our project. In many ways these events were some of the most useful and enjoyable experiences in my undergrad. The public is always genuinely curious about the car and how it works that it was always a joy to talk with them.
Hand in hand with public relations were sponsorship relations. The MSCP is a registered charity and relies on its sponsors support for continued success. This often meant cold contacts with potential sponsors, to visits to local business events.
Managing the structural subteam provided valuable experience in team management. This was particularly interesting, as the team was comprised entirely of volunteers; the students. As such school obligations had to come first. Scheduling around academic obligations was always a constant challenge. We made due as best we could. A dedicated core of talented individuals made it all the more enjoyable.
On the business side of the team, I was involved in awareness events and sponsor relations. A major aspect of the MSCP was attending community events and educating the public regarding the benefits of solar energy, efficiency in design and environmentally friendly technologies in general. We acted as hosts to youth engineering camps as well as visiting various conventions including the Toronto Auto Show and Earth Day conventions.
Participating at these events provided many opportunities to speak with the public and teach them about our project. In many ways these events were some of the most useful and enjoyable experiences in my undergrad. The public is always genuinely curious about the car and how it works that it was always a joy to talk with them.
Hand in hand with public relations were sponsorship relations. The MSCP is a registered charity and relies on its sponsors support for continued success. This often meant cold contacts with potential sponsors, to visits to local business events.
debrief
The MSCP provided me with the singularly more valuable experience in my undergraduate career. Within the team was a multi-disciplinary core of talented individuals who made it a joy to volunteer my spare hours.
mcmaster solar car project
Role: Structural Manager
screen shots
