Ontario Tech University Students Honoured for Fusion Energy Projects at Ideathon
Graduate students from Ontario Tech University took part in a three-day event in early October aimed at developing new ideas for clean energy. The event, called Exploring Fusion Energy for Canada’s Future Ideathon, was sponsored by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and co-hosted by the university’s Brilliant Catalyst technological hub, the School of Graduate and Post-Doctoral Studies, and the Student Enrichment program. It was held at the university’s Energy Research Centre.
The Ideathon offered students an opportunity to develop and present projects focused on fusion energy, a process that generates electricity by using heat from nuclear fusion reactors. Organizers provided access to mentors and industry experts, including researchers from Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and Stellerax Inc.
On the first day, CNL scientists led a workshop about energy challenges and fusion energy concepts. The following day, students refined their project ideas with help from virtual mentors. The event concluded as students presented their projects to a panel of judges.
Three teams received recognition for their projects. NovaSim Technologies earned first place for a project that proposed creating a simulated twin of a fusion reactor to assist with modelling and predictive maintenance of energy systems. The team included Sergio Majluf Suarez (Faculty of Science), Kevin Farlie (Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science), Suhail Nassar (Faculty of Business and Information Technology), and Ore Ajayi (Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science).
Second place went to the team behind the project "Leveraging Canada’s Unique Advantage in Fusion Fuel Production Through Energy Industry Symbiosis." This team included Natalie Liu (Faculty of Business and Information Technology), Mercy Nandutu, Sarah Watt, and Quinn Eng (all Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science).
The third-place team developed a proposal for a fusion energy-based multigeneration system. Team members were Mehmet Gursoy, Sibel Uygun Batgi, and Tanjima Hossain, all from the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science.
Each student who participated received a $100 honorarium. The top three teams were awarded additional cash prizes and, according to the university, invitations to attend a five-day experience at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories’ Chalk River facilities in Ontario to further develop their ideas.
Sergio Majluf Suarez, a PhD candidate and member of the first-place team, said via university media that the event was an opportunity to learn about nuclear fusion and collaborate with others on problem-solving. Participants represented the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, and the Faculty of Business and Information Technology.