UPEI Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering holds annual Student Design Expo

The UPEI Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering (FSDE) showcased a wide range of innovative design projects in sustainable design engineering by its students at the annual Student Design Expo on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. 

The students had the opportunity to highlight their design skills, network with design clinic partners, and be recognized for their hard work as aspiring engineers. In addition to members of the student project teams and the UPEI community, Adam MacKenzie, president of Engineering PEI, and Philip Brown, Mayor of Charlottetown, attended the event. 

The awards—and their sponsors—were announced following the event, including the Parks Canada Awards, Engineers PEI Awards, OCII Innovation Award, Cleantech Award, FSDE Awards, CSME Gold Medal Awards, and FSDE Graduate Student Awards. A complete list of awards and winners can be found at 2025 Student Design Expo.

“What is so special about these projects is that they are a collaborative effort between our community partners, our industry partners, our shop staff who have a huge impact on the success of the projects, and our instructional teams who also commit to it,” said Dr. Suzanne Kresta, Dean of the UPEI FSDE. “I also want to thank the families of our students for the many ways they support this program. There are 41 projects on display today and we’re really excited to see these results!” 

Dr. Greg Naterer, UPEI Vice-President, Academic and Research, acknowledged the various organizations within the faculty that are doing great work such as the Student Success Centre, Industry Partnership Group, and the UPEI Engineering Society. He also thanked industry partners who have contributed to these projects, including Innovation PEI, a long-standing supporter. 

Dr. Naterer commended the engineering students for their dedication, commitment, and hard work on their design projects. He applauded the students’ success at the Canadian Engineering Competition (CEC) held in Halifax on March 16.

“You are extraordinarily talented young people and should be proud of your accomplishments. Your success nationally at the Canadian Engineering Competition was impressive,” said Dr. Naterer.

UPEI had two podium placements at the CEC. This level of success matches other engineering schools in Canada that have many more students. Finishing in first place in the communications category were Spencer Blacquiere and Maddy Cronin; and garnering third place in consulting were Emma Ledgerwood, Deanna Malone, Clara Grant, and Khiym MacEwen.

The FSDE’s 2025 Student Design Expo organizing committee welcomed approximately 1,000 Island students from across the province throughout the morning prior to the event. Students were able to view the projects and learn about the engineering design process. The committee included Dr. Sheldon White, assistant professor; Wayne Simmons, Business Development Engineer; Tin Nguyen, Student Success Centre Coordinator; and Lisa Sanderson, Industry Partnerships.

For more information about the annual event, visit UPEI FSDE Student Design Expo.