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UWI TODAY
– SUNDAY 14 JULY 2019
SUNDAY 14 JULY 2019 – UWI TODAY
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OUR CAMPUS
OUR STUDENTS
Campus Principal Professor Brian Copeland (right) and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Professor Edwin Ekwue at the lecture.
PHOTOS: ANEEL KARIM
CHAMPIONOF ENTERPRISE PROFESSOR CHOWDARY
Produce Lean and Green Innovations
B Y D A R A W I L K I N S O N B O B B
Professor Boppana Chowdary
is an advocate of sustainable
innovation. He says, “societies are looking for solutions
leading to sustainable economic development.”
He is referring to development that meets the needs of
the present without compromising the future. One possible
way forward, innovation in manufacturing engineering,
was the subject of his professorial inaugural lecture on June
27 at UWI’s Faculty of Engineering. His lecture sought to
advance sustainable manufacturing in Trinidad and Tobago
through innovation and entrepreneurship inmanufacturing
engineering.
He is promoting the “3R” policy of Reuse, Reduce, and
Recycle for existing products. Professor Chowdary pointed
to a plastic recycling project underway atThe UWI, whereby
recycled plastic is used to create a filament for future use.
This not only repurposes waste material but also helps
reduce and manage UWI’s expenditure.
Themanufacturing engineering process is optimised for
completely new products by designing for geometry: that
is, maximising product features. Additional considerations
are strength and optimal energy consumption regarding
moving parts.
Professor Chowdary lauded Singapore and Brazil,
countries that have thrivingmanufacturing sectors. Quoting
2017 data, he noted that Singapore had a population of
5.16 million with a GDP of US$323.9 billion, due in part
to industries like electronics, chemicals, bio-medical fields,
logistics, vehicles and transportation. Brazil, he noted, (as of
2016-2017) had a population of 207.7 million and a GDP of
US$2.036 trillion,with contributions from industries such
as textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, iron ore and aircrafts.
These economies not only show the possibilities for
generating prosperity within Trinidad and Tobago through
further development of sustainable manufacturing but
provide the country with an option beyond the traditional
subtractive manufacturing processes. In subtractive
manufacturing, parts are crafted out of existing larger
materials by removing (or subtracting) excess.
We are now in an era of additive manufacturing. In
this process the engineer builds up a component in layers
by adding materials. Professor Chowdary calls this a “what
you see is what you build” process.
It is also“lean and green”requiring no additional tooling
(like clamps) and, by using additive machines like 3D
printers, the process is “green” under the 3R policy. Lean
manufacturing consistently minimises waste to maximise
flow. With 3D printers starting at US$500, Professor
Chowdary believes the average person can begin a garage
business printing and selling commodities.
Professor Boppana Chowdary upholds manufacturing
as important for the nation’s economy, particularly for
diversification: “We need to advance. We need to have more
exports and less imports.”
Therefore, in order to increasemanufacturing activities,
we (as a nation) must provide more incentives, including
credit. Further, he said, we need to promote private and
foreign direct investment, and access to cost-effective
technology. Also required are experiential education and
problem-based, project-based, inquiry-based, game-based
education initiatives.
In that regard, The UWI should continue as a
translational hub to facilitate partnership with industry and
to promote youth involvement in entrepreneurial activity,
including garage-based manufacturing.
Professor Chowdary addresses system design, product
design and application or improvement innovation in his
research. His personal research activities have included
design and selection of manufacturing systems by
deployment of Computer Aided Design and Computer
Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM), Rapid Prototyping
(RP) tools and techniques.
Angostura and SM Jaleel and Company Ltd are two
of the many firms benefitting from this research. He has
innovated job systems by creating Virtual Manufacturing
Cell Groupings (groups in theminds of workers for “families
of jobs” in order to streamline job flow processes).
He is also an advocate of reverse engineering when
there are “worn or broken parts for which there are no
drawings which must be replaced” and no local supply.
Campus Principal, Professor Brian Copeland, saw the
lecture as an important milestone, demonstrating the way
Dara Wilkinson Bobb is a part-time lecturer in The Writing Centre in the Faculty of Humanities and Education, where staff and students of The UWI can access free writing assistance.
Professor Boppana Chowdary
attained his PhD in
1998 at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi and
became a professor in India. He subsequently joined
the Faculty of Engineering at The UWI, St Augustine as a
lecturer. His technical expertise has been used to benefit
industry in Trinidad and Tobago in such organisations
as the Housing Development Corporation, Water and
Sewerage Authority (WASA), and the Tunapuna-Piarco
Regional Corporation, earning significant revenue forThe
UWI through this enterprise. He also helped restructure
the MSc Manufacturing, Engineering and Management
programme.
in which The UWI’s academic research impacts real life
experience and issues. Principal Copeland emphasised
that “innovation gives companies an edge in penetrating
markets faster.” As such, strategic approaches to revitalising
the Caribbean and an “entrepreneurship ecosystem” are vital
for sustainable development.
Professor Boppana Chowdary
UT: What was your Introduction to the world of hockey?
JR:
I was born into the sport. My mom was a sportswoman
and, when she was in school, she used to play football. She got
a knee injury and was introduced to hockey. I started playing
when I was five. One of my mom’s coaches, Leroy Sookdeo,
started a club named SHAPE (Sookdeo’s Hockey Academy
Promoting Excellence) and that’s when my brother and I
started in hockey. He’s now in the Defence Force and I’m now
working in the Police Service.
UT: What are some tournaments that stand out?
JR:
My first tournament was a real eye-opener into the world
of Hockey and the level of play. We played against England.
They were ranked 6th and we ranked 28th. Then there was the
Indoor World Cup in Germany 2018 - my best experience as a
hockey player thus far! We played in front of the biggest crowd
(of his sporting career) against the home team.
UT: What are your thoughts on sport in Trinidad and
Tobago, including sport management?
JR:
The reason why I’m doing sport management is because
we have a lot of raw talent in Trinidad and Tobago and I don’t
think our athletes reach their full potential. If we can better
manage these shortcomings of ours, we can be on the world
stage and achieve and maintain good recognition in numerous
sports. We just need to tap into our ability as athletes and
doing this degree will help me in helping other athletes.
Last May, there was a gathering
of more than
500 student athletes from The UWI campuses
throughout the region. They were all at the Mona
Campus for the 2019 UWI Games.
On display were spor ting excellence,
teamwork, and Caribbean fellowship, and
the announcement of the Vice-Chancellor’s
Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year.
Ba rbad i an na t i ona l ne tba l l capt a i n
Vanessa Bobb of the Cavehill Campus took the
Sportswoman’s trophy. Trinidad and Tobago’s
own Jordan Reynos, national hockey player and
third year student at the St Augustine Campus,
lifted the men’s award. He was a member of the
“STA”squad of outstanding young sportsmen and
women that won second place at the Games. The
Mona Campus team came first, Cavehill third and
Open Campus fourth.
Reynos, who is working towards his degree in
SportsManagement, has representedTrinidad and
Tobago in over 30 games. He was part of the gold
medal team at the Indoor Pan America Cup 2017,
scoring three goals in the finals. This young man
from Cascade in Port of Spain was also a member
of the national squad that took part in the 2018
FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup in Berlin.
In addition to his sporting achievements,
Reynos volunteers as a children’s coach at
institutions such as the St Mary’s Children’s Home
and through the Ministry of Sport and Youth
Affairs. Incredibly, he is also a Sport Development
Officerwith theTrinidad andTobagoPolice Service.
UWI Today
sat down with Sportsman of the
Year Jordan Reynos for a question and answer
session.
UT: How was your UWI Games experience?
JR:
Different. I went to the one in 2017 in Cave Hill
and we stayed at a hotel. This time, in Mona, we
stayed on a hall. And the experience was a totally
different one. Mona’s atmosphere is more of a team
and sport-oriented environment. From where we
stayed, we could walk to the football, basketball, and
netball fields. A nice experience in terms of bonding
and interacting with other campuses!
UT: How does it feel to be VC Sportsman of the
Year?
JR:
It was a shocker because, looking at the fellow
nominees, I didn’t think I would win. But it really
feels great to be voted Sportsman of the Year and
achieve something regionally.
UT: How would you use your position to influence
others to get involved in sport?
JR:
I’m all for using sport as a tool for development.
My job with the Police Service is sport development
officer. Sport is a tool that we can use in curbing
crime and developing people. At an early age I was
encouraged to use sport. When I went to QRC they
always encouraged students to develop themselves
not just academically, but as well-rounded people.
UT: What would you say to fellow students
who may be hesitant to get involved in
extracurricular activities?
JR:
Sport helps in developing people. I have
been travelling since I was 16. It helps in time
management. That’s a big one for me - because if
you don’t manage your time properly, it can affect
you as a person. Sport is a really good avenue to
help people learn about themselves as well. I would
encourage any UWI student to get involved in a
sport.
UT: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
JR:
Sport has done a lot for me and my goal is to
give back through sport. I like working with the
youth and in any way that I can give back through
sport, I will gladly do so. It’s something I love.
UT: What are your thoughts on the new sports
programmes being offered through The UWI’s
Faculty of Sport?
JR:
They show that The UWI is really serious about
sport in the region. I really like the “One UWI”
mode, opening up more opportunities for Caribbean
people to be involved in sport – not just playing in
the sport but at the administrative and other levels.
REYNOS
“reigneth”
