A speaker event Wednesday put the “engine” in engineers.
The Bradley chapter of Student Automobile Engineers (SAE) hosted a lecture, where those participating learned about the skills needed both to get along with peers and to build cars.
Michael and Suzanne Royce have been working for Formula SAE, the organization’s student design competition, since the 1980s. Michael led the lecture by covering topics such as design, teamwork and project management.
“He’s here to share his knowledge,” Dylan Konop, president and founder of the chapter and freshman engineering major, said.
Michael has spent over 40 years in the industry himself, starting off as a truck engineer, to project management, to helping Chrysler with projects in Italy and much more before retiring. With Suzanne, he joked they have over 100 years of experience.
As Michael and Suzanne’s roles have varied, they tell students what they look for in both teams and vehicles as tech inspectors to rule-writers.
The main topics helped with the bigger challenges that the Bradley chapter could face.
“The presentation was based upon what is required for Formula SAE, but they also apply to other SAE [competitions],” Michael said. “Competitions like Baja, Clean Snowmobile, aero design and such.”
The lecture put a strong emphasis on working together and communicating when it comes to working as a team. It also covered how roles may differ when there’s varying sizes of teams and provided resources to students.
Competitions are aimed to prepare students for field work that might not be easily taught in a classroom. Michel said that this can range from conflict resolution, project management or working with time and budget restraints.
Michael said that the skills students are taught through the event are desired by employers.
SAE is a professional and international automotive organization, but includes engineers of other industries. The chapter has been on campus for around five months and are looking to extend their membership.
While plenty of engineers have joined, they’re looking for students of other backgrounds as well.
“We need marketing people, communication people and we need business people,” said club adviser Benjamin Treichel, lab manager at Bradley.
Konop hoped to have more chances to invite speakers on campus to keep members excited about learning about the field and competition.
Students interested in joining SAE can contact club president Dylan Konop at dkonop@mail.bradley.edu.
