Ambassadors of sustainable energy

You’ve got to love people who invent things. It’s because of them that we have tiny computer processors that can calculate complicated mathematical equations in milliseconds. The same people have put satellites in orbit above the planet, and equipped us with handheld devices that function in tandem with these artificial heavenly bodies so that we never get lost again. Talking, self-parking cars and video conferencing are now commonplace. All because some people dreamt big and, more importantly, saw these dreams to fruition.

Humans can be surprising like this. We operate on simple (yet paradoxically complex) intangibles like love, faith, and ambition. Many times it is these same values that allow us to think fantastically out of the box. Some of us do look forward to being locked in a pod and shot way out into the cosmos, after all.

Truly, we’ve become the Jetsons in this current day and age. We’re not quite flying around just yet, but I’ve seen an actual jetpack in action  and it’s a reality, not science fiction. All of a sudden, sliced bread isn’t as hip as it used to be.

But the modern-day inventor isn’t just someone who comes up with a novel idea anymore. Though the idea of a gigantic, mechanized, samurai-robot that can transform into a fighter jet will always be cool, there are definitely more pressing matters at hand.

Energy, or the lack of it, is a widespread world issue. Chalk it up to habitat destruction, forest denudation, disregard for natural ecosystems, drastic fluctuations in global temperature, pollution, overpopulation, inadequacy of education, misused funds, questionable economic strategies, dirty lifestyles, dirtier politics, greed, power  somehow, any one of these issues can begin a snowball of negativity.

The job of today’s inventor is not just to create, but to be a positive role model for sustainable development. And while that last phrase may sound confusing to some, there are indeed ways to climb the progress ladder without having to resort to excess wastage. Modern inventors must consider a completely different set of responsibilities, while making up for the overindulgence of a generation past. Thank God we’ve got young ’uns, homegrown talents who are up to the task.

This year the Philippines is represented by seven teams from six local universities in the Shell Eco Marathon (SEM) Asia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The challenge: to design, build and drive a vehicle that can travel the farthest distance with the least amount of fuel and with the lowest possible CO2 emissions.

TIP’s Team Symmetry is going to run this gasoline-powered futuristic prototype at the 2011 SEM Asia. The race will run from July 6 to 9.

Opus at the Resorts World Manila complex in Pasay City was the location of a recent press conference for the 2011 SEM Asia, and it was a fitting venue to introduce the teams who will represent the country in Malaysia in less than two months. Participating in the race are engineering students from De La Salle University, Don Bosco Technical Institute, Mapua Institute of Technology, Technological Institute of the Philippines, University of the Philippines, and University of Santo Tomas. The teams will be entering blueprints in either of two categories: “Futuristic Prototypes” that will yield more streamlined and aerodynamic designs; and “Urban Concepts” that focuses on more practical, four-wheeled designs.

“The SEM is an annual platform that seeks to inspire innovation and environmental responsibility in today’s youth. The SEM will encourage young, talented and creative Filipinos to take part in helping develop more sustainable and efficient energy sources, and bring pride to the country,” says Roberto Kanapi, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation vice president for Communications.

The four-day event will take place at the famed Sepang International Circuit  a regular stop in the Formula 1 calendar  and it will be the second time that the Philippines will be participating. Last year we took home two special off-track awards with Mapua’s Team Atlanta bagging the second place Safety Award, and Don Bosco garnering a Special Recognition trophy for demonstrating safety compliance.

For some teams, the return to Kuala Lumpur is going to be about improvement. “I’m excited for the outcome of this marathon. With our design I’m expecting a longer distance traveled with less fuel consumed. I’m really confident about what’s happening in our team, we have a good mix of strengths,” says Engineering Eco-Marathon team leader Marco Fernandez of UST.

But other newbie teams feel just as confident. “We expect to do well and are very confident of the technologies that are going into our vehicle. I’m also confident in our team, which consists of students who are all gunning for honors,” says UP team leader Tito Eusebio, Jr. They are going to run a diesel-hybrid vehicle with specialized electrical components. Sounds cool already.

The teams are introduced and ready for the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Getting that gold and all the glory of winning would be fine, but victory in the race should just be treated as a bonus. This is one of those races where everyone is truly a winner. The real victory is taking that most difficult first step towards finding a solution. The energy problem is not a peanut-sized dilemma. So we really do have to put our hands together for these young go-getters, inventors who are set to blaze the eco-friendly trail.

Perhaps the essence of the launch was captured by a man who usually bears the brunt of attacks when it comes to issues of energy. Current Philippine Secretary of Energy Jose Rene Almendras was the guest speaker during the introduction of teams and had this to say to this year’s participants: “It doesn’t matter if you win or lose in this event. You have already brought great honor to the country just for joining. And because you have done so, you are proof that Filipinos have concerned themselves with the issue of energy.”

* * *

For more information about the 2011 SEM Asia and other projects, visit www.shell.com.ph.

* * *

E-mail me at enricomiguelsubido@gmail.com.