The Brainstorm Crew 
We are a group of enthusiastic engineers with experience in a large variety of interesting fields. We are here to answer your questions – whether you are a student, a teacher or a fellow engineer! We can help you plan exciting hands-on activities for the classroom, answer questions about engineering schools and careers, help with brushing up on faded concepts, and provide interesting and up-to-date information about our specific industries. For more hints on how to use this program, check out All About the Brainstorm Crew.
You can email us individually, or you can send a general question to the whole crew by posting it on the Bank of Knowledge forum.
Meet the Crew!
Click on a Crew Member’s name or image to learn more about them
AIEE: Area of Interest, Experience or Expertise
Rubina Ali
AIEE: Civil; Transportation Engineering; Traffic Engineering
Brainstorm Email: rubina@brainstorm.eir.ca
About this Crew Member: I am an Engineer in Training from Professional Engineers Ontario, with a Master of Engineering (M.Eng) in Civil engineering from Carleton University in Ottawa, specializing in Transportation Engineering. I also possess a bachelor of Civil Engineering (B.E) from the NED University of Engineering & Technology, Pakistan. Currently, I have almost 2 years of Canadian work experience for the private sector in transportation planning and traffic engineering. I am also involved in numerous continuous education and research activities while being an active member of the Institute of Transportation Engineers and the Town & Gown Toastmaster Club in Guelph.
Sarah Creber
AIEE: Chemical Engineering; Membrane Science; Policy Analysis; Natural Resources; Forestry; Mining
Brainstorm Email: sarah@brainstorm.eir.ca
About this Crew Member: I am an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario. My current research focuses on membrane science, with applications across industries, including water treatment and food processing. Previously, I worked as a policy analyst with Natural Resources Canada in Ottawa, Ontario, examining issues related to energy, mining, and forestry.
Vince Horne, EIR (grade 7, 8 & 9 Design and Tech)
AIEE: Mechanical; Aerospace; Gas Turbines; Artificial Intelligence; Flight
Brainstorm Email: vincent@brainstorm.eir.ca
About this Crew Member: I was born and raised on small wheat farm near the small town of Shaunavon, Saskatchewan and worked as heavy duty mechanic’s assistant on farm machinery for summer jobs until I joined the military in 1990. I obtained a BEng in Mechanical Engineering at RMC Kingston and worked as an Aerospace engineer primarily within the fields of gas turbine and aircraft emergency escape systems (ejection seats, parachutes etc.) engineering. I also obtained MASc Mech in Gas Turbine Engineering and Artificial Intelligence at RMC prior to teaching 3rd and 4th year Mechanical Engineering students at RMC in the subjects of fluids, metallurgy, dynamics, measurement systems and graphic design. I retired from the military after 17 years to join Quality Engineering Test Establishment (National Defence) as head of the Flight Safety and Vehicle Systems Group, working on failure investigations on a variety of systems from broken bolts to complete aircraft accidents.
Andrew Mah
AIEE: Civil; Structural; Hands-on Demonstrations & Explosions
Brainstorm Email: andrew@brainstorm.eir.ca
About this Crew Member: Born and raised in Alberta, I completed my BSc in Civil Engineering Co-op Program at the University of Alberta while also completing graduate course credits in Optimization. I had a grand time working in Edmonton as a structural/bridge engineer and hydrotechnical expert before moving to Toronto in 2010. In Toronto, I started out in the Buildings section – managing the structural aspects of the construction of CAMH and George Brown College Waterfront Campus. Now I am back in the Bridge Engineering sector, working for Morrison Hershfield Ltd. as a structural engineer. Research is also of interest to me; I have published in major international journals such as the European Journal of Operations Research and spoken internationally at engineering conferences. While in undergraduate, I worked as a science demonstrator at the Edmonton Space & Science Centre (Telus World of Science Edmonton). My role was to perform spectacular experiments to perk the interest of K-12 students in area of science. In other words, I got paid to blow stuff up! I am excited to be part of the crew so I can help others get kids interested in science and engineering.
Paul Marchwica
AIEE: Systems; Software; Mechanical; Materials; Robotics
Brainstorm Email: paul@brainstorm.eir.ca
About this Crew Member: Between a systems design engineering undergrad with software and manufacturing engineering co-op jobs to a mechanical engineering graduate degree with a research focus on materials science, I have had the opportunity to take part in a broad range of engineering topics. Beyond the purely academic/professional scope, I have also been involved in a number of extracurriculars, including participating in the annual US-FIRST robotics competition at the high school level, to co-founding the University of Waterloo Mars Rover Team at the university level. On the teaching side of things, I am a volunteer for various local science-outreach programs, including science fairs and events such as Science Rendezvous. In summer 2012, I also had the opportunity to prepare and teach a course in “Principles of Engineering Design”™ while working for the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth. Over the course of six weeks, my TA and I engaged students in a number of fun and engaging activities focusing on mechanical, electrical and aerospace engineering topics.
Don McDougald
AIEE: Mechanical (plant engineering); Aerospace; Heavy Industry
Brainstorm Email: don@brainstorm.eir.ca
About this Crew Member: I graduated in 2002 from Ryerson University with a degree in aerospace engineering. My work has been in a multitude of industries, including pulp & paper, automotive, aerospace, textiles, and steel. I have a particular interest in heavy industry including pulp & paper and steel.
Susan Tantalo
AIEE: Electrical; Automotive Electronics; Alternative Fuel/Hybrid Vehicles; Business; Mathematics
Brainstorm Email: susan@brainstorm.eir.ca
About this Crew Member: My previous job experience includes working on body control modules for Jeep-Truck at Chrysler Inc and software support for GM on Hybrid vehicles. Currently, I am involved with design and implementation of a new alternative fuel control module to be launched in 2014.I graduated from Ryerson University in 1998 with Bachelor of Engineering in electrical engineering, a B.Sc. degree in Mathematics from McMaster University in 1996 and an MBA from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan in 2004. Although I just recently became involved with EIR last year, I am looking forward to working with others as part of the EIR team!
Sohail Umar Khitab, EIR (grades 1-8)
AIEE: Aviation; Astronomy; Electronics; Fluid Mechanics; Signal Analysis; Solid Mechanics; Structural Analysis; Computer Networks; Finite Element Analysis; Advanced Fibre Composites
Brainstorm Email: sohail@brainstorm.eir.ca
About this Crew Member: I have been an EIR for over 10 years now, and I’m not planning to stop anytime soon! My background is Mechanical Engineering and I have worked as an electronics technician, defence scientist, and computer engineer. I have also taught in the Public School System from grades 6 to 12 as a supply teacher. I was a Scout Leader for over 10 years and have been flying light aircraft (my true love) since 1973. One of my favourite EIR activities is the flight simulator – and since I used to have a Flight Instructor rating I am able to get the kids to fly the simulator without crashing (mostly…).
Some of the questions I get are the same ones I used to ask when I was in school (why is water wet, why is the sky blue, why is it always brighter underneath a rainbow). Helping the students to get answers to these kinds of questions gives them an idea of the possibilities of science and engineering, and seeing the light come on when they grasp an idea makes my day.
