Engineering pioneer Rudolph Diesel, who invented the internal-combustion engine that still bears his name, was remembered locally this week as the Ford Motor Company teamed up with The Regent’s School Pattaya to mark the centenary of Diesel’s death.
Diesel, who died on 29 September 1913 after falling overboard from a ferry travelling from Belgium to England, was the German engineer who invented the combustion engine which revolutionized both the automobile and railway transport.
Todd Barber of Ford Motor Company provides Regent’s students with a detailed tour of the assembly plant.
Four students from The Regent’s School Pattaya were invited to Ford’s assembly plant in Rayong for a tour of the facility with New Model Programs Chief Engineer for Asia Pacific and Africa, Todd Barber. Todd then presented the students with a series of challenges to be completed between the centenary of Diesel’s death and 1st November. These team challenges include a timed rebuilding of a Ford engine, designing the next Ford vehicle using Google Sketch-Up, creating bio diesel fuel from waste, a creative writing exercise taking the perspective of a carbon atom as it passes through a diesel engine – and even making a model engine from paper clips.
Todd Barber passes over an envelope containing a series of challenges for the school to undertake between now and 1 November.
Ford’s support for the project was granted at the highest levels, with the President of Ford Asia Pacific, Dave Schoch personally agreeing for two Ford engines to be shipped from Shanghai to the school.
Head of Science at The Regent’s, Paul Press commented, “Great science teaching isn’t just about what goes on in the laboratory or classroom. Done well, challenge-based learning takes students out of school and out of their comfort zone to look at the real-life applications of disciplines like engineering and design. The centenary of the death of engineering pioneer Rudolph Diesel was the perfect prompt for the Science and Design Technology Departments at The Regent’s to undertake collaborative challenge-based learning and we are so grateful to the team at Ford for their support.”
Students Owen Walton, Luke Daly and Bobby Frefel join their teachers, Mr Press, Mrs McKenna and Mr Daly on an unforgettable tour of the Ford assembly plant.
Todd Barber said that Ford was happy to be involved in this project. He commented, “The Ford Motor Company has a long history of being involved in helping local charities, communities and educational institutions around the world. Here in Thailand it’s no different. We just finished the Global Week of Caring where employees from FTM helped out local Rayong communities by volunteering time to serve on three different projects related to environmental conservation. Thus, when we were offered the chance to go further by assisting The Regent’s School to help teach engineering disciplines to its student body, the Ford team was elated to donate engines and our employees’ time. It’s our great pleasure to serve the community and we look forward to forging a stronger, continued partnership with The Regents School.”
