Sida Niu University of Kansas Self Engineering Fellow traveling to Brazil

2011 Aug 9

Sida Niu is among 15 seniors from the University of Kansas School of Engineering traveling to Brazil Aug. 11 to 21 to see how a burgeoning world power is handling rapid growth and a booming economy, while attempting to manage the impact on the environment.

Niu, majoring in chemical engineering from Overland Park, Kan. is in the Self Engineering Leadership Fellows Program and will be in Brazil visiting the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. He is the son of Shan Bai. He is a graduate of Shawnee Mission (Kan.) South High School.

Each senior class in the Self Program is charged with planning and implementing an experience that encompasses all engineering disciplines as well as the pillars of the program, which include business, engineering, entrepreneurship, leadership, management and communication. KU's Self Engineering students chose to organize an information-gathering trip to Brazil because of its rapid economic growth and unique position as host for two major worldwide sporting events in the next five years – the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics.

"We're really interested to learn more about how they're going to handle hosting two of the world's largest events. They have to undergo a lot of changes to modernize Rio, to get the infrastructure – things likes streets and sanitation – ready to handle all those people," said Garrett Scarlett, a Self Fellow senior in electrical engineering from Topeka.

They hope their experience provides valuable insight on new methods to deal with engineering challenges, and helps others on KU's campus learn more about the culture, business practices and engineering strategies of South America's largest country.

The Self Fellows will focus on four areas that are at the forefront in Brazil: engineering expansion, environment, energy usage and economics. They plan to meet with companies in those categories – including Brazilian energy giant Petrobras, the third largest energy company in the world; Brazilian aircraft design and manufacturing company Embraer; Ford Motor Company, a trip coordinated with the help of Ford CEO and 1968 KU aeronautical and astronautical engineering graduate Alan Mulally; and state-owned Embrapa, which seeks feasible solutions for the sustainable development of Brazilian agribusiness.

In addition to the first-hand look at Brazil's cutting-edge industry, the Self seniors also will see some of South America's most iconic sights.

"We're going for all the wonderful engineering aspects of the trip, but you can't go and not see Christ the Redeemer or Sugarloaf Mountain. That's sort of the whole purpose of an international trip – realizing there are different cultures, different places and being able to experience that at the same time. It's a pivotal component of the entire experience," said Sarah Elizabeth McCandless, a Self Fellow and senior in aerospace engineering from Fairway, Kan.

Self Fellows plan to offer a campus-wide lecture series – most likely two talks in the fall semester and two more in the spring – that cover the four key areas they'll focus on while in Brazil. In addition, the students will meet with leaders from Kansas City-based engineering firm Black & Veatch.

"They want us to come and give a presentation about what we learned. My contact there told me this is how his company learns, from our experiences. That's how they stay current." Scarlett said.

Follow along with the Fellows as the travel through Brazil at their blog: https://sites.google.com/site/discoverbrazil2011/ or at twitter.com/kuselfbrazil12. There will also be periodic updates available on the School of Engineering's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/kuengineering.

Madison "Al" and Lila Self, of Hinsdale, Ill., established the Self program in 2007 with a gift of $10 million to KU Endowment for the School of Engineering. In 2010, the Selfs provided an additional $10 million for the program. Currently, 65 KU students participate in the Self program. The Selfs also have supported numerous other areas of the university.

The funds are managed by KU Endowment, the official fundraising and fund-management foundation for KU. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment was the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.

The trip is made possible through gifts to KU Endowment from Frank and Barbara Becker, Simon McPherson, Pat and Brenda Oenbring, Bob and Susie Peebler, Mike and Joyce Shinn, Allyn and Jill Risley, General Electric, Ion Geophysical and Sabre Holdings Company, parent company of Travelocity.