Experiential learning fund powers Engineering students’ global impact

This year’s recipients of the McMaster Engineering Experiential Learning and Travel Fund are honing their technical expertise and shaping their professional ambitions in high-pressure competitions, hands-on projects and global experiences. The fund supports undergraduate and graduate students as they pursue transformative opportunities that deepen their learning through real-world application. From designing innovative technologies to engaging [...] Read More... The post Experiential learning fund powers Engineering students’ global impact appeared first on McMaster News .

This year’s recipients of the McMaster Engineering Experiential Learning and Travel Fund are honing their technical expertise and shaping their professional ambitions in high-pressure competitions, hands-on projects and global experiences. The fund supports undergraduate and graduate students as they pursue transformative opportunities that deepen their learning through real-world application. From designing innovative technologies to engaging with world-leading researchers, this year’s recipients are demonstrating the creativity, collaboration and curiosity that define the Faculty of Engineering.

Here are just some of the projects and experiences made possible through the fund this year. Innovation under pressure: Team RedHorizon View this post on Instagram Team RedHorizon tackled the challenges of space safety in the international ACHIEVED 2025 Competition, hosted by the Space Generation Advisory Council and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. Their project, REACT (Rapid Emergency Action & Contingency Tool), is a backpack-sized emergency shelter designed to protect astronauts during Mars missions.

In critical situations such as suit depressurization, REACT can rapidly deploy to create a pressurized micro-environment, stabilizing the astronaut until rescue. Over multiple rounds of evaluation, the team refined REACT’s design, control systems and life-support features, competing against global professionals and specialists. Their work earned them first place in their category and a top-three global finish, culminating in a presentation at the International Astronautical Congress.

“The process demonstrated the power of collaboration and showed us that working together with shared purpose can lead to remarkable progress.” Beyond the competition, the team connected with leaders from NASA, ESA and the Canadian Space Agency, gaining valuable insight into the future of sustainable space exploration while strengthening their teamwork, leadership and problem-solving skills. Reaching new heights: Team MERCuRy View this post on Instagram Team MERCuRy

(McMaster Engineering Reduced Gravity Capstone Experiment) took experiential learning to new heights at the eighth Canadian Reduced Gravity Experiment (CAN-RGX) campaign in Ottawa, in collaboration with SEDS Canada, the National Research Council and the Canadian Space Agency. Selected as one of just four teams from across the country, the group flew their capstone experiment aboard a parabolic flight, experiencing both lunar and microgravity conditions. Their work explored how lunar regolith can be combined with resin to form durable building materials for future lunar infrastructure — a critical challenge for long-term space exploration.

During the flight, the team successfully produced 24 samples in a lunar-gravity environment, which will now be strength-tested back at McMaster. After nearly three years of work, Team MERCuRy was recognized with the program’s Overall Excellence award, marking a major achievement for student-led research in space engineering. Competing at LA Hacks: 36-hour solutions First-year Engineering student Majock Bim travelled to Los Angeles to compete in LA Hacks 2026, a 36-hour international hackathon hosted at UCLA that brought together more than 1,000 students from top institutions around the world.

Alongside his team, Bim developed Physio, a wearable device designed to support stroke rehabilitation. The system uses sensors placed on the arm to track movement, paired with a smartphone-based machine learning model that evaluates motion quality in real time. Bim focused on building the electronics and firmware that enabled wireless communication between the sensors and the app.

Working through the night, the team overcame technical challenges ranging from unreliable sensor communication to improving model performance. The experience pushed participants beyond textbook learning, requiring rapid prototyping and continuous iteration under pressure. “At some point you have to take the initiative to rewrite things on the fly and keep trying until something works.”

Beyond the technical achievements, Bim gained valuable exposure to the broader engineering community: pitching to industry judges, receiving real-time feedback and connecting with peers pursuing innovative paths in technology. Coding the future of robotics at CalHacks View this post on Instagram Final-year Mechanical Engineering student Vetri Balaji travelled to the University of California, Berkeley to participate in CalHacks, one of the world’s largest collegiate hackathons, where thousands of students collaborate over 36 hours to build, test and present new ideas. Balaji and his team developed a gesture-controlled humanoid robot designed to act as a physical avatar, enabling individuals with mobility limitations to interact with and navigate their environments remotely.

The project explored how robotics can extend human presence beyond physical constraints. For Balaji, the experience of working with a humanoid robot for the first time was transformative. Watching it respond in real time to human gestures felt “unreal,” highlighting both the complexity and potential of advanced robotics systems.

Equally impactful was the collaborative atmosphere of the event, he says. CalHacks brought together developers, engineers and innovators from around the world — a community united by a shared drive to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Exploring the future of chip design in Silicon Valley Jaavin Mohanakumar, a third-year Computer Engineering student, travelled to San Francisco to attend the 2026 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC), one of the world’s leading forums for innovation in integrated circuit and semiconductor design.

As one of just 50 students selected globally for the conference’s Circuit Insights program, Mohanakumar gained a unique, behind-the-scenes perspective on the skills and technologies shaping the future of the semiconductor industry. Throughout the conference, he engaged with cutting-edge research from leading academics and companies, learning to critically evaluate emerging ideas and connect insights across sessions. Conversations with students and researchers from around the world reinforced the global nature of engineering and the importance of international collaboration.

“Opportunities like this don’t just build your resume; they build your perspective.” The experience has influenced how Mohanakumar approaches both his studies and career goals, inspiring him to continue building connections across the global engineering community. Turning opportunity into impact The McMaster Engineering Experiential Learning and Travel Fund continues to play a vital role in enabling students to pursue ambitious opportunities that extend beyond campus.

As these students bring their experiences back to McMaster, they contribute not only to their own growth, but also to a culture of innovation and experiential learning across the Faculty of Engineering. Click here to learn more about supporting the McMaster Engineering Experiential Learning and Travel Fund. The post Experiential learning fund powers Engineering students’ global impact appeared first on McMaster News .