“I love watching the stars and thinking about the amazing stories and history each one kept,” says Crysta, a second-year engineering student who went from dreaming of space to designing and flying a near-space payload with her project team, Atmotech.
Atmotech is a student team at the U of A designing a foldable solar panel to fly on a stratospheric balloon as part of the Canadian Stratospheric Balloon Experiment (CAN-SBX) in collaboration with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
AtmoTech Team (left to right): Mathew Gaddi, Guneet Dhillon, Sami El Khatib, Seth Grundner, William Ayala Platero, Crysta Madrio, Daniel Faltaous
These balloons fly to the edges of space and allow for space research without the need for rocket fuel. “By conducting tests in near-space environments, we anticipate both validating the system’s performance and collecting vital data for forthcoming research endeavours,” mentions Crysta.
For those with a dream hoping to make it a reality, Crysta shares some tips on how she has begun laying the groundwork for her path to space by creating Atmotech. These skills are transferable not only to design competitions or student club teams, but also to group projects in classes and collaboration once you begin working. Whether you are looking to start a student project, want to learn skills for leadership and teamwork or are interested in the beginning of Crysta’s story, I encourage you to consider the path to your own dreams as you read this article!
When dreams become reality
Student clubs are an excellent way to become involved in communities that will open more doors! Oftentimes, following your passions leads you to doors you didn’t know existed. “I always liked mathematics, so I made the decision to pursue engineering,” says Crysta. “Now, I learned that choosing this path was the best decision for my growth, as it further encouraged me to continue pursuing my ambitions in the space industry.”
When yearning for a dream job such as walking on the surface of the moon, it may seem far away with lots of unknown darkness. However, Crysta was able to find small guiding lights through student clubs. “If you have ever heard how amazing it can be to be in a club and how truly life-changing it is, the rumours are all true!” she notes. Being part of Mission SpaceWalker, she was introduced to a community of those with similar interests who helped her through entering this design competition. “They supported me in the path I want to pursue from the moment I met them,” she says. Don’t be afraid to tell the universe your dream. Chances are you will spark a conversation with someone with similar interests and lead you to new opportunities.
Manufacturing Work Session in Elko Garage, University of Alberta
A team to start a team
Full of motivation to participate in the CAN-SBX experiment, Crysta contacted her friends and peers to pitch an exciting idea. Flying an experiment to the edges of space that could help sustainable space travel already sounds incredible, however like many projects, flying something to space does not turn into reality without a team.
Halloween 2023
One of the most pressing choices you may face when starting a student project is choosing the right name. “Atmotech is a culmination of the words ‘atmosphere’ and ‘technology.’ Quite straightforward, but that was indeed the moment we all learned that the stratosphere is, in fact, a part of the atmosphere,” says Crysta.
All team members were included in the decision processes, including selecting the name. “When starting a student club, my advice is to make sure every team member is actively involved at every step. It’s not just about tasks and roles; it’s about creating an environment where everyone’s voice is heard and valued.” She mentions that the shared sense of ownership and camaraderie help bring out the best in each member and their experience.
What are the ways Atmotech achieves inclusiveness? Here are a few strategies Crysta implements on her own project team:
Individual idea generation: When determining the concept, each member has time to come up with an idea individually including sketches and documentation. These ideas are then shared and discussed during team meetings, where a voting process helps narrow down the most compelling and applicable concept.
Open and honest communication: The team encourages conversations and listens to diverse perspectives, engaging team members regularly through weekly meetings or work sessions.
Multidisciplinary experience: Members are empowered to take on various tasks based on their interests. Each member has the responsibility to remain accountable and freedom to contribute their passions.
Atmotech was founded in the fall of 2023, and despite being a new team, they have already been able to achieve a lot. Their solar photovoltaic cell technology is designed to be compact to travel on lunar rovers and general space applications. Crysta attributes this to their ability to work together and how each member is able to contribute their vision to the mission. During the manufacturing of the scissor extender component of the solar panel, she mentioned that the challenge was fun for everyone and helped the team bond. “Despite the challenges, including the numerous late nights during project milestones, tackling these obstacles as a team has transformed the process into a rewarding rollercoaster ride,” says Crysta. “This project so far, alongside my team members, made me believe that we can do anything!”
Maintaining motivation
Once you have established a team, Crysta mentions that it is important to keep members inspired and energized. “Maintaining motivation has become the most significant challenge so far,” notes Crysta, however, her team has implemented various strategies to ensure all members feel heard and understood. This includes:
Regular team check-ins: empowering team members a chance to express their concerns and share successes
Team bonding: encouraging a community within the team so members feel supported, such as holding events or organizing group work sessions
Recognition: recognizing individual contributions also helped cultivate a positive and supportive environment for everyone
“By identifying the challenge of maintaining motivation proactively and collectively, we continue to build on this every day, further strengthening our team’s resilience and commitment to the project’s success.”
A leader is…
For Crysta, being the project manager of Atmotech helped her find a leadership style that encourages and empowers her team. A crucial role of project managers is to keep the team and information organized. For Crysta, this includes creating and maintaining organized project plans, timelines and documentation. “A lack of organization can lead to misunderstandings, delays and missed opportunities,” she says. The team utilizes tools like Google Drive with numbered and categorized folders to make information easy to find.
For Crysta, “an effective project manager fosters open communication, actively listens to team members and adapts their communication style to suit diverse stakeholders.” She also notes the importance of being clear, concise and transparent to ensure everyone is involved and included. For her, leadership is not just about orders but also about inspiring and supporting team members to perform their best.
Project Manufacturing Group
On a team, it is common to face unexpected challenges. For Crysta, “being adaptable and resilient in the face of change is vital for overcoming obstacles and steering the project back on track.” Keeping information organized, encouraging communication and focusing on the task rather than panicking are all ways to tackle a challenge.
Furthermore, “project managers who lead by example, provide clear direction and recognize and celebrate team achievements create a positive and motivated work environment.” No matter the circumstance, Crysta leads her team by providing support to her members and keeping them organized so members are equipped with the tools to reach their full potential.
Making a path to your dream
Atmotech 2024 Team Photo
You may be asking yourself how you can start your own project, or start developing skills to get closer to your dream career. For Crysta, AtmoTech is the beginning of her contribution to the mission of space development. “This project allows me to pursue my passion for space exploration while laying the foundation for a career that aligns with my long-term objectives in the space industry,” she says. For her, “Joining the Mission Spacewalker club made me realize that my dreams are realistic.” She encourages that students should “consider joining a club or exploring avenues to connect with individuals who share your passion and are actively working towards their goals. Surround yourself with those who have already made it, as their motivation and support can contribute greatly to your own journey towards success.”
Whether you are aspiring to venture into the space domain or working towards another industry, making these connections “can be instrumental in providing motivation, guidance and support,” says Crysta. Attend club fairs and interact with different groups that share your passions. If you know someone with a career you want to pursue, contact them for a coffee chat and learn about their journey and opportunities they would recommend. And if you cannot find the community you are looking for, you can always create it by inspiring a new team, maintaining motivation and employing your leadership skills.
Atmotech After Hours
“The hands-on experience and collaboration within the project have provided me with a better understanding of the processes involved in space development. This awareness has reinforced my commitment to my initial goals and inspired me to consider additional facets within the field that I may not have explored otherwise,” says Crysta. Most people don’t know exactly what their next steps are, but if you have a guiding passion, you will eventually open the doors to where you want to go!
The federal government is ordering the dissolution of TikTok’s Canadian business after a national security review of the Chinese company behind the social media platform, but stopped short of ordering people to stay off the app.
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced the government’s “wind up” demand Wednesday, saying it is meant to address “risks” related to ByteDance Ltd.’s establishment of TikTok Technology Canada Inc.
“The decision was based on the information and evidence collected over the course of the review and on the advice of Canada’s security and intelligence community and other government partners,” he said in a statement.
The announcement added that the government is not blocking Canadians’ access to the TikTok application or their ability to create content.
However, it urged people to “adopt good cybersecurity practices and assess the possible risks of using social media platforms and applications, including how their information is likely to be protected, managed, used and shared by foreign actors, as well as to be aware of which country’s laws apply.”
Champagne’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment seeking details about what evidence led to the government’s dissolution demand, how long ByteDance has to comply and why the app is not being banned.
A TikTok spokesperson said in a statement that the shutdown of its Canadian offices will mean the loss of hundreds of well-paying local jobs.
“We will challenge this order in court,” the spokesperson said.
“The TikTok platform will remain available for creators to find an audience, explore new interests and for businesses to thrive.”
The federal Liberals ordered a national security review of TikTok in September 2023, but it was not public knowledge until The Canadian Press reported in March that it was investigating the company.
At the time, it said the review was based on the expansion of a business, which it said constituted the establishment of a new Canadian entity. It declined to provide any further details about what expansion it was reviewing.
A government database showed a notification of new business from TikTok in June 2023. It said Network Sense Ventures Ltd. in Toronto and Vancouver would engage in “marketing, advertising, and content/creator development activities in relation to the use of the TikTok app in Canada.”
Even before the review, ByteDance and TikTok were lightning rod for privacy and safety concerns because Chinese national security laws compel organizations in the country to assist with intelligence gathering.
Such concerns led the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a bill in March designed to ban TikTok unless its China-based owner sells its stake in the business.
Champagne’s office has maintained Canada’s review was not related to the U.S. bill, which has yet to pass.
Canada’s review was carried out through the Investment Canada Act, which allows the government to investigate any foreign investment with potential to might harm national security.
While cabinet can make investors sell parts of the business or shares, Champagne has said the act doesn’t allow him to disclose details of the review.
Wednesday’s dissolution order was made in accordance with the act.
The federal government banned TikTok from its mobile devices in February 2023 following the launch of an investigation into the company by federal and provincial privacy commissioners.
— With files from Anja Karadeglija in Ottawa
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.
LONDON (AP) — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?
It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away unless you take some simple steps.
Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:
Apple
The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “ legacy contact ” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system — iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.
For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.
You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.
Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on — including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.
Google
Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.
When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait — from three to 18 months — before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.
You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access — including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.
There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.
Facebook and Instagram
Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honor their memories.
When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialize the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.
The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.
You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.
TikTok
The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.
Once an account has been memorialized, it will be labeled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.
X
It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorized person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.
Passwords
Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens if not hundreds of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?
Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, like Keeper,Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.
But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.
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Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s competition watchdog said Thursday it’s opening a formal investigation into Google’s partnership with artificial intelligence startup Anthropic.
The Competition and Markets Authority said it has “sufficient information” to launch an initial probe after it sought input earlier this year on whether the deal would stifle competition.
The CMA has until Dec. 19 to decide whether to approve the deal or escalate its investigation.
“Google is committed to building the most open and innovative AI ecosystem in the world,” the company said. “Anthropic is free to use multiple cloud providers and does, and we don’t demand exclusive tech rights.”
San Francisco-based Anthropic was founded in 2021 by siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei, who previously worked at ChatGPT maker OpenAI. The company has focused on increasing the safety and reliability of AI models. Google reportedly agreed last year to make a multibillion-dollar investment in Anthropic, which has a popular chatbot named Claude.
Anthropic said it’s cooperating with the regulator and will provide “the complete picture about Google’s investment and our commercial collaboration.”
“We are an independent company and none of our strategic partnerships or investor relationships diminish the independence of our corporate governance or our freedom to partner with others,” it said in a statement.
The U.K. regulator has been scrutinizing a raft of AI deals as investment money floods into the industry to capitalize on the artificial intelligence boom. Last month it cleared Anthropic’s $4 billion deal with Amazon and it has also signed off on Microsoft’s deals with two other AI startups, Inflection and Mistral.
