A research project which seeks to enhance pedestrian safety and accessibility at a busy Invercargill inner city intersection, was a winner for SIT Engineering student, Asinate Waqa (Asi), who took out first prize in The Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) ‘3MT’ Three-minute Thesis competition held at Te Rau o te Huia on November 8th.
Miss Waqa, who is studying a Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Civil Engineering major) took out the top prize with her presentation and poster of her research project, “Design of Pedestrian Access at the Intersection of Forth and Ythan Streets”.
Miss Waqa’s research was conducted in three parts: she investigated and assessed the current conditions and existing infrastructure at the Forth and Ythan Street intersection. She proposed an improved design to meet national standards, which was evaluated using the Safe System approach, an assessment framework designed by Austroads to help promote the design and implementation of safer roading systems. Then finally, applicable recommendations were made.
The study revealed the need for improved pedestrian facilities and accessibility, especially crossing locations, and produced findings which promote a change to better safety practices by highlighting the value of preventative measures at that location.
Admitting public speaking wasn’t really her thing, Miss Waqa said, “To win it means a lot. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and has developed my confidence,” recalling how her supervisor had encouraged her by saying “you have to be uncomfortable to grow”. Miss Waqa has no regrets that she took on the challenge. “I’m grateful to the people who pushed me to go through with the competition.” In Fijian culture, typically “this was not something girls my age are aspiring to do”. She’d had wonderful support from her cousin, “my support system, who believed in me and my ideas”.
While the research project is a requirement for her degree, Miss Waqa has drawn upon her four-and-a-half years’ experience working in the roading sector in the Manawatu region. Moving from Auckland to study a Diploma in Engineering at SIT in 2017, she was immediately employed after graduating, then returned to SIT this year to complete her engineering degree. As delighted as she is with the competition win, Miss Waqa added “it would be the icing on the cake” if her research and recommendations for the intersection caught the attention of local roading agencies.
Miss Waqa’s Supervisor, Carlo Gabriel, Engineering Tutor and Programme Manager, School of Advanced Engineering, said the accomplishment was particularly inspiring for the Pasifika community, which Miss Waqa has been a part of since moving to Invercargill. Noting it was the second year in a row that engineering had taken the top prize, Mr Gabriel added “It is incredibly rewarding to see engineering students consistently recognised at this level. Asi’s success this year is a testament to the talent and diversity within our programme.”
Second place was awarded to Bachelor of Sport and Exercise student, Jared Cuff, who spoke about his research, “The effects of Tongkat Ali and Fadogia Agrestis herbal supplementation to negate/reduce the ‘hormonal slump’ effects experienced during a caloric deficit period”.
And the School of Environmental Management performed strongly in the Student Research Poster competition, with Bachelor of Environmental Management students taking first and second place; Courtney Officer won with “A site survey of fernbird and vertebrate predator presence at Sandy Point domain”, with second place going to Caitlin Harris, for her “Comparative study of podocarp seedling recruitment success in a remnant kahikatea forest and neighbouring restoration area”.
Miss Waqa’s win will be formally recognised at the SIT Awards Night on December 3, where she will receive the "Best Student Research Award" along with a $250 cash prize and a certificate.