The society is represented by the student branch in Porto Alegre and based in the University
Photo: Matheus Gomes
In May, PUCRS welcomed John Constantinide, the Regional Representative and Director of American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Region XII, association of professionals focused on the area of heating, refrigerating and air-conditioning. With this opportunity, the international visitor saw the Porto Alegre Student Branch headquarters at PUCRS, talked to active members, participated in local events and promoted the group’s activities.
The professor and coordinator of the Mechanical Engineering program Sérgio Boscato Garcia, who is also advisor of the Porto Alegre Student Branch, was responsible for welcoming the visitor along with other members of the group. The professor explains that ASHRAE is a benchmark association in heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems. Because of this, its actions and publications are of great interest to engineers who work in the field, as well as to students who are entering the area.
According to Boscato, with activities like research and development, training and education support, ASHRAE encourages the creation of student groups, named “Student Branches” and hosted in universities. In Brazil, there are 15 Student Branches in total, and, in Rio Grande do Sul, the association is represented by the ASHRAE Porto Alegre Student Branch, based at PUCRS and with over 20 participating members from different institutions of higher education from the state, including students and professors from the University.
Constantinide’s reception was held at the Office for International Cooperation, with executive coordinator Carla Bonan, coordinator of PUCRS’s Mechanical Engineering Degree program and professor Sérgio Boscato Garcia, ASHRAE South Brazil Chapter president and alumni Bernardo Baldasso, alumni and ASHRAE member Heitor Tremea and current ASHRAE Porto Alegre Student Branch president Lorenzo Olivo Filippini. The purpose of the meeting was to strengthen ties between the University and ASHRAE, in order to promote mobility for student members of the Student Branch.
In the afternoon, at PUCRS’s Science and Technology Park (Tecnopuc), the international visitor was interviewed and participated in a podcast organized by Young Engineers in ASHRAE (YEA), which is one of the committees that make up the South Brazil Chapter. The episode featured the participation of members of the chapter and student members, with the purpose of learning about Constantinide’s academic and professional journey, as well as how ASHRAE was important for his growth. At night, a dinner was held with Constantinide, encouraging networking and meeting with several members of the chapter and professional representatives of the area from the metropolitan region.
ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is a global society which promotes human well-being through sustainable technology for the built environment. The society and its members focus on building systems, energy efficiency, internal air quality, refrigeration and sustainability in the industry. Initiatives are shaped by research, pattern drafting, publications and continuing education. President Darryl Boyce, who presided ASHRAE in 2019 and 2020, has been at PUCRS, in 2018, to get to know the institution and strengthen mobility between members, intensifying the joint work, especially in research groups.
According to the ASHRAE representation at PUCRS, despite having an intrinsic relationship with engineering and related subjects, ASHRAE, nowadays a professional and global society, is multidisciplinary and plural, and encourages the participation of professionals with different backgrounds. This means the South Brazil Chapter and the Porto Alegre Student Branch seek professionals and students from other areas, like communication and marketing, to contribute with their knowledge and to enrich the development of the society.
The PUCRS professor stresses that ASHRAE supports and promotes the integration between members and institutions, and considers that visits from personalities from all over the world to Student Branches are a valuable practice, which, in addition to the interactions and direct relationship, may organize activities to promote knowledge. For Boscato, each action and visit like John Constantinide’s, the Student Branch and the University create opportunities for the field and for internationalization.
“Associating to ASHRAE is a valuable opportunity for personal and professional growth, which enables the creation of national and international networking, as well as the possibility of developing various important skills, not only in the technical department, but also regarding communication and management,” says the coordinator of PUCRS’s Mechanical Engineering program.
Students pay reduced price when associating to ASHRAE, learn more on ASHRAE South Brazil Chapter’s official page and on ASHRAE’s official page.
