Congratulations to MSE students Nicholas Price and Mason McGregor, recipients of the prestigious Pauline Wong Global Engineering Fellowship. This $1,000 award, granted to each student, recognizes their exceptional contributions to a multidisciplinary capstone project focused on advancing water access in resource-constrained communities. Their team collaborated with Permalution and the Centre for Global Engineering (CEGEN) on a fog-water harvesting initiative, which culminated in fieldwork and prototype installation in coastal Peru.
As part of the project, the students designed and tested multiple fog-collecting mesh prototypes to improve water collection efficiency and durability. In lab testing, their final design—featuring an optimized mesh geometry and surface coating—demonstrated up to a threefold improvement in performance over the currently used mesh. “It was incredibly rewarding to see our engineering work translate into real-world impact,” said Nick. “Being in Peru and installing a prototype that could help address water scarcity made everything we learned in the classroom feel tangible and meaningful.” Mason added, “Working with an interdisciplinary team and an international partner like Permalution challenged us to think beyond just technical solutions. Receiving the Pauline Wong Fellowship is an honour, and it reinforces the importance of using engineering to improve lives globally.”
Reflecting on his experience, Nick shared, “From climbing small mountains to install the mesh, to speaking with our local partner Jorge and learning about life in Peru, the experience was eye-opening. It reminded us that engineering doesn’t just live in labs or classrooms—it can shape communities in meaningful ways.” The team’s work also contributed to Nick’s completion of the Global Engineering Certificate through CEGEN, whose mission centers on applying engineering skills to global development challenges.
Nick Price (right) and Mason McGregor (left) in Peru. Photo courtesy of : Nick Price