Interview with Marta Mata, Director of the Department of mechanics of the Salesian University School of Sarrià
February 2, 2010
Let me start with a topical question: what does a girl like you in a place like this?
[Marta laughs] I am the head of the Department of mechanics of EUSS; a school of Barcelona which has fifteen years. The Salesians de Sarrià had always made vocational training, and their natural way was the expand towards engineering. I am who is responsible for managing the needs of the Department, and who took the decision to buy SolidWorks. Óscar Torres has invited me to the Congress. And here I am learning a lot.
What printing you have been given the day and a half you here?
Impressive. These people know much. I am not who use more often the program (the actual users are students). So it came a little ' to see what I have'. And I am pleasantly surprised. Firstly, because I am understanding it all. I am hallucinating, because very few times it has happened to me. Many conferences I have sounded to Chinese Mandarin. Here, I'm learning.
Student to be today, and yesterday being student would look the way of teaching Americans very different from that of our country?
Yes. I have two comparisons. If I compare with [unlike] when I was a student, it is infinitely different. If compare with myself, with as I do the classes, I do not see much difference. They have a way of explaining things very dynamic, very motivating, tried that you enter in the subject. My teachers did as well. In any case, there is a very noticeable difference: there is a very important communication culture, a culture of marketing, in any activity. And there [in Spain] we do not have.
Do you think it would it require teachers to learn to be communicators?
Yes, no doubt. Especially now that there are a lot of visual information, you have to be very visual. And have a modulated tone of voice. You have to draw the attention either way. As explained may be interesting, but you also have to do it motivating.
Do we do with those who resist?
Do you realize how heavy it can be to be an hour listening to someone boring. I had a teacher who recommended me a book. In fact, one of its appendices, which was called "apedreen them". In short: If you don't introduce yourself before an audience, learn. And how to do: try; hours and hours. Could you not learn to make triple integrals?
Frankly, I already do not remember. Do you think some of the things that teach us so deeply worthwhile to change it to 'learn to communicate'?
Are when you say 'I will again require' do not you already giving the answer?
Yes, but as a scientist to recognize it hurts in the soul. To be able to continue to create, it must be a very strong base. Innovate requires a strong base. You must not sacrifice it.
When it comes to communicating and when creating the graphic presentation is widely used. And this, in good measure, is 3D. The students will take advantage?
Too much. And this know me evil say it here. It should not be forgotten that if you design a piece, who manufactures you will need plans, well bounded, with good views, sections and details. 2D. You can design in 3D, it is very useful, and allows you to communicate the idea to the fresador or the Turner. But then you need the 2D levels. The 3D and 2D are not are excluded, to the contrary.
Do you think that a product such as SolidWorks allows you, once you have the 3D design, doing precisely this documentation type 'conventional level'?
Yes, very easily. When you have the 3D drawing, make cuts and sections, plans, elevations, tolerances, the Elimination of redundantes… heights is easier, it is almost automatic.
When you already have 3D models, you're going a step further and do simulation?
Yes, we especially use the concepts of 'motion'. We pretend things that move, make sure that the caps really make top... And we also started to make simulations of tensión-deformación. Here, I arrimo the Ember my sardine. And students feel very curious about the issue. This year, we tight more...
