"The creative approach at the core of this campaign has a very human touch, and works on two levels," enthuses Chantal Cantin, Director, Communications and Public Relations, École Polytechnique. "Designed around children's dreams, the ad concepts speak to the aspirations of our future student clientele. Secondly, using projects created by our students for the campaign echoes the idea that dreams can and do come true, while at the same time highlighting some of the unique aspects of learning at Polytechnique--the international flavour, the environment and sustainable development, and the applied nature of the new bachelor's degree programs, all supported by a vibrant student life."

Ms. Cantin continues: "The message conveyed is that at Polytechnique, you can live your dreams, whether they involve adventure, making our world a better place to live, or designing applications for the future, Polytechnique offers myriad possibilities to students seeking a personalized education that will help them make their mark."

The world at your doorstep
Since 1990, Polytechnique's Comité international de projets outre-mer (International Committee on Overseas Projects -- CIPO) has overseen summer trips abroad by groups of volunteer students, who work as cooperants in developing countries. During his bachelor's degree studies, Philippe Brodeur got away from it all in the mountainous African nation of Togo, where he helped to build an elementary school in the village of Lavié-Agodè. He calls it "an unforgettable experience."

Poly students seeking similar international experiences are spoiled for choice: Europe, the U.S., Latin America, China and Japan all beckon... Every year, close to 100 young people depart for studies abroad in one of the many institutions with which École Polytechnique has an agreement; the internships can last a semester, a year, or two years. The Groupe des Écoles des Mines (GEM) program lets students in any specialization join a paid industrial internship lasting four to six months in a French city. Specialized training in overseas institutions is also offered via the mechanical, industrial, geological and civil engineering programs. In addition to CIPO, the Poly-monde committee industrial missions as well the humanitarian development projects offered by the Ingénieurs sans frontières-Polytechnique committee are fine alternatives for students looking for adventure during the summer months.

Environment and sustainable development
For her chemical engineering master's thesis, Marianne Dupla decide to address the issue of pollution cleanup along the St. Lawrence River. Montréal's Biodôme, whose staff has collaborated with École Polytechnique researchers for several years now, provided an excellent platform from which to conduct her testing. Today, Bertrand Vallet is supporting Ms. Dupla's work, seeking an ecologically friendly way to reduce concentrations of phosphates, which are ravaging land along Québec's shorelines. His end-of-studies bachelor's degree project was devoted to the subject, and he's now expanding on the same research thrust as part of his master's in civil engineering.

Polytechnique expertise in the area of environment and sustainable development is widely recognized in Canada and internationally. Two fine examples are the CREDEAU, the only centre in Canada devoted to research, development and validation of water treatment technologies and processes, and the Centre interuniversitaire de référence sur l'analyse, l'interprétation et la gestion du cycle de vie des produits, procédés et services (Interuniversity Reference Centre for the Life Cycle Assessment, Interpretation and Management of Products, Processes and Services -- CIRAIG), which speaks for the federal government before the United Nations Environment Program. 

Mindful of the fact that its graduates' professional activities have direct impacts on society, Polytechnique has for several years now integrated the concept of sustainable development into its teaching programs. Since fall 2005, the School has offered undergraduate students in engineering as well as students from other science disciplines five new thematic Diplômes d'études supérieures spécialisées (DESS, or specialized graduate studies degrees) in environment and sustainable development. These courses of study point to a diversity of employment perspectives, whether in industry or government, in consulting firms or with NGOs.

To mitigate the environmental impacts of its campus expansion, Polytechnique decided to lead by example and adhere to the "green building" concept for construction of its new facilities. With the dedication of the Claudette-MacKay-Lassonde and Pierre-Lassonde buildings in October 2005, École Polytechnique became the first university teaching institution in Canada to receive LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) international certification, which is awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Programs geared toward design; exciting student life
The third poster design spotlights the activities of the Formule SAE committee. Each year, a group of Polytechnique students designs and builds a racing car, which is then entered in international competitions in the U.S. and in England. Other technical committees, meanwhile, are currently working on designs for a cargo plane, a solar-powered car, a concrete canoe, robots and even a human-powered submarine. These projects are a way for students to apply practically the theoretical knowledge learned in class, but also to build up a solid network of contacts and enhance their project management skills. École Polytechnique is renowned for its outstanding student life, and boasts almost sixty student committees focusing on subjects as varied as the arts, sports, environmental issues, humanitarian development, technical design and engineering training.

The new undergraduate programs offered since the fall of 2005 provide a sound balance of theoretical knowledge and practical applications of engineering. Comprehensive projects, part of all programs beginning in the very first year, enable integration of the various concepts seen in class as well as hands-on experimentation in the student's chosen engineering specialization. Internships are a mandatory component of all programs of study, and particular attention is focused on development of personal and inter-personal skills, highly valued by employers.
 
The 2006 campaign was designed entirely in-house by the Communications team, in cooperation with École Polytechnique students.

Je l'ai fait à Polytechnique! campaign
Research, concept and media positioning: École Polytechnique de Montréal Communications and Public Relations Office
Photography: Yves Beaulieu
Graphic design: Marie-Josée Gagnon