Ecsa Student Chapter

ECSA Student Chapter is a Science focused Student Society based at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). Formed by the consolidation of four UJ based projects, namely; the Aeronautical and Aerospace Project, the Baja SAE Project and the Sasol Solar Project, in addition to the UJ Hydrogen Innovation Society’s Shell-Eco Marathon Project. The Student Chapter provides a unique platform that enables all the projects to compete both locally and internationally. The central objective of the Student Chapter is to expose students to the industry by allowing them the chance to solve real-world problems through utilizing the fundamental knowledge taught in class, strengthening research skills in examining and critiquing for reliable resources and databases as well as mentorship from members in the Student Chapter that have formidable experience in the field, thus producing stronger engineers in a rapidly revolutionizing economy. The Student Chapter has previously designed and built three solar powered vehicles; two hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles as well as three hybrid vehicles. Out of which the solar cars successfully competed in the 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016 Sasol Solar Challenges (SSC). The third-generation solar powered electric vehicle, Ilanga II, won the Technology and Innovation award in 2014 SSC. It was also the centrepiece of a journey through South Africa, Namibia and Botswana, known as the African Solar Drive (ASD 2015). Furthermore, in 2017 and 2019 the Student Chapter participated in the prototype hydrogen category of the Shell Eco Marathon South Africa, achieving first place.