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By Narayan Mitra
TEACHER Dan Massey is something of a hobbyist. This father of three teens has
assembled computers from scratch, and built beds for his kids – including one built in a pirate style.
But a two-metre and 45-kilogram robot named Photon is perhaps his most
impressive achievement.
Photon has a red cylindrical body and is fitted with parts from a computer, a
food processor, an automobile and even a leaf blower.
A tractor battery supplies power; golf cart motors drive him; and 21
radio-controlled circuits govern him.
“I had a picture in my mind of what I wanted the finished product to look like,” Massey told BCCN. “I had been gathering parts for several years – and then when it came for building, I took the pieces and decided to put them
all together.
“I tried to use parts that would normally end up in the landfill – but also parts that looked like they belonged on a futuristic type robot. About
100 hours were invested into the project.”
Photon is a multi-tasker, and helps Massey with his teaching. He can deliver
lessons and help him with supervision in the hallways. He can greet students
and address an audience in the gymnasium during assemblies.
Massey, who has been a deacon and board chair at Powers Creek Community Church
in Westbank, is the math and science teacher at West Kelowna’s Const. Neil Bruce Middle School.
Using tools, and making and repairing things with his own hands, had appealed to
him since he was seven.
Growing up in a conservative Christian home, Massey became a Christian at age
10. He was an introvert, and had to be coaxed into socializing at school and
church.
Massey’s personal faith blossomed when, at 12, he testified to God’s saving grace in his life through baptism. Studies at UBC saw him shedding much
of his shyness, and being more demonstrative in expressing his faith.
His wife Roberta, whom he met at the university, now teaches chemistry at
Okanagan College. The couple has taught Creation Science in adult Sunday school
classes and keeps up to date on the subject.
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An avid amateur mechanic, carpenter and electronics guy all combined, Massey had
built smaller robots before Photon.
Relating technology and faith has always interested Massey. “My personal faith is based on how God has been acting in my life and is directly
related to science.”
God invented science, he reasoned, so things we discover in science give us a
fuller picture of God. As well, he noted, most basic scientific principles can
be found in the Bible.
“It took me over a year to build Photon; but God can create life out of nothing,
in an instant, by just speaking. He is amazing.
“After looking at Photon, anyone can see that someone designed and built him. Why
can’t people look at even the smallest of creatures, far more complicated than a
robot, and realize there must be a creator that designed them?”
For other Christian teachers, Massey has this advice to offer: “Thank God for your job. Do not compromise your faith, and stand firm in what you
believe in.”
Massey hopes that, when Photon greets the returning students this fall, perhaps
his ability and agility to do so will open dialogue with his inventor – leading some to discover the wisdom of the Creator, and to personalize him in
their lives.
September 2009
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