AIChE Chemical Engineering for Good Challenge (ACE4G)

Prizes

Prizes will be awarded for top three entries in the amounts of $500, $200, and $100. In the unlikely event that the judges determine there are not three entries of sufficient quality, then not all three prizes will be awarded.

Participants 

Open to all AIChE student chapters around the world. Any AIChE student chapter may enter, and chapters may enter together. The team is welcome to coordinate with professors, professionals or other student groups on or off campus in their work.

Some common approaches to group formation include but are not limited to:

• An AIChE student chapter taking on this project.
• A Chemical Engineering faculty member using the project in a class context for one or more submissions (limiting submissions to the best few in a class is encouraged).
• Student chapters are encouraged to partner with other student organizations experienced in working on international projects, such as Engineers Without Borders.

Collaboration

When AIChE student chapters collaborate to produce a joint ACE4G entry, judging will not be affected by how many chapters worked on the submission. Collaborations between US and international chapters are particularly encouraged.

Dissemination of Results

The contents of all contest submissions may be made public, with appropriate credits given to the original submitters.

Submission Examples

Download examples of previous winning submissions.

Contest Description

Contest entries address "How chemical engineering can be applied to solve societal needs for a community"

Submissions provide a chemical engineering solution to problems often encountered in community-scale quality of life improvement projects in a location of need. Examples of typical problems would be water treatment, alternate energy sources, energy efficiency, and preservation/production of crops and foods. This list is not intended to limit your possibilities.  Submissions must provide proof of concept (calculation, experimental, or reference) that the proposed solution is applicable for this specific situation; apply chemical engineering; and provide socially and culturally appropriate design solutions.

Entries should include:

1. Clearly defined community issue/need and problem to be addressed, and an articulation of the importance of the problem.

2. Research background on problem and technologies previously used in other locations/applications, and an articulation of the degree of innovation in your solution.

3. Provide a design plan that includes:

1. Design decisions that take into consideration technical, maintenance, financial, environmental, social, and cultural sustainability.
2. An assessment of any safety issues and how design addresses appropriate implementation in the partner community 
3. Provide Proof of concept data (prototype, experiments, or calculations /simulation of the process) to show design feasibility
4. Provide estimated costs for initial installation, maintenance, and operation.

4. Final design should include:

1. Drawings of system
2. How design addresses community need
3. How community can/did implement these designs
4. Effect this project will have on the community’s quality of life and any anticipated negative impacts of the project on the community.

For more information contact Gina Gatto at membership@aiche.org and visit this page regularly for updated information.

Timeline

Deadline for submission is May 15, 2024. 

SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY HERE