Student Technical Presentation Competition

Participants are selected on the basis of regional conference results.

The subject of each paper is left entirely to the individual student. Presentations often focus on recent advances in some branch of chemical engineering, original research, or plant design. Participation in the Regional Student Paper Competition offers valuable, real-world experience for students. AIChE's Student Chapters Committee supports the competition with prize money, though the regional awards may be augmented from other sources at the discretion of each regional host school.

General Rules

1. Each entry must be an undergraduate student and a member of one of the participating student chapters. Others may present, but cannot be considered for the top prize.
2. AIChE places no limit on the number of papers submitted for presentation by a participating student chapter. However, any restrictions on the number of papers placed by the host school due to time constraints, space restrictions, or any other factors must be clearly stated on the Call for Abstracts and must be fair and equitable.
3. Co-authorship of papers is permitted. However, only one person shall make the presentation at the Regional Student Paper Competition, and this person must have been substantially involved in the project or subject of the presented paper.
4. A panel of three chemical engineers (faculty, industry representative, or AIChE local section member) will judge paper presentations. The decision of these judges will be final.
5. At the National Paper Competition, time limits are generally 15 minutes for presentation and 3-5 minutes for Q&A. A similar time limit should be enforced at the Regional Student Paper Competitions.
6. First Place receives a cash award of $200 from AIChE, a one-year subscription to Chemical Engineering Progress magazine, and a certificate supplied in duplicate. (One copy to be retained by the winner's school.)
7. Second Place receives a cash award of $100 from AIChE, a one-year subscription to Chemical Engineering Progress magazine, and a certificate supplied in duplicate. (One copy to be retained by the winner's school.)
8. Honorable Mention receives a cash award of $50 from AIChE, a one-year subscription to Chemical Engineering Progress magazine, and a certificate supplied in duplicate. (One copy to be retained by the winner's school.) In the case of a tie, the money is divided equally among the entries.

National Student Paper Competition

Papers presented at the National Student Paper Competition, held each fall at the AIChE Annual Meeting, must conform to the following rules to be eligible for presentation and to qualify for a prize.

1. The student presenting the paper should be the first place presenter at an AIChE  Regional Student Conference held during the same calendar year as the Annual Meeting at which the paper is presented. In the event that the first place presenter from the Regional Conference is unable to attend the National Student Paper Competition, the presenter of the second place paper will be invited to represent the Region. The presenter of the third place paper from the Regional Conferennce will be invited to present if the second place presenter is unable to participate. The presenter representing the region in the National Competition must place no lower than third at the Regional Conference. Eligible presenters must indicate their willingness to participate in the National Competition by submitting an abstract to the National Student Paper Competition chair by the deadline set for the Annual Meeting. In the event that the Regional Conference is held after this deadline, the abstract must be submitted within the week following the conclusion of the Regional Conference.
2. The presenter of the paper must have been an undergraduate at the time his or her paper was presented at an AIChE Regional Student Conference.
3. The contents of the paper must be substantially different than any paper presented by the presenter at any previous National Student Paper Competition.
4. Only one paper from each AIChE Regional Student Conference shall be presented. In the case of a tie for first prize at a Regional Conference, or if two first prizes are awarded, the Region must make a selection and nominate only one paper for the National Student Paper Competition.
5. Co-authors on papers are allowed; however, only one person shall make the presentation at the National Student Paper Competition, and this person must have been substantially involved in the project or subject of the presented paper.
6. A panel of not less than three judges will evaluate the presentations. The decision of the panel of judges will be final.