Chemical Engineering Students And Automotive Design Competitions: Tips And Techniques For Student Involvement

Chemical engineering students have several opportunities to participate in design competitions, sponsored by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and other organizations. Several departments, including that of the authors, have integrated the AIChE National Student Design Problem into the capstone design experience for seniors. AIChE also sponsors design competitions, such as the Chem-E Car competition. This is a fun and lively contest that pits universities against one another in operating a chemically powered toy car. The Chem-E Car competition requires design teams to include underclassmen. These competitions all strive to improve student creativity, ingenuity, and group-interaction skills.