What

Student engineers from UNLV will compete with peers from top regional universities in concrete canoe, steel bridge and environmental design events during the 2010 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Pacific Southwest Regional Conference

When

Thursday, April 8, 2010 (Event locations listed in parentheses)
7 a.m. to 11 a.m. - Environmental Design Challenge (UNLV Engineering Complex)
7 a.m to 2 p.m. - Concrete Canoe/Steel Bridge Display (UNLV North Field)

Friday, April 9, 2010 (Event location listed in parentheses)
7 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Concrete Canoe Races (Lake Mead - Boulder Beach)

Saturday, April 10, 2010
7 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Steel Bridge Competition (UNLV Science and Engineering Bldg.)

Details

The events are free and open to the public. The ASCE conference draws students from Nevada, Arizona, California and Hawaii universities to compete in a series of engineering-related events. The competition gives students practical experience, allows them to network with peers, and - in the case of concrete canoe and steel bridge - gives them a chance to qualify for a national championship berth.

Concrete Canoe - Race, aesthetic and technical elements provide hands-on experience in project management and concrete-mix design. Top three advance to national championship.

Steel Bridge - Teams build a functional 1/10th scale model of a steel bridge and are judged on speed of assembly, weight, display and the ability to withstand a more than 2,500-pound load. Top three advance to national championship.

Water Purification Challenge - Sample of contaminated water must be purified using only "everyday" products purchased from common retail stores.