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by Alan Zagoria -
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The AIChE Foundation funds an amazing project called the AIChE Chemical Engineering For Good (ACE4G) Challenge. The organizers behind it are the Global Societal Initiatives Committee with the support of the International Committee, the Student Chapters Committee, and the Sustainable Energy Forum. Below, we announce the first round of 2021’s winners. This annual challenge is open to all U.S. and international AIChE student chapters. Learn more about ACE4G.
How chemical engineering can be applied to solve world problems on a microscale
Participants submitted technical proposals for an underutilized technology, or toolkits that others might use to select between a set of possible technical solutions. Teams competed for cash prizes ($3,000, $2,000, and $1,000 for the top three teams).
- Six teams from around the world competed, including five international student chapters. Teams were provided a tutorial on economic, cultural, and technical sustainability concerns for international projects. The AIChE student chapters were also encouraged to collaborate with other organizations, such as Engineers Without Borders (EWB), that have experience in executing these types of projects, and many did.
- Proposals included a wide range of solutions, including the low-cost molds for prosthetic liners, sustainable power generation for rural communities, natural fungicide, hydrogen fuel, waste management, and sustainable cooling systems.
The winners
1st Place: Brigham Young University
Low-Cost Molds for Prosthetic Liners
Their winning proposal provides a procedure, molds, and training materials so that their design and work process can be duplicated anywhere in the world.
2nd Place: Obafemi Awolowo University
Utilizing Biogas Generation: A Sustainable Means for Power Generation in Rural Communities
Their proposal demonstrated how animal waste can be converted to useful energy.
3rd Place: Universidad de Ingeniería y Tecnología
Extraction of Carica papaya leaves to produce a natural fungicide
They demonstrated how papaya leaves (agricultural waste) can be converted to a natural fungicide for use in the Amazon, or elsewhere.
Congratulations on your efforts to apply chemical engineering to really make a difference!
Learn more about ACE4G
Submissions for another cycle of the ACE4G 2021 Challenge will be accepted later this year. Check this page for regular updates.
For more information email ace4g@aiche.org.