Students solve real-world problems that the world is facing now, including building a working prototype! They can win $4500+ for their team, meet prospective employers from EPA, DOE, USBR, Engineering firms, etc., build their resume with real engineering design experience. Students can network with experts from academia, government, industry, and their peers from other institutions.

The rigorous requirements develop an entrepreneurial mindset in the students and help engineering departments meet all 7 ABET student outcomes. The contest models an engineering Request for Proposals. Students serve as consulting engineers as they hone teamwork skills and solve challenging real-world problems. Engineering professionals judge the competition and serve as mentors through each contest stage: Technical Report, Oral Presentation, and Bench-scale Demonstration. Plus, there is a separate Flash Pitch Competition.

2026 Tasks (Choose one): 

1. After RO: Brine Management in the Desert
2. Power Plants: Recovering Water from Cooling Towers
3. Bio-inspired Critical Mineral Recovery in Mining Waters
4. NASA Survive the Night: Logistics Container Challenge
5. Enhanced Evaporation for Produced Water
6. Open-sourced Environmental Monitors
7. Open Task: Teams select their own challenge