The competition, which began in the 1960s, challenges student engineers to construct vessels made of concrete that can withstand a variety of races and tests. Over the years, the event has grown to include student chapters from all over the world.
The judges review the students’ work on how their creation favors both in and out of the water. Categories for judging include mix design, mold construction, safety parameters, project management, budgeting, presentation and racing.
Once in the water, students take turns racing their canoes against the other competing teams. The 5 races are: women’s slalom (2 women), men’s slalom (2 men), women’s sprint (2 women), men’s sprint (2 men), and co-ed sprint (2 men and 2 women). The top two winners of the combined events advance to the national competition.
The Concrete Canoe Competition is just one of the events open to students in the ASCE.
The UTC chapter of the national society prides itself in connecting students to the local Chattanooga engineering professionals. In the past, the organization has attended tours of the Chickamauga Dam lock project, Moccasin Bend Wastewater Plant and Racoon Mountain.
Off-campus, students also interact with the Chattanooga professional chapter of the ASCE in social events such as bowling nights at Southside Social and meet and greets at The Terminal Brewhouse.
According to the mission statement of the UTC ASME, the student chapter wishes “To provide opportunities for expanding practical knowledge, getting hands-on experience, and navigating real-world projects.”
The coming competition for 2020 is June 13-15, 2020 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Madison, WI.
For more information about the upcoming competition – CLICK HERE
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