The Water Environment Federation (WEF) announced the winners of the 2016 Student Design Competition. Students from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and Southern Methodist University placed in the 15th annual competition, which took place at WEFTEC 2016, WEF's 89th annual technical exhibition and conference.
The University of Minnesota – Twin Cities team’s project, “A New Tool for the Retrieval of Harmful Algae Concentrations using Multi-Satellite Observations,” won in the environmental design category. Southern Methodist University’s team project, "City of Fort Worth Village Creek Water Reclamation Facility Primary Treatment Upgrades,” won in the wastewater design category. This was the first win for the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities (Central States Water Environment Assn.) and the third win for Southern Methodist University (Water Environment Assn. of Texas).
As a program of WEF’s Students & Young Professionals Committee, the competition promotes real-world design experience for students interested in pursuing an education and/or career in water/wastewater engineering and sciences. It tasks individuals or teams of students within a WEF student chapter to prepare a design to help solve a local water quality issue. Teams evaluate alternatives, perform calculations, and recommend the most practical solution based on experience, economics and feasibility.
Members of the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities included Maria Garcia-Serrana, Zeinab Takbiri, Abby Tomasek, Anne Wilkinson and faculty adviser Michele Guala. Members of the Southern Methodist University team included Elizabeth Boddicker, Katie Stowers, Rachel Turner, faculty adviser Dr. Patricia Taylor and team sponsor Julie Ellis. Both teams received certificates and their respective member associations received a $2,500 award.
Click here to learn more about the WEF Student Design Competition.
Source: Water Environment Federation
