FAQs

The purpose of The Student Challenge is to celebrate the diverse nature of holistic design. The Student Challenge has no fixed judging criteria beyond demonstration of excellence in addressing one or more of its aspects.

The judging panel will include both practising engineers and members of academia. It may include members from allied or creative professions.

A "build nothing" solution would be welcomed as a submission, provided that a significant part of the group project included the development of a "build something" solution with a significant component of structural engineering, including optimisation and carbon accounting to advise the final “build nothing“ solution.

Solutions which are appraisals of structures, retrofit, build less etc are welcomed, so long as they contain a significant component of structural engineering.

Projects which have a solution that is predominantly non-structural, eg flood management schemes, waste management schemes, masterplanning, transport schemes etc. are unlikely to have sufficient structural content to be eligible unless the projects involve a significant element of structural engineering eg bridge design, waste processing facility structural design etc.
To demonstrate a structural heart either the project poster, its alternative or the judged submission must include consideration of:

• Vertical and lateral load paths, including foundations

• Global and local stability

• Structural materiality

Research projects are not eligible for submission. Projects must be design-based.  

Individual projects are not eligible for submission.

If the group project meets the eligibility requirements, you are welcome to enter the award as the only person from your group.