page_title: International Environmental Design Contest
section_title: Description
hierarchical_section_title: International Environmental Design Contest / Description
caption_attribution_description: English: A student presentation at the International Environmental Design Contest
context_page_description: The International Environmental Design Contest is a competition hosted by the WERC Consortium and the Institute for Energy & the Environment at New Mexico State University. It is an annual event in which student teams prepare written, oral, poster, and bench-scale model presentations in response to design tasks. The student solutions are judged by industry and academic professionals.
context_section_description: The International Environmental Design Contest (IEDC) has been held annually at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico since 1991. The Design Contest occurs in April and draws college students from around the United States and the world to showcase engineering design solutions. It is hosted by New Mexico State University's WERC Consortium and Institute for Energy & the Environment. In the past, the contest has also held concurrent high school design contests.
  In response to design tasks posed by the hosting organization, student teams prepare written, oral, poster, and bench-scale model presentations. The design tasks are "based on real-world environmental challenges, focusing on technologies to tackle renewable energy innovation, sustainable building design, and water issues." The design challenges usually relate to water and renewable energy. The challenges are developed with assistance from government agencies, industrial affiliates, and academic partners. These assisting entities also serve as judges for the final competition. Judging criteria includes: process feasibility and practicality, cost analysis, community relations and outreach, adherence to various applicable regulations and permitting, safety considerations,
  and a discussion of potential waste streams.
  Students consider alternative solutions to a given “environmental challenge” from all aspects including technical, legal, health, socioeconomic and community related issues. Other considerations include regulatory guidelines, public opinion, and cost. Winning solutions merit cash prizes and traveling trophies. For more information about awards and tasks, please see the Awards & Tasks sections below.
  The Contest is hosted by the Institute for Energy & the Environment at New Mexico State University. The Institute for Energy & the Environment includes WERC: a Consortium for Environmental Education and Technology Development, Southwest Technology Development Institute, a renewable energy research and development group, and Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring and Research Center, a nuclear waste-management and monitoring center.
  The contest is a sponsored event. In 2007, it was sponsored by private and public entities such as Intel, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the American Water Works Association and Research Foundation. In 2011, the State of New Mexico, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Intel Corporation, the Office of Naval Research, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration acted as sponsors for the event.
caption: An oral presentation at the International Environmental Design Contest
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