Apr 27 2009
The Dynamic Designs Challenge will invite teams of students around the world to take part in a unique competition to design a building for an earthquake zone.
Two leading earthquake engineers at the University of Bristol, Drs Wendy Daniell and Adam Crewe, in partnership with Education UK and the British Council have developed the competition. The Dynamic Designs Challenge will set an engineering-experience where students propose a design for an earthquake resistant building in an area where earthquakes are common.
The Dynamic Design Challenge is one of a number of marketing campaigns that have been developed in support of the Prime Minister's Initiative for International Education (PMI2), a five-year strategy to support the UK in the international education market.
The competition will require participants to demonstrate many of the core attributes and skills required by employers and universities including teamwork, creative thinking, communication and the ability to solve complex challenges. The students will also apply skills in and knowledge of science and engineering, art and architecture, project management, finance and socio-economics.
The challenge will consist of two parts. Firstly, the design proposal will be submitted online and will be judged by the University's earthquake experts. The experts will select a shortlist of 12 teams to compete in the second round, the finals.
The second round will consist of a presentation to a panel of expert judges, the model of the building will be tested on a specially designed 'shaking table' to see how it stands up to a simulated earthquake. The finals will be held in countries around the world starting with the first challenge in Korea.
There will be prizes for the winning team and institution together with 'Best design proposal presentation' and 'Best performing model on the 'shaking table''. All students who take part in the challenge will be awarded a certificate from Education UK and the British Council
Dr Wendy Daniell, Visiting Fellow in the Department of Civil Engineering, said: "With disasters from landslides, floods and earthquakes frequently in the news, the challenge will show the students the work that engineers can do to protect people from the Earth's natural hazards and that a degree and career in engineering is interesting and valuable.
"By doing research for the challenge, building their designs, and seeing their model buildings tested, the students will be able to link the knowledge and skills they have learnt to real challenges worldwide."