The competition was developed by the AATCC Materials Interest Group. Submissions are invited from both graduate and undergraduate students. The aim of the competition is the promotion of innovative product development from an engineering design perspective.

The theme of this year’s competition is “Design of Engineered Fibrous Structures,” and the contest has been divided into three areas:

• Medical/Biomedical Fibrous Structures
• Smart/Electronic Fibrous Structures
• Protective Fibrous Structures

Entries will be evaluated on concept originality, use of engineering design elements, technical feasibility of the concept using best available technologies, quality and clarity of supporting documentation, technical rationale for the assembly materials list, efficacy of proposed commercial process sequence, and viability of economic cost analysis.

Entries must be submitted in the form of a proposal on CD and must be received by December 1, 2005. Ten finalists in each category will be asked to submit electronic and physical poster boards for final judging. Winning entries will be awarded $1,000 for First Place and $500 for Second Place, in each area. Winners will be announced at the Materials Interest Group meeting, held in conjunction with AATCC national committee meetings, in May 2006. Winners will receive complimentary student registration for the 2006 International Conference & Exhibition, co-located with MEGATEX, in Atlanta, Ga., in the fall of 2006.

For complete competition guidelines and entry forms, go to the links below. If you have questions, contact Suzanne Holmes; telephone +1 919 549 3537.

Engineering Design Competition Guidelines

Engineering Design Competition Entry Form

AATCC Student Membership Application Form