The ASCE Ohio Valley Student Regional Conference Technical Paper Competition is adapted from the 2006 Daniel W. Mead contest for ASCE National student members.  Although the contests share the same topic, they are to be considered separate events.  Participants in the Regional Competition are encouraged to enter the National Competition by directly forwarding their papers to ASCE Student Services.  Please visit http://www.asce.org/inside/cym_mead.cfm for more information on the 2006 Daniel W. Mead Contest.

Topic:  “Risk Management and Engineering”

The following points can be used to stimulate, but in no way limit, the discussion:

1.      As a professional registered civil engineer, liability exists when professional ethics, practices, or procedures are compromised.  What ethical issues exist for the engineer when confronted with making decisions affecting liability?

2.      When working on foreign projects civil engineers are confronted with different engineering standards than in the United States.  What ethical issues exist when making decisions with respect to design, safety, and economics on foreign projects?

Rules: 

1.      Papers are not to exceed 2,000 words in length, must be written by only one person, and should not have appeared in any publications other than in school or chapter/club publications.  Reference citations of the paper should conform to the official ASCE Author’s Guide to Journals and Practice Periodicals, which can be found on the ASCE Publications website http://www.pubs.asce.org/authors/index.html.

2.      Authors must be undergraduate students, ASCE local Student Chapter/Club members, and ASCE national student members in good standing at the time of submission to be considered.

3.      Entries should include a cover letter from the Faculty Advisor of the Chapter/Club stating the name, ASCE ID number, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address of the paper’s author.  Three copies of the paper should be sent to: Pam Ecker, Information Technologies Department, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, 3520 Central Parkway, Cincinnati, OH  45223.  Entries must be received by March 31, 2006.

4.      Each author will be expected to make an eight minute oral presentation on his or her paper at the Regional Conference.  Up to five minutes of questioning by judges will be allotted following the presentation. 

5.      The paper itself will constitute 50% of the final score, and the oral presentation will constitute the remaining 50%.  Awards will be presented to the top three winners.

Questions should be directed to Carol Morman at 513-569-1770.