Jun 25 2007
This year marked the 20th annual offering of the American Society of Civil Engineers' National Concrete Canoe Competition and the fifth year that the University of Wisconsin - Madison has continued to dominate the event in their concrete canoe aptly named - Descendant.
Hosted by the University of Washington, civil engineering students from the top 22 teams from some of the nation's best engineering schools converged in Seattle, WA to find out if their countless calculations and strenuous hours of practice have defied logic and made the impossible a reality: a canoe made of concrete that can not only float, but also race!
Each year, the American Society of Civil Engineers' (ASCE) National Concrete Canoe Competition gives students the opportunity to learn teamwork, challenge themselves mentally and physically, and apply the engineering knowledge they gained in the classroom to a fun, "real world" project. More than 250 teams work throughout the year to qualify for the national competition and, in the process, gain hands-on experience working with concrete mix designs, and learn the properties of various materials that can be added to concrete to influence performance.
"We are very proud to continue our sponsorship in the Concrete Canoe Competition and for the opportunity to invest in our industry's future." said Robert G. Revera, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of ICS/Penetron International Ltd. "This event allows our students the opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of the materials and practices of our industry and perhaps even come up with some ideas of their own. It also gives them an opportunity to challenge themselves to find new solutions and to work together creatively as a team as they will have to once they embark on their professional careers."
This year's winners have been invited to participate in the 30th Annual Dutch Concrete Canoe Challenge in the Netherlands in September. Good Luck Badgers!