The WERC Environmental Contest, which is co-sponsored by Las Cruces Utilities and the College of Engineering at New Mexico State University is now in its 32nd year, brings together industry, government and academia to seek out innovative solutions to urgent environmental challenges. More than 100 students from 14 universities across the country will visit Las Cruces April 10-13, to create bench-scale models of their designs. The event will conclude with $25,000 in cash prizes for the winners, which will be judged and praised by engineers, scientists,and industry professionals.
Lucio Garcia, Deputy Director, LCU Natural Gas and Energy Operations and Maintenance is one of the experts.
The Utility is co-sponsoring one of the six design tasks for this year. Task two, Carbon Conversion for the Energy Transition is about capturing and storing carbon from the environment. This task assumes that there is a way to capture carbon dioxide and make something out of it as part of the energy transformation. He said that all of us were excited to see the results of the presentations by the students.
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Other tasks include designing systems to clean spacesuits, reusing copper from smelter, monitoring virus removal in wastewater treatments, and reducing VOC emission from water recycled. All tasks are identified by engineers and scientists who evaluate students’ solutions in their labs. To bring their process to full scale production, students must also submit an economic feasibility analysis.
Qualified judges will be crucial to the contest as this is the first chance for students with a solution to a real-world problem. Ginger Scarbrough (Ph.D. in structural geoology) is contest program manager. The judges act as mentors and help students refine and perfect their processes. LCUs are appreciated because it shows their commitment to the environment, dedication to sustainability, as well as to encouraging the next generation of workers.
Scarbrough taught materials engineering at NMSU 15 years. Because of her experience in teaching, engineering, hard science, Scarbrough now collaborates with sponsors for each year’s tasks.
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Three auditors are also required for student teams to review their design proposals in order to ensure that they are financially, legally, and technically viable. Scarbrough stated that students are always faced with new challenges each year because of the variety of their tasks.
The public is invited for a three-minute flash talk competition sponsored by NMSUs Arrowhead Center, Monday April 11, at 6 p.m. at New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum. The community is invited to learn more about the teams and have a conversation about their designs. A separate panel will assess the project’s viability in business. Registration is not required for the event. https://bit.ly/36fkUqI.
Garcia states that they were thrilled to participate in this year’s contest, and are looking forward to brainstorming future tasks for these bright students who are motivated by doing good in the global community.
Visit this page for more information on the WERC Environmental Design Competition. https://wercdesigncontest.nmsu.edu/.
LCU Customer Central can reached at 575 541-2111 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Monday through Friday. LCU offers reliable, safe, and clean services to residents and businesses of Las Cruces. Learn more atlas-cruces.org/180/UtilitiesDispatch can be reached at 575-526-0500 for emergency calls.
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