N.C. State University wins 2018 NCEES Engineering Education Award

Biomedical engineering department takes $25,000 grand prize for pediatric brain surgery project

NCEES is pleased to announce that North Carolina State University is the grand prize winner of the 2018 NCEES Engineering Education Award. The university received the award for a project completed by the UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering. The award jury met June 5, 2018, in Clemson, South Carolina, to select the $25,000 grand prize winner.

For the department’s project, Enabling Pediatric Brain Surgery through Head Stabilization, biomedical engineering students collaborated with clinicians and engineering professionals to design a device that allows for complete skull immobilization for pediatric patients during neurosurgery. This innovation allows for the use of neuronavigation technology, opening new possibilities for treatment in pediatric neurosurgery.

The jury praised the project for identifying a problem in need of a solution and for collaborating with biomedical engineering professionals and medical professionals.

The jury selected seven additional winners to receive awards of $10,000 each:

• Miami University
  Department of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering
  Design and Implementation of a Community-Driven Water System in a Rural African Village
• Seattle University
  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  Load Rating and Repair Options for Bridge Connecting Dam and Intake Structure
• Seattle University
  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  Replacement Design of a Culvert to Allow for Fish Passage
• University of Minnesota Twin Cities
  Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering
  Multistage Drip Irrigation System in Ethiopia
• University of Nebraska–Lincoln
  Charles W. Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction
  Children’s Hospital and Medical Center Expansion
• University of Wisconsin–Madison
  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  Interlake Lock and Boat Transfer
• University of Wisconsin–Madison
  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  Law Park Revitalization

The NCEES Engineering Education Award recognizes engineering programs that encourage collaboration between students and professional engineers. EAC/ABET-accredited programs from all engineering disciplines were invited to submit projects that integrated professional practice and education.
A jury of NCEES members and representatives from academic institutions and professional engineering organizations selected the winners from the 97 entries. The jury members considered criteria such as

• Successful collaboration of faculty, students, and licensed professional engineers
• Protection of public health, safety, and/or welfare of the public
• Multidiscipline and/or allied profession participation
• Knowledge or skills gained
• Effectiveness of display board, abstract, and project description

Profiles of the winning submissions are available online at ncees.org/award.
Download the news release (PDF).