Students to engineer a better future

Almost 900 students from The University of Queensland will take part in the Engineers Without Borders Australia Challenge.

The competition requires first-year engineers to create design solutions for the Uluru Children's Home in Tamil Nadu, India, as they look at issues including water supply and quality, sanitation and infrastructure development.

EWB director of Education, Training and Research, Lizzie Webb said the challenge was designed to get young engineers thinking about the ways in which their work can help those less fortunate.

"Engineers have the skills to make a positive difference to the lives of many people and it is really important that the next generation of engineers has an understanding of the cultural, social and environmental issues associated with engineering projects, as well as the technical knowledge," Webb said.

Up to 1000 teams from Australia and New Zealand are involved in 2007 challenge, which has been integrated into first semester studies of the participating universities.

Judged by a panel of experts, the winning team will take part in a study tour that includes a visit to the Uluru Children's Home, which cares for destitute and abandoned children in a remote region of India. A total of $6000 will be awarded to teams placing first, second and third in the competition, with the winners announced in December.

Engineers Without Borders Australia was founded in 2003 to help disadvantaged communities around the world through education and sustainable engineering initiatives.