UA News

In addition to green projects, students will display their efforts to improve the performance of vehicles ranging from tiny surveillance aircraft to automobiles.

Engineering College seniors from The University of Arizona will display the results of their yearlong design projects on Thursday during Engineering Design Day.

During this annual event, the students will compete for more than $6,000 in prize money and display some gee-whiz technology from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Student Union Memorial Center's Grand Ballroom.

A number of this year’s projects focus on green technologies, including:

• An algae photo-bioreactor for producing bio-kerosene.
• A bio-diesel plant design.
• An efficiency test of solar panels.
• A low-cost solar concentrator for a renewable energy system.

Other projects focus on a device to maintain optimal air pressure in bike or car tires, a method for extending the life of car batteries, an indoor solar-heated cook stove and an Engineers Without Borders water project.

Design Day 2008 will include nearly 60 projects that will be judged by more than 60 practicing engineers.

Many Design Day projects are corporate sponsored and some may eventually be commercialized. Others will provide important experimental data for company sponsors or will become integral parts of ongoing engineering research efforts at the UA.

Design Day winners in eight categories will be announced beginning at 4 p.m.