First Annual University Student Design and Applied Solutions Competition Seeks New Ways to Tackle Critical Corrosion Problems
International and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) today will host five science and engineering teams competing in the first annual University Student Design and Applied Solutions Competition (USDASC). Each team of university students has spent two semesters developing their own unique system aimed at addressing corrosion, which the DoD has identified as one of its most challenging problems.
Teams participating in the two-day event are from: University of Akron, Alfred University, the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Military Academy, and Texas A&M University. Each team will present its system design, then test it on a customized metallic structure specially made with corrosion located in various hard-to-access areas, which the teams are tasked to find. The competition is being held at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Hall B2 (Third Floor), and will be open to the public on Tuesday, April 19 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
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The competition stems from a partnership between the DoD and NACE International, which seeks to solve ongoing corrosion problems faced by the DoD such as material degradation which can hinder the readiness and effectiveness of essential defense systems, weaponry, and facilities. Going forward, NACE International will expand the competition to other sectors, with competition challenges to include civilian and industrial structures.
“We hope that students who participate in this competition see how their solutions to this challenge translate directly to solving real-world problems,” said Dan Dunmire, Director of the DoD’s Corrosion Policy Oversight (CPO) Office. “The DoD is one of many sectors that will benefit from new and unique perspectives brought by university teams.”
“In the years to come, we expect this competition to be transformative for all industries affected by corrosion,” said Bob Chalker, CEO of NACE International. “No one has approached solutions to corrosion control in this way before and we are already seeing inspiring new ideas from the students in this year’s competition.”
About NACE International
Founded in 1943, NACE International, The Corrosion Society, serves 36,000 members in 130 countries. Based in Houston, Texas, with offices in the U.S., China, Malaysia, India, Brazil and Saudi Arabia, and a training center in Dubai, the organization serves all industries impacted by corrosion and provides the most specified technical training and certification programs, conferences, industry standards, reports, and publications focused on corrosion prevention and mitigation.
About U.S. Department of Defense Office of Corrosion Policy and Oversight
The Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Corrosion Policy and Oversight is responsible for conducting the DoD’s Corrosion Prevention and Mitigation Program. DoD estimates that the corrosion of military equipment costs the Army, Navy, and Air Force more than $22.0 billion per year.
The DoD Corrosion Office develops corrosion prevention and control strategies for the military and oversees their implementation. Its major functions include developing and recommending policy guidance on corrosion prevention and mitigation (CPC); coordinating CPC activities among the armed services; administering a science and technology program to advance the state of the art in corrosion prevention and mitigation; ensuring that CPC is fully considered throughout the life cycle of military assets; providing guidance for improving corrosion maintenance and training; and serving as a resource for information on CPC methods and products.
DoD acquires, operates, and maintains a vast array of physical assets – including military weapons systems and infrastructure. Combating corrosion effectively yields several major benefits to national defense. These benefits include: Increasing Readiness, Enhancing Safety, Reducing the Logistics Footprint, and Reducing Costs.
Visit www.CorrDefense.org for more information.
Contacts at the DoD Office of Corrosion Policy and Oversight:
Daniel J. Dunmire, Director (703) 697-3919
Rich Hays, Deputy Director (703) 697-3952
