UK Civil Engineering Hosts Regional Conference

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 21, 2010) – Some people would question if a canoe made of concrete can actually float, let alone race across a lake. However, that is exactly what engineering students from across the region will be doing in Lexington later this week as part of the 2010 Ohio Valley Student Conference of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). The conference is being hosted by the University of Kentucky this Friday and Saturday, April 23 and 24.

This year 12 schools are registered to attend, with a total of  270 student participants. The schools are: University of Akron, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical & Community College, Cleveland State University, Geneva College, The Ohio State University, Ohio University, University of Pittsburgh, University of Louisville, Western Kentucky University, Youngstown State University, and the host school, UK.

The concrete canoes, built by students, are scheduled to race on the lake at Jacobson Park in Lexington on Friday. The public is welcome to come out to watch and cheer the participants.

On Saturday, the concourse within UK's Memorial Coliseum is the site for the steel bridge building competition. In addition, an environmental competition and an AutoCAD (computer aided design) competition will be conducted Saturday at the UK College of Engineering complex on campus.

"The main thrust of the Ohio Valley Student Conference is to give students the opportunity to demonstrate how their classroom education is applied in the field, and to connect with other civil engineering peers in the region," said George Blandford, professor and chair of UK's Department of Civil Engineering.

Conference organizer Rachel Gordon, a senior mechanical engineering major from Owensboro, cited the opportunity for students to interact with industry professionals throughout the conference. "These professionals will be acting as judges, mentors, and volunteers during the conference," said Gordon.