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Miami University Interdisciplinary Technology Development Challenge (MUITDC)

Academic Year 2009-10 Challenge Topic "Clean and Alternative Energy Systems"
Miami Students are invited take on the energy challenge Team Submission rolling deadline: Applications will be accepted starting 9/15 and continue thru Oct 15, 2009. Team Entry Form 2009-2010			MUITDC 09-10 Read the Program Description
Congratulations to our 2008-09 MUITDC Challenge Winners announced at the Undergraduate Research Forum Luncheon by President Hodge. 1st Place: Miami Green Diesel (MGD): Biodiesel Production in Non-temperate Climates 2nd Place: Recovering Energy While Cutting Costs: Sustainable Energy Conversion of Bio-Waste Honorable Mention: Recovered Energy Systems: Efficient Energy from Exercise Equipment			WYSO Dayton Public Radio MUITDC 08-09 Interview
MUITDC 08- 09 Advisors Susan Barnum, Botany Douglas W. Coffin, Paper and Chemical Engineering Rachael M. Morgan-Kiss, Microbiology Samantha J. Perkins, Art Martin Henry Stevens, Botany MUITDC 08-09 Steering Committee Dr. Marvin Thrash (PCE), Chair Dr. Luis Actis (MBI) Mr. Todd Dockum (Miami Heritage Technology Park) Mr. Lynn Johnson (Instrumentation Lab) Mr. Robert Setlock (MME) Dr. Andrew Sommers (MME) Ex officio members: Dr. James Oris Associate Dean Ms. Martha Weber Undergraduate Research Coordinator			Special thanks to the Miami faculty and staff who dedicated many hours advisors or committe members during the two semesters these teams considered the consequencs of a solution to this challenge and then designed a working prototype.
MUITDC Teams 2008-2009
1st Place Miami Green Diesel (MGD): Biodiesel Production in Non-temperate Climates		Team Leader: Patrick C. Feasel, Microbiology Major Nicholas Ketchum, Microbiology Major Eduardo T. Rivera, Mechanical Engineering Major Shawn Dorsey, Finance Major Kevin McLaughlin, Public Administration Major Elizabeth R. Chmela, Graphic Design Major Advisor(s): Rachael M. Morgan-Kiss Department of Microbiology Samantha J. Perkins Department of Art
2nd Place: Recovering Energy While Cutting Costs: Sustainable Energy Conversion of Bio-Waste		Team Leader: Jillian M. Hertzberg, Botany Major Stephanie R. Mater, Strategic Communication Major Jared J. Sheehan, Accountancy Major April M. Maurer, Chemical Engineering Major Sihong Zhao, Mechanical Engineering Major Jennifer O. Dickerson, Architecture Major Advisor(s): Martin Henry Stevens Department of Botany Susan Barnum Department of Botany
Honorable Mention: Recovered Energy Systems: Efficient Energy from Exercise Equipment		Team Leader: Mitchell T. Happeney, Mechanical Engr. Major Conor J. Leamy, Finance Major Nick M. Rudy, Zoology Major Michael D. Maley, Finance Major Ryan A. Wolfarth, Physics Major Advisor(s): Douglas W. Coffin Department of Paper and Chemical Engineering
Tied Winning Teams from 2007-2008
Bio-hydrogen Production in a Photobioreactor MUITDC 07			Synthesis of Ethanol from Switch Grass MUITDC 07

MUITDC 2009-10 Guidelines
09 September 2009 – SUPERCEDES PREVIOUS OR UN-DATED VERSIONS

Rolling Submission Deadline: Applications will be accepted starting 9/15 and continue thru Oct 15, 2009.

To submit enter team member names and faculty mentor name(s) in the MUITDC Contest Entry Form and send the form as an e-mail attachment to the OARS Undergraduate Research Coordinator Martha Weber (weberme@muohio.edu) by 5 pm. on September 15, 2009.

Objectives This contest fosters interdisciplinary research by providing an opportunity for teams of undergraduate students to develop and demonstrate a technology at the laboratory scale, to provide fiscal projections that indicate financial viability, and to identify policy issues that incorporate esthetic and societal concerns.

Academic Year 09-10 Topic Given the Ohio Governor's interest in energy and particular alternative energy, the topic for academic year 09-10 is “Clean and Alternative Energy Systems".

Background In the broadest sense, “Clean and Alternative Energy” refers to the use any source of energy intended to replace or improve the efficiency of traditional fuel sources without the undesired consequences of those fuels. This year’s Challenge addresses technology development needs related to the recently approved State Energy Policy (Ohio S.B. 221) which establishes alternative energy benchmarks for electric distribution utilities and electric services companies, requiring the generation of no less than 12.5% of Ohio’s energy needs with alternative energy technologies by the year 2024. Examples of clean and alternative energy systems include electric vehicles, solar and wind power, fuel cells, bio-fuels, and off peak storage systems or distributed generation facilities using renewable resources. Technologies that lead to higher efficiency of energy use and reduce carbon emissions (e.g., building design, HVAC improvements) will also be considered.

Guidelines
A contest team must: • Have at least five and no more than eight student members, and
• Include at least one student that majors in each of these fields: engineering, science, business, design, and a department that studies societal acceptance/concerns of new technology, and
• Have at least one faculty mentor who will be responsible for oversight of the project. Individual departments or programs may wish to consider providing independent study credit for this project.

SUBMISSION PROCESS - PHASE I FALL SEMESTER

Rolling deadline: Applications will be accepted starting 9/15 and continue thru Oct 15, 2009.
Submit the MUITDC Contest Entry Form that identifies the team members and faculty mentor(s) as an e-mail attachment to Martha Weber (weberme@muohio.edu in the Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship (OARS).  Additional resources and guidelines will be provided to each team after entry.

Technical Presentation - Week of November 16, 2009
Each team will create and present to a judging panel a project overview, including:

1. An explanation of the technology
2. A timetable for building the lab prototype
3. A business analysis process
4. A method for identifying societal concerns
5. A plan for designing the system in an environmentally and esthetically acceptable way

The MUITDC Steering Committee will select Phase II Teams to conduct research during the remainder of the Academic Year.

PRODUCTION PROCESS - PHASE II (Fall and Spring Semester)
Resources and Project Budget
Each team’s faculty mentor will receive a $3,000 grant to support the cost of the prototyping project. Phase II Teams may add student members and additional faculty mentors as needed. These changes should be reported to OARS (Martha Weber weberme@muohio.edu). Students and faculty mentors must address any research compliance issues identified by OARS or the Steering Committee.

Invention Disclosure/ Intellectual Property
Disclosure of inventions and intellectual property must be made during the competition process, using a Miami University Invention Disclosure form. Inventions and intellectual property developed during the competition will be owned by Miami University; all participants will be required to sign an agreement to this effect. Participants will not be entitled to any compensation or royalties for the intellectual property developed for this competition beyond the receipt of any potential award money.

Prototype Production Deadline
Phase II teams have the remainder of fall and majority of spring semester to build a laboratory scale, working prototype. Teams must submit a technical report and a business report by March 31, 2010. The technical report must include: design, technical specifications, production data, scale up costs and issues, and environmental concerns. The business report must include: traditional business plan data including societal issues involved in the technology. Teams must present oral reports and demonstrate their prototypes to the Steering Committee during the week of April 5, 2010. Teams will demonstrate the prototype and/or prepare a poster presentation of their technology at the Undergraduate Research Forum on April 14, 2010. The winning teams will be announced during the Undergraduate Research Forum luncheon on that same day.

Awards
The winning team will share a $5,000 cash prize. Awards to 2nd and 3rd place teams will be determined based on merit. All team members will receive a participation certificate. Faculty mentors will receive recognition and their home departments will receive a plaque indicating their participation in the Challenge.

Contact the Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship at 529-3600
 or
visit the OARS website for further details
 http://www.muohio.edu/oars/