Canadian Engineering Competition

CEC 2016
When:	March XX, 2016
Chair:	XXXXX XXXXXXX
Website:	mcgilleus.ca

Each year, the Canadian Engineering Competition (CEC) brings together 150 of the most innovative and creative engineering undergraduate students from across the nation to compete against each other in one of six categories, ranging from design, consulting, presentation and debate. Each competition category at CEC challenges its participants to expand their frame of reference and to identify solutions to problems experienced by our profession.

Eligibility

Established in 1985, CEC is a highly selective competition that is organized by universities that are a part of Canadian Federation of Engineering Students. Those invited must first best their peers at their own intra-university competition, and then must achieve a top performance at their respective regional competition (Atlantic Region, Quebec, Ontario, and Western Region).
In order to get involved in the CEC, McGill students must first best the local McGill Engineering Competition, followed by the provincial Quebec Engineering Competition, at which point they're qualified to enter the CEC!

MEC QEC CEC

Competitions

Senior Design

Teams of four students are given a complex design problem. Teams are typically given eight hours immediately after the problem is revealed and are required to design and realize a prototype, as well as prepare a presentation on their solution. The teams will then put their prototypes to the test by demonstrating them in action in a public setting in front of a panel of judges. Typically, this competition is reserved for those in the later years of their degree.

Junior Design

Teams of four students are given a design challenge. This challenge is at a lower difficulty level than its counterpart, senior design. In less than eight hours after the challenge has been revealed, teams must have a design and prototype completed as well as a presentation prepared. The teams will then put their prototypes to the test by demonstrating them in action in a public setting in front of a panel of judges. Typically, this competition is reserved for those in the earlier years of their degree.

Innovative Design

Teams of up to four students present their innovative design or product idea to a panel of judges. These designs are to be prepared before the competition and can involve any discipline of engineering. Judges will base their evaluations of the designs on technical value, functionality, and marketability. Additionally, the designs will be displayed in an exposition area open to all competition attendees.

Consulting

Teams of four students compete against each other to design and offer the best solution to a large-scale engineering problem. Social, economic, environmental and political aspects of the solution have to be considered in presentations to the judges, who represent potential clients. Although the solution comprises the major portion of the team’s score, the report and presentation collectively are important.

Re-Engineering

Teams of two students are given a relevant design that is required to be reengineered under a new set of constraints. After these details are revealed, teams will have eight hours to fabricate a design and presentation. Teams are required to take into account all relevant aspects of the engineering process such as material availability, finances, and so on. A panel of judges will assess their design based on practicality, originality, feasibility, and marketability.

Engineering Communications

Participants, either alone or in teams of two, will have to explain a complicated technical concept or issue in a way that is comprehensible to the general public. The presentations have to discuss social, economic, environmental, and political impacts. They will be judged on content and primarily presentation style.

Debates

Teams of two go head-to-head in a parliamentary style debate competition. Although some rules of parliamentary procedure have been relaxed, the challenge lies in presenting well-constructed and articulated arguments with minimal preparation time.

Previous&Upcoming Competitions

CEC 2016:Montreal

The Canadian Engineering Competition was hosted by McGill in March, 2016. Information on that competition in particular can be found here.

CEC 2017:U Calgary

The University of Calgary has been elected by CFES to host the 2017 CEC.