Global ‘Fly Your Ideas’ Contest
UNESCO is supporting Airbus’ Fly Your Ideas challenge, a student contest which aims to inspire a new generation of engineers. An in depth report by UNESCO about future engineering capacity highlights an engineering skills gap that threatens industry and growth. Aviation is no exception. There are not enough aviation engineers currently graduating to meet industry needs and nearly half of them switch to other careers once they qualify.
Through its Fly Your Ideas competition, Airbus is offering students an insight into the world of aviation. It is one means to boost their interest in the industry. The global contest has just opened for its third season and challenges students worldwide to develop new ideas for a more sustainable aviation industry. It involves three rounds with five teams to be chosen as finalists in the summer of 2013, each with the opportunity to win a €30,000 prize. All teams are supported by an Airbus mentor during the development of their project, and new this season, an Airbus expert will offer advice at key stages of the competition.
"Engineers can change the world. With Fly Your Ideas we want to excite young people about aviation and the fascinating opportunities it holds", said Charles Champion, Executive Vice-President Engineering at Airbus and Fly Your Ideas Patron.
University students of any nationality or discipline – from engineering to marketing; business to science; information technology to design – are invited to participate. Proposals must address the key issues facing the industry: Energy, Efficiency, Affordable Growth, Traffic Growth, Passenger Experience, or Community Friendliness.
About Airbus Fly Your Ideas
The biennial contest involves three progressively challenging rounds. The winners will share the top prize of €30,000; the runners-up €15,000. Five teams will advance to the final in the summer of 2013. The winning team will be picked by a high-profile panel of judges, names to be announced later. To enter students must register as a team of three to five members at www.airbus-fyi.com.Â
Fly Your Ideas registration: 19 June 2012 – 30 November 2012
This is the third edition of the biennial Fly Your Ideas challenge. The previous contest (2011) drew entries from more than 2,600 students representing 287 universities and 75 countries. ‘Team Wings of Phoenix’ from China’s Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics won with their ground-based wind power generation system that exploits the wakes of aircraft during take-off and landing.
Â
For references:
http://www.airbus.com/presscentre/pressreleases/press-release-detail/detail/unesco-backs-airbus-initiative-to-engineer-tomorrows-world/Â
