Concrete Solutions Competition Questions
Questions regarding the rules must be submitted via email to students@concrete.org. Questions will be filtered to the volunteer judging team with responses issued within 1 week of submittal. Responses will also be posted to the FAQ section on the competition website for availability to all competitors. ACI staff is not available off-hours and questions will be responded to as received.
Examples of Potential Submissions
- Show how to reduce cracking through unique approach in mixture design or testing led to a breakthrough in concrete knowledge or a superior product.
- Show how to reduce cracking through the use of new products/product, approach, or innovative use of existing technology.
- Develop a new student competition to investigate how to reduce concrete cracking.
- Explain your finding of the canceled student Bowling Ball competition results.
Q: We completed registration, is it necessary to complete other information before February 20th?
A: I can confirm your team has successfully completed registration. Nothing further is required before the February 20th deadline.
Friendly reminder to register for the ACI Convention if you haven’t already done so. Please register here or with ACI's Customer Service Department at +1.248.848.3800 Monday - Friday 8:00-5:00 P.M. ET.)
The following items are required by March 6, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
Letter of Verification
PowerPoint Slide
The Official Information Form
Remaining 2-7 team members
Indicate team plans to attend ACI Concrete Convention
Q: In our team, the English language is a bit difficult for us and we want to rely on another person who is not in the team to make the video. Is it allowed?
A: Yes–that would be allowed.
Q: What is the maximum number slides for a PowerPoint presentation?
A: The competition doesn’t have a set maximum for slides. Although, for example, if your team does 1 slide per minute, 7 slides = 7-minute max. If your team chooses to use PowerPoint, I encourage you to use the template provided for uploading team member information.
Q: Can we explain our PowerPoint presentation in a YouTube video?
A: Please review the Concrete Solution Rules. The YouTube video can be in any format, including PowerPoint, short film, documentary, etc. Examples of potential submissions can be found in the Rules.
Q: I registered for the Concrete Solutions Competition. I just finished my final exams last month, so my Department denies that I am still an undergraduate because I just graduated. There are 5 other students who are still in. Our department can provide verification for 5 students who are all my juniors. So, is it necessary to provide verification for me and 2 of my fellow students, or should the 3 of us withdraw from competition, or is there any other option to verify for 3 of us?
A: Since you have graduated, you are no longer eligible for the competition.
Q: What should be included in the YouTube video? Should it be a video of the students presenting their PowerPoint presentation or a YouTube video explaining the innovative solution creatively? Is it necessary to create a YouTube video for the competition?
A: A YouTube video is required for the Concrete Solutions Competition. The YouTube video can be in any format including PowerPoint, short film, documentary, etc. Examples of potential submissions and video requirements can be found in the Rules.
Q: I have a question about a particular point of the Concrete Solutions Competition: “Team members must make sure proof of their student status is provided. A verification statement of each team members’ student status and the status of the advisor should be provided by a school official or faculty member on university/school letterhead. The letter must indicate that each member of the team (please list their names) is a current student at the school/university and must also confirm that the advisor is a faculty member at the university. All students and advisors from one school can be recorded in one letter.”
The person who sends this letter must be a different person to our advisor. Our advisor is our chapter main tutor. Can you help me with this information?
A: As long as your advisor is indeed a school official or faculty member, they can also provide the Letter of Verification.
Q: Letter of Verification should be addressed to?
A: Feel free to have them address the letter to me (Rachel Belcher).
Q: Does my advisor needs to attach a document to verify his teacher status? Or just my team?
A: The letter your advisor wrote would qualify for the Letter of Verification requirement.
Q: So, we don't need to attach documentation which certifies our status?
A: That is correct. The Letter of Verification from your university Advisor will serve as proof of your student status.
Q: Our tutor would like to send the Letter of Verification from the official e-mail of the university's student chapter. Is there a problem with that?
A: Uploading from that e-mail should be fine as long as the letter meets the requirements. (Reminder below.)
“A verification statement of each team members’ student status and the status of the advisor should be provided by a school official or faculty member on university/school letterhead. The letter must indicate that each member of the team (please list their names) is a current student at the school/university and must also confirm that the advisor is a faculty member at the university.”
Q: Is it necessary that for the support via Zoom, all participants have command of the English language? Can one be the translator? Or, will the judges have one?
A: At least one student participating in the Zoom call should speak English on behalf of the team. However, there is always a bilingual interpreter at the competition to offer additional assistance if needed.
Q: Can more than one team from different departments (like Civil, Water Resource, and Architecture) of same University participate? Or is it just a single team from a single college/university?
A: Only one team is allowed per school/university.
Q: Can our Faculty Advisor be part of the interview?
A: They can participate in the interview, but only the students may respond to the interview questions.
Q: Can our team log into the interview from 9 a.m., or only according to the schedule?
A: Please only log in at the time indicated on the team schedule for your interview.
Q: How many people will present and respond from the jury group?
A: Your entire team is welcome to participate in the team interview.
Q: What is the dress code?
A: No dress code, business casual/interview attire is encouraged.
Q: We only have 12 minutes of interview time?
A: That is correct.
Q: Can the advisor participate as a speaker on the day of interviews?
A: They can participate in the interview, but only the students may respond to the interview questions.
Q: What will be the theme of the interview? Should we present our project with slides? Will the judges ask us all the questions directly?
A: Interview (40%), top 20 teams in the Submission category
- 20% responses to questions and understanding of provided solution
- 10% clarity of responses and professional team demeanor
- 10% engagement of the whole team
The judges will ask you questions directly about your team submission.