Surrounded by water, South Floridians know the problems that come with climate change, sea-level rise and extreme weather events. Heavy downpours bring flooding, hurricanes force a surge of water onshore and both cause polluted stormwater to run into precious coastal waters.
A team of FIU engineering and architecture students is tackling the issues with innovative solutions and, in the process, receiving accolades. The group won first place in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2021 Campus RainWorks Challenge, Demonstration Category.
Each year, dozens of teams from across the nation bring their best project proposals to improve the environment and the health of communities to the competition. It’s the second first-place finish by FIU in the last four years. They have also had two second-place wins in those four years.
“We have amazing, creative students at FIU,” said lead faculty advisor Arturo S. Leon, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering (hydraulic engineering) in the College of Engineering & Computing. “I believe this award recognizes the top-notch, nationally competitive inventiveness and skills of our FIU students.”
Read more at FIU News