The Secretary's RAISE Award for 2018

This challenge is externally hosted.

You can view the challenge details here: http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ang/offices/management/coe/opps/

Description

This fifth annual competition is designed to recognize students with the ability to demonstrate unique, innovative thinking in aerospace science and engineering. There are two divisions within the competition:

1. A high school division
2. A university division (both undergraduate and graduate together)

The Department of Transportation (DOT) intends to use this competition to incentivize students at high schools and universities to think creatively in developing innovative solutions to aviation and aerospace issues, and to share those innovations with the broader community. Submission Requirements: While not required, students are strongly encouraged to send brief expressions of interest to the FAA prior to submission. The expressions of interest should be sent by June 1, 2018 to Patricia.Watts@faa.gov. See rules for additional information. Complete submission packages shall consist of the following elements:

1. Nomination letter from at least one teacher, advisor, faculty member, and others as appropriate. The nomination letter(s) must communicate accomplishments in the following areas: a.) Technical merit of the concept: Evidence of technical merit based upon teacher (parent or legal guardian in the case of home schooled applicants), advisor, or faculty nomination and evaluation of the submitted proposal, conducted research, written paper, results, and/or reports. b.) Professionalism and leadership: Evidence of professionalism and leadership may be in the form of, but not limited to: -- Membership and offices held in various groups -presentations made to various groups, meetings, and at symposia -- Leadership in student professional activities -- Community outreach activities
2. An overall summary of the innovation, not to exceed one page, which includes a title of the project, a one paragraph synopsis, and a statement of the potential impact that the innovation will have on the field of aviation or aerospace;
3. A copy of the student’s academic transcript or certified grade report (as applicable);
4. A copy of the paper(s) and related materials describing the innovative concept written by the student(s) being nominated (no page limit).

The FAA may request additional information, including supporting documentation, more detailed contact information, releases of liability, and statements of authenticity to guarantee the originality of the work. Failure to respond in a timely manner may result in disqualification. Electronic packages may be transmitted by email to Patricia.Watts@FAA.gov. Hard copies should be forwarded with a cover letter to the attention of:       Patricia Watts, Ph.D., Program Director       Centers of Excellence Program Office, L-28       FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center       Atlantic City International Airport, NJ 08405   The submission period begins on April 20, 2018. Submissions must be sent by 11:59 pm Pacific daylight time on July 9, 2018. The timeliness of submissions will be determined by the postmark (if sent in hard copy) or time stamp of the recipient (if emailed). Competition administrators assume no responsibility for lost or untimely submissions for any reason.

Rules

This challenge is run pursuant to a recommendation by the Future of Aviation Advisory Committee, the Secretary of Transportation, through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Eligibility: To be eligible to participate in the Secretary’s RAISE Award competition, students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. For the high school division, the students must have been enrolled in at least one semester (or quarterly equivalent) at a U.S. high school (or equivalent approved home school program) in 2018. For the University division, the student must have been enrolled in a U.S.-based college or university for at least one semester (or quarterly equivalent) during 2017. Students may participate and be recognized as individuals or in teams. Each member of a team must meet the eligibility criteria. An individual may join more than one team. There is no charge to enter the competition.       The following additional rules apply:

1. Candidates shall submit a project in the competition under the rules promulgated by the Department of Transportation (DOT);
2. Candidates shall agree to execute indemnifications and waivers of claims against the Federal government as provided in this Notice;
3. Candidates may not be a Federal entity or Federal employee acting within the scope of employment;
4. Candidates may not be an employee of the DOT, including but not limited to the FAA;
5. Candidates shall not be deemed ineligible because an individual used Federal facilities or consulted with Federal employees during a competition, if the facilities and employees are made available to all individuals participating in the competition on an equitable basis;
6. The competition is subject to all applicable Federal laws and regulations. Participation constitutes the Candidates’ full and unconditional agreement to these rules and to the Secretary’s decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to this competition;
7. Submissions which in the Secretary’s sole discretion are determined to be substantially similar to a prior submitted entry may be disqualified;
8. Submissions must be original, must be the work of the Candidates, and must not violate the rights of other parties. All submissions remain the property of the applicants. Each Candidate represents and warrants that s/he, or the team, is the sole author and owner of the submission, that the submission is wholly original, that it does not infringe any copyright or any other rights of any third party of which the Candidate is aware, and, if submitted in electronic form, is free of malware;
9. By submitting an entry, contestants and entrants agree to assume any and all risks and waive any claims against the Federal Government and its related entities (except in the case of willful misconduct) for any injury, death, damage, or loss of property, revenue or profits, whether direct, indirect, or consequential, arising from their participation in this contest, whether the injury, death, damage, or loss arises through negligence of otherwise;
10. The Secretary and the Secretary’s designees have the right to request access to supporting materials from the Candidates;
11. The submissions cannot have been submitted in the same or substantially similar form in any previous Federally-sponsored promotion or Federally-sponsored contest, of any kind;
12. Each Candidate grants to the FAA, the DOT, as well as other Federal agencies with which it partners, the right to use names, likeness, application materials, photographs, voices, opinions, and/or hometown and state for the Department’s promotional purposes in any media, in perpetuity, worldwide, without further payment or consideration; and
13. The FAA Administrator collects personal information from Candidates when they enter this competition. The information collected is subject to the Challenge Post privacy policy located at http://www.challengepost.com/privacy.

    Expression of Interest: While not required, students are strongly encouraged to send brief expressions of interest to the FAA prior to submitting entries. The expressions of interest should be sent by May 30, 2018 to Patricia.Watts@faa.gov. It should include the following elements: 1) name of candidates; 2) name of educational institutions with which candidates are affiliated; 3) telephone and email addresses for each candidate; and 4) a synopsis of the concept, limited to no more than two pages, providing a high-level overview of the proposed project and related research.  

How To Enter

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: Complete submission packages shall consist of the following elements:

1. Nomination letter from at least one teacher, advisor, faculty member, and others as appropriate. The nomination letter(s) must communicate accomplishments in the following areas:
2. Technical Merit of the Concept

Evidence of technical merit based upon teacher (parent or legal guardian in the case of home schooled applicants), advisor, or faculty nomination and evaluation of the submitted proposal, conducted research,   written paper, results, and/or reports.  

• Professionalism and Leadership

  Evidence of professionalism and leadership may be in the form of, but not limited to:

1. Membership and offices held in various groups
2. Presentations made to various groups, meetings, and at symposia
3. Leadership in student professional activities
4. Community outreach activities

An overall summary of the innovation, not to exceed one page, which includes a title of the project, a one paragraph synopsis, and a statement of the potential innovative impact the concept will have on the field of aviation or aerospace;

1. A copy of the student’s academic transcript or certified grade report (as applicable);
2. A copy of the paper(s) and related materials describing the innovative concept written by the student(s) being nominated (no page limit).

The FAA may request additional information, including supporting documentation, more detailed contact information, releases of liability, and statements of authenticity to guarantee the originality of the work. Failure to respond in a timely manner may result in disqualification. Electronic packages may be transmitted by email to Patricia.Watts@FAA.gov. Hard copies should be forwarded with a cover letter to the attention of:       Patricia Watts, Ph.D., Program Director       Centers of Excellence Program Office, L-28       FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center       Atlantic City International Airport, NJ 08405