U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon | International University-Level Student Competition

The U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad are pleased to invite student teams from universities and colleges in Pakistan to participate in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon (https://www.solardecathlon.gov/), a recurring international university-level student competition focusing on sustainable energy-efficient architecture and engineering.

Initiated in 2002 by the Department of Energy, Solar Decathlon teams compete in the design, construction, and management of solar-powered, and resource-efficient buildings. We would be glad to welcome Pakistani university and collegiate teams at the next Design Challenge, an annual competition, and the Build Challenge, which is held biennially. Participation can be accomplished completely remotely, even the Build Challenge (teams build their structure at home). Winning teams travel to DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado.

Through Solar Decathlon competitions, students learn various aspects of sustainable and efficient design and construction and develop other skills that contribute to their professional development, including teamwork, fundraising, project management and communication. Teams are evaluated across 10 contests in each challenge and must perform well across all 10 to be victorious. Partnerships between universities are allowed if desired to build teams with all the necessary skills.

The Solar Decathlon offers a comprehensive online building science seminar series designed to enhance the participants’ academic curriculum, which is available to team members and professors at no cost to them.

The Solar Decathlon can provide positive, even life-changing, experiences for students and can help faculty members prepare students to meet future opportunities. The challenges undertaken in the competition are designed to help students launch their careers and have a substantial impact on our energy future by training the next generation of clean energy experts.

Holly Carr, the Department of Energy Solar Decathlon Program Director, and Daniel Blumenthal, the DOE Attaché at Embassy Islamabad, will lead a webinar about the program for interested faculty members and administrators from Pakistani universities and colleges. This will help introduce the opportunity so interested participants can prepare for the next academic year.

Please click the link below to join the webinar on March 9, 2023 at 4:00 PM:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83472765901?pwd=UkRQa3I0WUhyVUNWWUxMZm9OSFR2Zz09 
Passcode: DOE