Knovel Supports Student Engineering Competitions

Students Gain Problem-Solving Skills Using Knovel to Find Answers to Technical Questions

Knovel, the provider of a web-based application integrating technical information with analytical and search tools, announced its continued support of the engineering community with the launch of the fourth annual Knovel University Challenge, and team sponsorship of the Dept. of Energy’s Solar Decathlon. These programs foster competition and provide students with enhanced training, hands-on learning experiences and problem-solving skills.

“Our Nation’s economic viability, the overall quality and competence of our engineering workforce and their ability to innovate are interconnected,” says Chris Forbes, president and CEO of Knovel. “It’s important to ensure the next generation of engineers has the knowledge and experience required to succeed in a global economy. Knovel supports engineering competitions and other programs that develop problem-solving skills and encourage the use of tools and resources that young engineers will need throughout their careers.”

Launched on Sept. 14, the Knovel University Challenge requires students to use Knovel’s online technical references and interactive tools to correctly answer at least three questions across multiple engineering disciplines in order to be entered into a random drawing for prizes. Participation introduces students to the resources and tools that professionals use to complete technical projects. Knovel’s University Challenge is a great way to increase awareness of academic library resources, and it effectively demonstrates how Knovel’s trusted technical resources and interactive tools directly apply to coursework.

Knovel’s customers include more than 300 universities worldwide, including 12 of the top 15 engineering schools in the U.S. Last year more than 5,000 students worldwide participated in Knovel’s University Challenge. To enter, interested engineering students should visit www.knoveluniversitychallenge.com.

“Participation in Knovel’s University Challenge is now a requirement in our freshmen engineering program, because it helps us to expose high quality resources to students and demonstrate proper usage,” says Patricia Kirkwood, engineering and mathematics librarian, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. “Use of resources is directly related to early exposure. With Knovel, students can find results to technical questions they can trust and cite.”

Knovel is also a team sponsor of the Dept. of Energy’s 2011 Solar Decathlon, a high-intensity competition among 20 university teams tasked to design, build and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient and attractive. Over the span of two years, the Decathlon teams will design and build their sustainable houses leading up to the competition to be held in the fall of 2011 at the National Mall in Washington, DC. For more information on this competition, please visit www.SolarDecathlon.gov.