Clearing the Skies: The Race to Decarbonize Aviation

Do you want to solve critical problems in the fight against climate change? Do you want to participate in an international and interdisciplinary team? Take part in the E4C student challenge. This year we are tackling aviation sector.

chevron_leftMore
Previous
Morechevron_right
Next

The challenge in a nutshell 

With over 4 billion passengers per year (pre-COVID estimates), the aviation sector contributes around 4% to climate change, mainly through direct CO2 emissions (approximately 1 billion tons of CO2 per year). Projections for the aviation sector indicate a continued growth in the number of passengers, with a doubling expected within the next 20 years.

The goals of the Paris Agreement, which aim to keep the global average temperature increase well below 2°C, and preferably below 1.5°C, require significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors, including aviation.

Your challenge is to meet this difficulty head on and find a solution to reduce the aviation sector’s carbon emissions by 75% by 2045 (excluding external carbon capture).

Four main aspects should be considered:

  • Methods to influence the demand of air travel
  • The use of alternative energy supplies
  • The improvement of current technology or the innovation of new technology
  • The feasibility of the presented solution

 

Prices and incentives


Winning prizes includes: 

 
  • 1st place: 3000€ per group
  • 2nd place: 2000€ per group
  • 3rd place: 1000€ per group
 

+ The winning team will also have the opportunity to present their project at the EuroTeQaThon.

+ For students coming from Ecole Polytechnique: Credits valid to certificate "développement durable"

Eligibility 

 

This Challenge is open and offered solely to: 

  • Student. Any individual aged eighteen (18) years and/or with full legal capacity, who is currently enrolled as an undergraduate or master student.
  • Groups of 3-4 are expected combining different disciplines. 
  • You can now register and create your team or join an existing team! 
 
Take a look at the timeline.

During the project you will be challenged to:

 

Apply specific technical skills and knowledge from your academic background in an operational project.

 

Articulate your skills and knowledge in a multidisciplinary context to develop cross-cutting solutions to a chosen question.

 

Use a scientific and technical approach to propose solutions that are economically viable as well as socially responsible.

Participate