In praise of plastic pipe (and winning $10k)

JM Eagle, the world's largest processor of plastic pipe, is eager to help a student finance his education. The company will award $10,000 to the student who submits the most compelling paper about the advantages of plastic pipe in a modern infrastructure. The contest is open to junior- and senior-year as well as graduate students of civil engineering and related majors. Deadline for submissions is February 17, 2012,

"At JM Eagle, we believe in creating safe and sustainable foundations in which citizens of the future will prosper and thrive," said President and CEO Walter Wang. "That means not only building infrastructures that deliver reliable and clean water, but also supporting the education of our youth so they can help make the world a better place."

The $10,000 scholarship contest requires students to submit a 2500-5000-word argument describing plastic pipe's beneficial role over other materials in building and replacing municipalities' waterworks systems. Entries will be judged on vision, understanding of issues, originality and emphasis on material solutions.

With most of the world's potable water systems leaking anywhere from 10% - 50% of the water they carry, finding material for the submission should not be difficult. Plastic pipe is easier to install, lasts longer, responds better to earthquakes and other challenges, and has everything going for it except the inertia of decades of civil engineers choosing steel, concrete and other non-plastic materials.

Entrants must also complete an online form along with their paper submissions. The form, complete rules and regulations, and more information can be found at www.jmeagle.com/scholarship.

The winner will be announced March 21, 2012.