Trinity team sets sights on International Engineering and Commerce competition

Posted on: 10 November 2017

Four students from Trinity will represent Ireland at the International Engineering and Commerce Competition in Montreal next year after their team won the ESB Inter-Colleges Challenge.

The Trinity team brought together students Robert Trew (Electronic and Computer Engineering), Jason Flynn (Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering), Aisling Dooley (Business, Economics & Social Studies) and Forrest Winters (Engineering with Management).

Forrest Winters said: “The event, which lasted for two days, proved to be really intense, integrating engineering and business creativity and innovation to achieve a solution proposal to a question that Ireland is currently facing. Hopefully, we’ll do Trinity proud in this prestigious international event, which we’ll be training intensively for over these next few months.” 

For the challenge, each team had to act as a consulting team, engaged by ESB, to recommend current or emerging eHeat and eTransport technologies applicable to the energy market. Each team had to undertake research, design, financial analysis and marketing activities to convince ESB to go ahead with their recommendations.

Pictured from left to right, are: Robert Trew, Jason Flynn, ESB Chief Executive, Pat O'Doherty, Forrest Winters, and Aisling Dooley.

The teams were allocated a mere eight hours to research and design a solution to the task, after which they pitched their idea to an expert panel of judges.

Thirty-six students from nine colleges around the country participated in the competition, which took place in the Irish Management Institute (IMI) in early November.

Presenting the winning prizes, ESB Chief Executive, Pat O’Doherty, commented: “The quality of analysis undertaken by all of the teams over the past two days demonstrates their ability to think critically and creatively about the challenges facing the energy sector in the transition to a low carbon future.” 

“The team from Trinity College Dublin beat off very stiff competition and are worthy winners to represent Ireland in the international competition in Montreal in 2018. I wish them every success.”

Hosted by ESB for the last four years, the competition is open to third level colleges, with all teams comprising three engineering and one commerce student. ESB sponsors the winning team to represent Ireland in the international competition in Montreal in 2018, as well as providing work placements with the organisation.

Media Contact:

Thomas Deane, Media Relations Officer | deaneth@tcd.ie | +353 1 896 4685