ChemE Cube at The University of Michigan is a new engineering and business focused project team that collaborates to create a 1 cubic foot chemical plant. Through collaborative hands-on meetings, the team works to design a cube that solves an environmental issue such as water filtration or carbon capture. Each member contributes to the project and gains experience in both business pitches and the research and design process.
In the winter semester, the team works to research the prompt for the given year's national competition which culminates in a 20 minute presentation to a panel of judges who select around 14 teams to proceed to nationals. In the fall semester the team works to build the chemical plant cube as well as creating and ad and pitch for it. Through this competition, the team represents the University of Michigan College of Engineering while showcasing an innovate idea. The variety of components in each competition cycle gives each member experience with numerous practical skills. Through the research process, members learn how to research broad ideas, find specific solutions, and collaborate with others to narrow down these ideas. While building the cube, problem solving skills are required to find solutions to any issues that arise while turning a theoretical design into an practical object. The business focus of the team is truly what sets it apart from other engineering project teams. Members, who are primarily College of Engineering students, gain experience in business concepts as they relate to an engineering design. Members also get business experience in both creating an ad that grabs the attention of potential mock investors and a pitch that explains all aspects of the cube, and particularly how it is both profitable and useful.
