Thirteen Cornell University students will head next week to the nation's capital to compete as semifinalists in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) First Annual P3 (People, Prosperity, Planet) Award.

The sustainability design competition, to be held on the National Mall May 16 and 17, will draw more than 400 university students from around the country to exhibit their designs.

The winning team must successfully describe how its project relates to the cornerstones of sustainability -- people, prosperity and the planet. The team must also prove the relevance, significance and demonstrated or potential impact of its designs on furthering the goal of sustainability.

The Cornell students will use computer simulations and a poster to explain their design, called City in a Box, says Norman Scott, professor of biological and environmental engineering (BEE).

Scott and Louis Albright at Cornell teach a course on sustainable energy systems (BEE 487). Last spring, their class submitted a proposal to the P3 competition, and it was one of 65 projects selected to receive funding to further develop the design. 

This spring, the class, with many of the same students enrolled in independent study, developed the more advanced design to present in Washington. 

"They designed a living and work environment for a community of 50,000 people, using entirely renewable energy and growing much of its own food," says Scott, who also is going to Washington. "The simulations will show how their design derives energy from renewable sources, such as geothermal, solar, wind and organic waste conversion to methane, and would get the energy into the community." 

The Cornell community design would reduce water demand by up to 66 percent, energy by up to 50 percent and carbon dioxide emissions by more than 93 percent. 

Although more than 30 students are on the team, those going to Washington are BEE graduate students Edwin Cheung, Jamison Hill, Jessica Kadlec and Timothy Vadas; Jeannette Compton, a graduate student in city and regional planning; James Smithmeyer, a senior in applied and engineering physics; Melissa Wrolstad, a junior, and Lauren Richards, Michelle Vigil and Robert Young, seniors, all in mechanical and aerospace engineering; Gabriel Lewis and Michelle Wright, juniors, and William Lambert, a senior, all majoring in BEE. 

If selected as one of the six finalists, the team will receive a $75,000 project grant to develop a charette, or model.

The P3 Award was launched in 2004 to respond to the technical needs of the developed and developing world in moving toward sustainability. The national competition enables college students to research, develop and design scientific, technical and policy solutions to sustainability.

Support for the competition includes more than 40 partners in the federal government, industry, and scientific and professional societies.