Geo-Challenge is the Geo-Institute’s annual student competition program. Undergraduate and graduate students are invited to demonstrate their geotechnical engineering knowledge, creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills through five competitions: Geo-Wall, Geo-Prediction, Geo-Poster, Geo-Video, and Geo-Shirt.
Geo-Challenge at ASCE2027
Tuesday, March 2, 2027
10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
In 2027, Geo-Challenge will be held as part of Geo-Congress 2027 at ASCE2027, ASCE’s premier infrastructure event taking place March 1–5 in Philadelphia.
Review the competitions below and download the rules for eligibility requirements, submission instructions, deadlines, and competition details.
Important: Each Geo-Challenge competition has its own submission deadline. Review the rules for each competition carefully to confirm its deadline, eligibility requirements, and submission instructions.
Geo-Wall
Design and build a model mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) retaining wall using paper reinforcement and a posterboard wall facing. Teams compete to support the required soil and design loads using the least amount of reinforcement.
Submission Deadline:
January 8, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. ET
Download the 2027 Geo-Wall Rules
Competition Contacts: Ritika Talwar and Dr. Erik Jensen
ritika.talwar@ascenyc.org; jensen.erik.w@gmail.com
Geo-Prediction
Use subsurface, boundary conditions, and loading information to predict the behavior of a geotechnical system. For 2027, teams will estimate the vertical movements of a spillway structure after construction.
Submission Deadline:
January 8, 2027, at 6:00 p.m. ET
Download the 2027 Geo-Prediction Rules
Competition Director: Dr. Matthew Sleep
Contact: sleepmw@uc.edu
Geo-Poster
Present original research or design work in geotechnical or geo-environmental engineering. Entries may feature student research, senior design projects, classroom projects, or other original work.
Submission Deadline:
December 7, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET
Download the 2027 Geo-Poster Rules
Competition Director: Dr. Nancy Ingabire Abayo
Contact: ingabirn@lafayette.edu
Geo-Video
Create a short, engaging video that explains a geotechnical engineering concept. For 2027, videos will focus on artificial intelligence and machine learning in geotechnical engineering or on tools, technologies, and techniques used in geotechnical applications.
Submission Deadline:
December 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET
Download the 2027 Geo-Video Rules
Competition Director: Dr. Mohammad Yamin
Contact: mohammad.yamin@mnsu.edu
Geo-Shirt
Create an original T-shirt design that represents geotechnical engineering and the spirit of Geo-Challenge. The selected design will be featured on the official shirt for Geo-Challenge participants at ASCE2027.
Submission Deadline:
January 8, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. ET
Download the 2027 Geo-Shirt Rules
Competition Director: Dr. Erik Jensen
Contact: jensen.erik.w@gmail.com
Questions?
Questions about a specific competition should be sent directly to the competition director listed above.
Additional information about registration, the competition schedule, and student participation will be added to this page as it becomes available.