Acara Challenge

A unique partnership between the Institute on the Environment and the Acara Institute, the Acara Challenge encourages cross-disciplinary groups of students to address complex global needs through on-the-ground projects. The current challenge is focused on water issues in the slums of Mumbai. Participating students come from a variety of backgrounds, including civil engineering, public health, business and design.

This partnership will also launch the University of Minnesota Acara Summer Institute, a two-month, on-campus incubator for the winners of the Acara Challenge. With support from the IonE, the incubator will transition the winning Acara Challenge project from the classroom to a business startup.

The University of Minnesota course for the Acara Challenge is CE 5180: Engineering Design for Sustainable Development. Admission to the course is by application, due Dec. 1, 2009. See application info.