Engineering ACE Award: Achievement in Communicating Ethics

You could win up to $1000!
The Engineering ACE Award competition will happen Sept. 18, 2026 at 4:30 p.m.
Sign up for the competition

Great engineers don’t just solve problems; they explain the problem, the solution, or the process with various audiences and needs in mind, placing their work in context. They navigate hard tradeoffs, make the case for responsible choices, and communicate complexity with clarity and integrity. The Engineering ACE Award celebrates exactly that skill set.

This competition challenges Cornell Duffield Engineering undergraduates to think critically about the ethical dimensions of their field and to put those ideas into words that matter. It’s a chance to sharpen your voice, test your reasoning under pressure, and stand out as someone who can bridge the gap between technical expertise and ethical clarity. Strong communication that can bridge contexts and needs is a skill every future engineer needs, whether you’re designing infrastructure, building AI systems, or leading teams.

With $1,000 on the line for First Prize and $300 for Honorable Mention, this is a chance to be recognized for the kind of thinking that shapes responsible engineering.

Whether you’re driven by the challenge, the prize, or the chance to explore ideas that don’t always get airtime, the Engineering ACE Award is your opportunity to show that great engineering starts with great thinking and strong communication.

The ACE Award is proudly brought to you through a partnership between the Cornell Duffield Engineering Communications Program, the Cornell Bovay Program in the History and Ethics of Professional Engineering, IEEE Ethics Week, the IEEE Professional Communication Society (IEEE ProComm), and the IEEE Ithaca, NY Section.

  • Cornell Duffield Engineering Engineering Communications Program
  • IEEE Pro Comm Professional Communication Society
  • IEEE Ethics Week
  • IEEE Ithaca, NY Section
  • Cornell Duffield Engineering Bovay Program in the History and Ethics of Professional Engineering

  1. Description

    This is a writing competition, where participants will be asked to do a short reading in advance and then write from a given prompt.

    Participants will have up to two hours to complete their writing submission during the Sept. 18 event.

  2. Process Overview

    1. The first 50 undergraduates to sign up will be invited to compete.
    2. Once accepted, participants will be provided with more details, including the room, the advance reading, and the rubric by which judges will review the work.
    3. Winners will be announced at the end of September.

  3. Date, Time, Place for Accepted Participants

    Sept. 18, 2026, 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
    Phillips Hall 203

  4. Award Amounts

    • $1000 First Prize
    • $300 Honorable Mention

  5. Participation Requirements

    • Sign up for the competition, which is open to all enrolled Cornell Duffield Engineering undergraduates. The first 50 competitors will be accepted. To be considered, sign up before Sept. 16, 2026.
    • The first 50 competitors will be “enrolled” in a Canvas course.
      • Competitors should read the foundational text provided in that Canvas course before the competition.
      • Competitors will write an essay in the controlled Canvas environment with access to a grammar checker
    • Bring your own laptop to the competition.