Gold on the CASE-IN: how Omsk students turned rice waste into innovation

While many consider rice husks to be just waste, young engineers from Omsk have turned them into a valuable resource. SibADI students have developed a technology for producing biochar and sorbents, which has attracted the interest of one of the leading petrochemical companies. We tell you exactly how Omsk conquered the experts and where their development can be applied.

The XIV season of the International Engineering CASE-IN Championship has become more than successful for SibADI students and mentors. Omsk residents returned home with a victory: the BRAIN MAX university team won the gold of the championship in the nomination "Project Engineering". This track is aimed at students who are able to think systematically and lead a project from developing an idea and creating drawings to assessing economic efficiency, as well as environmental risks.

The Omsk team consists of three 4th year students: Alina Kushnir, Vladislav Kartavtsev and Galina Baklanova. Their mentors in the development of this project were Associate Professor of the Department of Project Management and Information Modeling in Construction, team leader Victoria Schneider, consultant on economic calculation of the project, Associate Professor Natalia Chepeleva, as well as Director of the Institute of Automotive, Industrial and Civil Engineering Elena Andreeva.

In an interview with Omsk Here, team captain Alina Kushnir told what the essence of their product is, what it is needed for, where it can be used, why rice husks are used as a basis, and whether engineers in Omsk have a future.

About the project at the championship

- We have presented a comprehensive engineering solution for deep processing of rice husks into high-grade products from biochar (solid material obtained as a result of thermochemical transformation of biomass - ed.) up to 3D-printed sorbents and high-purity sio₂ (silicon dioxide) for SIBUR catalysts. The project is not limited to a laboratory prototype: we have a technological map, an economic model and a specific implementation plan with subsequent integration into the company's chain," said Alina Kushnir.

SibADI Omsk team was highly appreciated by the experts of the championship for its systematic approach and product readiness for implementation. According to the interlocutor, their project is technically sound, has innovative potential and practical significance. This decision by Omsk young engineers and designers shows high economic feasibility, financial stability and will be competitive in the long term. At the same time, there are quite enough resources for its implementation, and possible risks have not only been analyzed, but also minimized. It should be noted that the CASE-IN championship is focused on the real problems of the industry.

- It is important not just to propose a technical solution, but to show how it will be implemented: through deadlines, resources, risks, interaction of project participants and a managed economy. A strong idea without a design build may lose out to a more systematic solution. You need to be able to sell your solution and be ready to answer any question," stressed Alina Kushnir. - Our project was developed just for use in real life. SIBUR came to the championship with a specific task - to solve the problem of inefficient use of rice husks. And our solution can already be applied to the production of chemical products.

About the championship, the team and the history of Omsk participation

The XIV season of the engineering championship was attended by 760 young people from 14 countries. There were 78 teams from Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Brazil, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Ethiopia and South Africa. They were offered engineering cases for solving production problems in the field of architecture, design, energy, construction and housing and communal services. It is held with the support of the Presidential Platform "Russia – the land of opportunities".

CASE-IN gives participants not only the opportunity to complete a full cycle of engineering design, but also understandable, real career bonuses.

- This is not just a competition, but a whole ecosystem for the search, development and employment of young engineers. The main thing that the championship gave us was the experience of turning technology into project logic: deadlines, resources, risks, economics. And the status of the winner now works for us as a career elevator - getting into the talent pool of partner companies. In addition, the winners receive additional benefits for admission to the master's program - from a few extra points to admission out of competition," said Alina Kushnir.

This is the fourth time the team has participated in this championship. For the first time, they were motivated by an interest in trying something new, and then they reached the semifinals. Then the excitement overwhelmed them, and they wanted to reach new heights. For the second time, they qualified for the finals and took fifth place. In the third year of their participation, they became silver medalists and promised themselves to return for gold.

- Every time we said that we were participating for the last time, because solving a case takes a lot of time and effort, and with each championship it was more and more difficult to find them. But every year we took part anyway, because we knew that we could do more, and we wanted to prove it," Alina Kushnir added.

A little bit about personal and engineers

Alina believes that engineers in Omsk currently have very good career prospects. She is sure that enterprises need not just people with crusts, but qualified engineers, people who know both theory and practice. At the same time, you can gain work experience and establish yourself to future employers as early as your student years. Omsk maintains close cooperation between educational institutions and various enterprises, targeted training and continuous professional development are possible. Alina Kushnir herself would like to develop a career in bridge engineering and try her hand at science.

- I did not dream at all and did not even think that I could become a builder, but after I failed at applying to the desired direction, I began to study where else I could go. Since I studied at the lyceum at SibADI, I decided to continue my education there, choosing the most difficult specialty. The phrase fits here: "There would be no happiness, but misfortune would help." I have never regretted my choice and I am glad to get an education at this university," Alina Kushnir summed up.

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