STUDENT COMPETITION
Join the 2nd Canadian National Rock Mechanics Student Design Challenge!
Exciting news! CARMA is delighted to unveil the second Canadian National Rock Mechanics Student Competition, coming this winter 2026!
Our primary goal is to build a stronger and more vibrant rock mechanics and rock engineering community in Canada by providing a unique platform for undergraduate and graduate students to test their knowledge, use their problem-solving skills, and showcase their potential and ingenuity in the field.
About the Competition
CARMA’s student design challenge will provide students with a real-world rock engineering case study. Participants, working in a team, will have one month to address and solve the problem.
Each participant team shall be comprised of up to 4 students who are registered in a Canadian University. This competition is intended for participation from students enrolled in programs related to rock mechanics and rock engineering, such as geological engineering, civil engineering, and mining engineering. A participant team must include at least one undergraduate student and may include up to two graduate students.
Register your team via the form at the bottom of this page by February 6, 2026, at 12pm ET.
The teams with the best reports will be invited to present their solution to a panel of expert judges, compete for monetary rewards, and gain recognition from industry experts.
1st Prize: $1,500
2nd Prize: $1,000
3rd Prize: $500
The 2026 Design Challenge
You work at a deep, seismically active, hard-rock mine in northern Ontario. The mine is planning a large extension of a maintenance shop located at a depth greater than 1 km.
As part of the geotechnical engineering group, your mandate is to design and recommend construction sequencing, ground support, and risk-mitigation measures. Register your team for the competition by February 6, 2026, to receive the full project details on February 9, 2026.
Important Dates (Winter 2026)
| Date | Task |
|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Deadline to register your team by 12pm ET via the form on this webpage |
| February 9, 2026 | Challenge kick-off at 4pm ET on ZOOM |
| February 9 to March 8, 2026 | Time to work on your report! |
| February 25, 2026 | Mid-competition Q&A and help session at 4pm ET on ZOOM |
| March 8, 2026 | Reports due! Submit via email to carmastudentcompetition[at]gmail.com |
| March 9 to March 18, 2026 | Expert judges evaluate reports |
| March 18, 2026 | Notification of results and invitation of top teams to prepare a presentation |
| March 25, 2026 | Presentation slides due by 12pm ET |
| March 26, 2026 | Final Presentations and Award Ceremony at 4pm ET on ZOOM |
Get Involved and Become a Volunteer
To make this event possible, CARMA is seeking passionate volunteers like you to be a part of our dedicated team. We have exciting volunteer roles available:
Competition Judge (5-10 positions):
As a competition judge, you will play a vital role in evaluating participants’ projects, offering valuable feedback, and helping us recognize the most outstanding contributions. We are looking for judges to review reports and promote the best ones to the final round of presentations.
Expected time commitment: 20 hours (flexible) in March 2026
Let Us Know If You're Interested in Participating in or Judging this Competition!
Questions?
Email questions to carmastudentcompetition[at]gmail.com.