A group of Iowa State University engineering students are in Madison, Wisconsin to compete in the national concrete canoe competition. John Dostart of Creston is one of the co-chairs of the ISU effort. He says they’ll be competing against 24 teams from North America.He says in addition to the races, they have to give an oral presentation and a paper on how they constructed the canoe. While the canoes are made of cement, they include a mixture of lightweight aggregates that allow it to float. Dostart says the design phase is the toughest part, and took more time than the actual racing practice. He says 70 percent of the judging is based on the academics too, with 30 percent on the racing.Dostart says around 11 engineering students from ISU are involved in the project. He says they’re excited to make it to the national competition.He says the competition is being held in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the American Society of Civil Engineers. ISU’s canoe is just over 19 feet long and weighs 155 pounds. The competition continues through the weekend, with the awards ceremony on Monday.
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