The Ultimate Field Trip is aimed at science and engineering undergraduate and graduate students and challenges participants to solve a real-world energy issue. Competing against teams from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California at Berkley, and University of Illinois, Team South will attend the U.S. finals competition in Houston on April 25. Winners will take a two-week field trip to the company's North Sea oil and gas exploration and production hubs in Norway and the Shetland Islands north of Scotland.

Read more of this story in the AtlanTech blog via the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

The Ultimate Field Trip is an international competition BP runs each year. It’s aimed at science and engineering undergraduates and Masters students. It will challenge you to solve a real-world problem — one that could help us meet the world’s growing demand for energy safely and responsibly. Students enter in teams of three to answer a challenge posed by BP to win a unique two-week field trip in one of our overseas sites. For you, it’s an opportunity to learn more about the challenges we face — and experience first-hand the scope and scale of what we do.

The problem

Energy demand is growing. By 2030 the world will require 50% more energy than we use today. At the same time the cost of Passenger Kilometres Travelled (PKT) will increase. As the world’s population continues to grow and becomes wealthier, travel is likely to increase, adding further costs to PKT.

The 2013 challenge

Develop a single technical innovation, which has previously not been demonstrated, to significantly reduce the cost of PKT per capita in your country by 2030. Your innovation can focus on one mode of passenger transportation from road, rail, water or air, or you can use a combination of each. The solution you develop must be technology-focused, practical and innovative.