A panel of judges consisting of experts in green chemistry and green engineering from Michigan institutions of higher education, Michigan businesses, trade associations, and government agencies will review and select winners to receive awards for the competition.  The DEQ will compensate winners of the competition with up to $2000 for design projects that meet the following four categories:

1. Theoretical Research: This category is for students that have researched a topic that is proven by theorems and engineering principles, but has not been tested to be determined a proven fact or accepted practice. 
2. Innovative Design:  This category recognizes research using applications that are new to industry, but have been proven at some design or real life application. 
3. Practical Design:  This category will recognize projects that utilize current best practices to solve a problem.  Here, the student will apply common pollution prevent methodology to address problems in a unique manner.
4. Simple Design:  This category will recognize projects that use simple approaches to recognize big gains in sustainability.