ACI ESPOL Student Chapter wins 3rd place in international competition

Written by Mónica G. Santos
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 – 10:20

The ACI ESPOL Student Chapter has achieved third place internationally in the prestigious 2025 ACI Eco Concrete Student Competition, organized by the American Concrete Institute (ACI).

🧪 What was it about?

The challenge posed by the competition was to design a sustainable concrete mix that combines high durability with a low environmental impact, in accordance with strict ACI criteria. The ESPOL team stood out by focusing its proposal on reducing environmental impact through life cycle analysis (LCA), achieving an optimal balance between technical performance and sustainability.

To achieve this, they replaced 40% of the Portland cement with fly ash, an industrial by-product that not only reduces CO₂ emissions but also improves the durability and workability of the concrete. This solution represents a step toward more sustainable construction with a lower environmental footprint.

🔧 The process and its challenges

The biggest challenge was finding a mix design that simultaneously met the competition’s five evaluation criteria. To address this, the team organized itself into specialized subgroups, reviewed progress weekly, and adopted a collaborative, technically focused approach.

🎓 Learning and experience

At both a personal and professional level, the students highlight the strengthening of critical thinking, the ability to work under pressure, and improved team communication. This experience allowed them to adapt quickly, make effective decisions, and appreciate the diversity of ideas within the group.

Representing ESPOL and Ecuador was, for them, an opportunity to showcase the university’s academic and technical level on a global stage.

🚀 What’s next?

The team intends to continue developing their proposal as a thesis project, with the support of their professors. Their goal is to further refine the mix so that it can be practically applied in real-world industry contexts.

Their advisor, M.Sc. David Valverde

Professor Valverde, who recently assumed the advisory role, supported the team during the final stage of the process, contributing to the review of reports, presentations, and the resolution of questions. He especially highlights the group’s autonomy and proactivity:

“Despite the limited time, their level of organization, initiative, and commitment was truly admirable. They managed each stage with academic maturity and strong technical capability.”

For him, participating in these international competitions not only strengthens the institution’s prestige but also motivates the academic community to strive for excellence.

"Trust our students. They have immense potential, as this team has demonstrated. They are capable of innovating, solving problems, and representing ESPOL with excellence on any global stage."