Autodesk and the Student Union of ČVUT announce the winners of the "Technology and Nature" competition on the occasion of the CADfest project

Michaela Solnická, student of CTU and winner in the Autodesk Revit Architecture category, on the right Petra Veselá, marketing manager, Autodesk

Autodesk, a world leader in design software, in collaboration with the Student Union of CTU announces the winners of the competition “Technology and Nature”. The results of the competition, aimed at high school students and first two years of university students, were announced on the occasion of the student graphic conference CADfest, which took place on April 16 and 17, 2009, at Masaryk College CTU in Prague.

The winners of the competition for designs reflecting the connection of technology and nature in the individual competition categories were:

• Autodesk 3ds Max – Miloslav Mikulčík, CTU Prague,
• AutoCAD – Robert Turinský, VOŠ and SPŠ Strakonice,
• Autodesk Inventor – Antonín Bořil, SPŠS Olomouc,
• Autodesk Revit Architecture – Michaela Solnická, CTU Prague.

Main prize in the Autodesk Revit Architecture category, Michaela Solnická (CTU)

The CADfest project aims to support school education, ensure objective verification of students' knowledge in the field of CAD software, and support active involvement in educational and scientific research programs. The CADfest project consists of several events that culminated in a two-day conference of an educational character indirectly linking to the program Autodesk Academy Silicon Hill. In addition to the ceremonial announcement of winners and the awarding of prizes, the conference featured thematic blocks, lectures, competitions, and demonstrations of individual programs and specific works. The first day included thematic blocks focusing on Autodesk 3ds Max, Autodesk Maya, and Autodesk Inventor products, while the second day featured thematic blocks on AutoCAD and Autodesk Revit products. On Thursday, April 16, a social evening was held with the participation of presenting teachers and experts on the individual graphic programs, instructors from Autodesk Academy Silicon Hill, as well as representatives from CTU and Autodesk. The two-day conference was free for the general public.

“We greatly welcome and support the enthusiasm of young people who are interested in working with design tools, as demonstrated by the CADfest project,” said David Palas, Country Sales Manager at Autodesk. “It is gratifying that this interest is increasingly extending to high schools, which further enhances the competitiveness of Czech students and future workers in an economy based on original ideas and designs using modern methods of digital modeling, such as BIM or digital prototyping. Autodesk has long supported and will continue to support the search and development of creative talents in Czech education through a variety of initiatives, including CADfest.”

Award-winning work in the AutoCAD category, Robert Turinský (VOŠ and SPŠ Strakonice)

“Currently, knowledge is one of the most important values, not only for students who want to establish themselves in the job market and in the professional technical sphere. The CADfest project aims to help students further develop their skills in software project design and computer literacy,” says Karel Landa, administrator of Autodesk Academy Silicon Hill and organizer of the CADfest project. “By this means, we have shown inexperienced and novice students the advantages of the programs and their application in professional life through lectures, consultations, and expert demonstrations. For students who already had experience in CAD systems, we provided the opportunity for consultations with experts, including the exchange of knowledge and experiences with the programs with their colleagues. Students who participated in the design competition also had the opportunity to prove their knowledge and skills in applying the software to real projects.”

More information about the conference at: www.cadfest.cz.

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About the Student Union of CTU “Silicon Hill Club”
Silicon Hill is one of the clubs under the Student Union of CTU, which takes care of the active use of students' free time and supports the possibilities of their further education. For this purpose, the club operates a variety of interest activities, organizes various educational and recreational events, and manages one of the largest student computer networks in Central Europe. The club is located in the Strahov dormitories and, except for a few exceptions, its members are students accommodated here. More information can be found at http://autodesk.siliconhill.cz/ and http://www.sh.cvut.cz.

About Autodesk
Autodesk is a global leader in 2D and 3D design software for manufacturing, construction, media, and entertainment. Since the launch of AutoCAD in 1982, Autodesk has developed the widest portfolio of leading digital prototyping solutions that help customers practically explore their ideas before implementation. Fortune 1000 companies use Autodesk tools to visualize, simulate, and analyze the real functionality of their designs even in the early stages of development, helping them save time and money, improve quality, and support innovation. For more information about Autodesk, visit www.autodesk.cz or www.autodesk.com.