Environmental: Relating to the natural world (hydrology, climatology, ecology, geology, natural resource studies) and the impact of human activity on its condition. Projects in this category are encouraged to consider the themes "Reduce", "Reuse", and/or "Recycle" in the project design.

Sustainability: The ability to meet the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs.

Pollution: The presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance or thing that that has harmful or detrimental/poisonous effects.

Computer/IT: The use of hardware, software, services, and supporting infrastructure to manage and deliver information using voice, data, and video.

Modeling/Simulation: The use of a device to imitate or represent reality, such as computer models of weather/environments/human physiology to test a new device or model. Technology involves the development, maintenance, and use of computer systems, software and networks for the processing and distribution of data.

Health/Medicine: The study of health and disease in humans or animals, including disease diagnosis, causes of disease, ways of treating disease, medical procedures, alternative therapies for diseases, or the way in which the human or animal body functions normally.

Medical Device: An instrument, apparatus, implant, or similar article that is used to diagnose, prevent, or treat disease or other conditions, and does not achieve its purposes through chemical action within or on the body.

Biomaterials/Polymer Medicine: A natural or synthetic material, such as a metal or polymer, that is suitable for introduction into living tissue especially, as part of a medical device (as an artificial joint). Polymer medicine involves macromolecules.

Musculoskeletal: Relating to the musculature and skeleton together. Disorders affect muscles, bones, joints, tendons and ligaments.

Cardiovascular/ Soft Tissue Wound Healing: Relating to, or involving the heart and blood vessels. The healing of an injury to the body typically involves laceration or breaking of a membrane, such as the skin, and usually damage to underlying tissues.

Clinical Trials: A scientifically controlled study of the safety and effectiveness of a therapy using consenting human subjects (Note that Institution Review Board (IRB) approval is required – even for studies that involve surveys)

NEW: Entrepreneurship: Original idea using engineering design resulting in innovation that disrupts the current market with possibilities of patents/intellectual property