Making Waves

A university student wearing a life vest paddles a cardboard boat at Columbia University's Uris Pool with a large cheering crowd in the bleachers nearby.

October 10, 2025

It was all hands on deck for Engineering Student Council's second annual cardboard boat contest. Thirty-five teams of Columbia Engineering students took up the challenge: build a boat designed to carry a person across Uris Pool using only cardboard, duct tape, and waterproofing spray. Creativity floats! 

Learn more about the Cardboard Boat Contest and who rowed to victory. 


Photo of the Week is a feature of Columbia News that captures moments from around the University and New York City.

See all the photos from the series here.