Illinois Institute of Technology hosts 27th annual Chicago Regional Bridge Building Contest
On February 19th, Illinois Institute of Technology will host the 27th annual Chicago Regional Bridge Building Contest. The contest draws high school students who have won bridge building contests at their schools from three Chicagoland regions: metro Chicago, south suburban Chicago and north suburban Chicago. About 60 schools are expected to participate and 160 to 170 bridges will be crushed during the contest.
“Lots of high school physics teachers are really dedicated to this contest and organize their curricula around it,” says Carlo Segre, professor of physics at Illinois Institute of Technology and chairman of the International Bridge Building Committee. “Building and breaking bridges teaches important concepts about physics and engineering. This contest is also often the first time kids are introduced to engineering as a possible career choice.”
Students build their bridges from basswood, a very lightweight wood. The lightest bridge that can hold the most weight in comparison to its mass wins. The top two finishers in each of Chicago’s three regions will win tickets to the International Bridge Building Contest to be held in Bellingham, Washington on May 4.
The bridge breaking begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Herman Union Building at 3241 S. Federal Street. For more information go to http://bridgecontest.phys.iit.edu/.
Founded in 1890, IIT is a Ph.D.-granting technological university awarding degrees in the sciences, mathematics and engineering, as well as architecture, psychology, design, business and law. IIT’s interprofessional, technology-focused curriculum prepares the university’s 6,200 students for leadership roles in an increasingly complex and culturally diverse global workplace.
