IPFW Home
Archived News ReleasesImage of Glasses on Newspaper

For Immediate Release

Written by: Louise Teague, 260-481-6495

Media contact: Carol Dostal, 260-481-6905

IPFW Annual Engineers Week Features High School Bridge Building ContesT

(Fort Wayne, Feb. 15, 2008) -- When a bridge is under construction, a BRIDGE OUT sign and detour are what temporarily replaces it. On Saturday, Feb. 23, the Northeastern Indiana Engineer's Week Committee and the Anthony Wayne Chapter of the Indiana Society of Professional Engineers will challenge high school students to test bridges they designed and constructed out of Popsicle sticks. The public is welcome and everyone can watch the computer calculate the ratios as the competing bridges are loaded until they fail and the BRIDGE IS OUT.

This fun event is the highlight of Engineers Week at Indiana University—Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). Hosted by the College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science (ETCS), the contest begins with check-in at 9:30 a.m. in the ETCS lobby.

The bridge building competition was developed to challenge students in the areas of engineering, design, science, and creativity. Bridges are constructed prior to the competition using a maximum of 200 Popsicle sticks and yellow wood glue. The lightest bridge to span a 24-inch gap holding the maximum load with minimum deflection (bend) wins. Prizes range from $100 to $300 and are donated by several professional societies and companies.

The contest is free, but registration is required by Feb. 20 in order to participate. Contact Randi in the ETCS Outreach office at 260-481-4145 or boydrs@ipfw.edu for the rules and registration form, or check the Web site www.etcs.ipfw.edu/EWeekBridgeContest.

# # #

Top