Competitions

These links provide high schools students interested in engineering hands-on experience by participating in engineering-related competitions.

Broadcom MASTERS
Broadcom MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology and Engineering Rising Stars), is the premier science and engineering competition for middle school students. Society affiliated science fairs around the country nominate the top 10% of 6th, 7th and 8th grade participants to enter this prestigious competition. After submitting the online application, 300 semifinalists are selected and 30 finalists present their research projects and compete in team hands-on STEM challenges to demonstrate their skills in critical thinking, collaboration, communication and creativity.

HYVE Engineering Contest
The coordination of e-machine, clutch and combustion engine during a tow start is challenging. A quick and smooth start has to be ensured. With the Engineering Contest the HYVE AG strives to generate ideas for innovative clutch systems which guarantee a smooth interplay between all components.

CyberPatriot 
CyberPatriot is the national high school cyber defense competition created by the Air Force Association (AFA) to excite, educate, and motivate the next generation of cyber defenders and other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) graduates our nation needs.

The AbilityOne Network Design Challenge 
The AbilityOne Network Design Challenge is an annual design competition that inspires high school and university students use technology, creativity and problem-solving skills to create an assistive technology device to help a person with a disability overcome difficulties in the workplace.

Ten80 Student Racing Challenge 
A National STEM League & Curriculum for Class, Camps & Clubs. This is the 'practice league' through which future engineers, scientists, marketing and creative professionals actively embrace their present and prepare for their futures.  Why motorsports? Because it is the only sport won or lost in real time by applying STEM and is a very diverse industry that employs people with a broad range of interests and skills. New for the 2011 curriculum: PIT Now! (Petroleum Independent Transportation).

Design Squad Nation Competitions 
The DESIGN SQUAD Nation challenges kids to take everyday materials and re-engineer them into functional products.

InvenTeams 
Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams is a non-competitive initiative that awards grants up to $10,000 each to teams of high school students, teachers, and mentors to identify a problem and invent a solution for it. Designed to excite, empower, and encourage students through hands-on problem solving, InvenTeams aims to inspire a new generation of inventors.

Team America Rocketry Challenge 
Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and the National Association of Rocketry (NAR), in partnership with NASA, the Department of Defense, and the 38 AIA member companies, are proud to sponsor the 2007 Team America Rocketry Challenge, a national model rocket competition for U.S. high school and middle school students. A grand prize pool of over $60,000 in cash and savings bonds will be shared by the winning teams.

Solar Car Challenge
The Solar Car Challenge is designed to help motivate students in science, engineering, technology, and alternative energy. We teach high school students how to plan, design, engineer, build, race, and evaluate roadworthy solar cars.  More than 20,000 students have gone through this top engineering project. We presently have 85 on-going high school solar car projects in 23 states and Puerto Rico.

Winston Science 
Over 19,000 participants are expected to take part in this year's Winston Science, a 20-day series of events designed to help motivate students in the sciences. Hosted by the Dallas Mavericks and The Winston School, students have the opportunity to take part in 66 events, hear outstanding presentations, and work with scientists from across the country.

National Science Decathlon 
National Science Decathlon is an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization of teachers, parents and community volunteers dedicated to promoting science education by organizing competitive, hands-on, science-based tournaments throughout the United States. Each Science Decathlon tournament is made up of ten Team Events and up to four Pilot Events which sport names like Bridge Breaking, Water Rocketry and Ick! Thyology for each division. Division A events are for 9th -12th grade high school students. Division B events are for 6th - 9th grade junior high, middle school and intermediate elementary students.

Toychallenge 
TOYchallenge is a national toy design challenge for 5th-8th graders and a chance for teams of imaginative kids to create a new toy or game. Toys are a great way to learn about science, engineering, and the design process. That's why astronaut Sally Ride brought Hasbro, Sigma Xi, Southwest Airlines, and Sally Ride Science!" together to launch this challenge!

Internet Science and Technology Fair (ISTF) 
From October through February of each year, student teams apply technology to real-world problems when they participate in the ISTF. As a team, students use ISTF Content Guidelines that are based on national science content standards (1996) developed by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). They work with a practicing scientist or engineer who acts as the team's on-line technical advisor. Teams publish their final research reports in a web page format that is then judged against other teams from the United States and other participating countries. Top teams receive certificates of award from the National Medal of Technology Program at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

TechXplore 
TechXplore is an innovative mentoring program and online competition dedicated to helping middle and high school students build the science and technology skills needed for future workplace success. This is a FREE competition and gives students the opportunity to win US Savings Bonds!

eCYBERMISSION 
eCYBERMISSION is a FREE, web-based science, math and technology competition for students in grades 6 through 9. The competition encourages and rewards students from a diverse range of proficiency levels, interests and backgrounds. It also promotes self-discovery for all students to recognize the real-life applications of these disciplines. Each participating student can win up to $8,000 in U.S. Savings bonds!!

USA Mathematical Talent Search (USAMTS) 
The USAMTS is a free mathematics competition open to any US middle or high school student.

The Art of Problem Solving 
An extensive list of major math competitions around the globe.

Boston University Design Competition 
The Design Competition involves teams of two students, both of whom must be high school freshmen, sophomores, or juniors at the time of the competition. Each team will design and build a vehicle that will, under its own power, climb a sloped ramp, knock over a flag at the top of the ramp, and sustain its position against an opposing vehicle.

Science Olympiad 
The Science Olympiad is an international nonprofit organization devoted to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science and providing recognition for outstanding achievement in science education by both students and teachers. These goals are accomplished through classroom activities, research, training workshops and the encouragement of intramural, district, regional, state and national tournaments. The Science Olympiad tournaments are rigorous academic interscholastic competitions that consist of a series of individual and team events, which students prepare for during the year. These challenging and motivational events are well balanced between the various science disciplines of biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, computers and technology.

FIRST LEGO League (FLL) 
FLL is an international program for children created in a partnership between FIRST and the LEGO Company. Each September, FLL announces the annual Challenge, which engages the teams in hands-on robotics design and authentic scientific research. After 8 intense weeks, the FLL season culminates at high-energy, sports-like tournaments. In 2003 over 43,000 children from 14 countries participated in the FLL program.

FIRST -- High School Robotics Competition
The FIRST Robotics Competition is an exciting, multinational competition that teams professionals and young people to solve an engineering design problem in an intense and competitive way. The program is a life-changing, career-molding experience and a lot of fun. In 2005 the competition will reach close to 25,000 high-school-aged young people on close to 1,000 teams in 30 competitions.

HydrogenAmbassadors Competition 
Got an idea that you want to share? You can win your own free booth at the HANNOVER FAIR in Germany, by submitting your concept to the HydrogenAmbassador Competition. Winners get to display their idea the entire week of the Fair (April 24-28, 2006), while having all your additional needs taken care of--free food and beverages all week, booth building and supplies, signs and posters, internet access, free parking, etc. This is a great opportunity for young people to get their foot in the technology door. Make the contacts you need to get the job, internship, or financial support that you have been waiting for! Deadline: September 30, 2005

The Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center 
The Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center organizes and coordinates national and regional remotely operated vehicle (ROV or underwater robot) competitions for high school, home school, community college, and university students from across the U.S. and Canada. Visit our web site to learn more!

Destination ImagiNation 
Destination ImagiNation is a an international creative problem solving competition program for kids in elementary, middle and high school divisions. Schools representing US States and Canadian Provinces compete with teams from foreign countries each year in late May. The program includes a college division. The University of Tennessee at Knoxville is the current host for the yearly tournament. Each year some of the problems require extensive engineering solutions. Others require minimal engineering activities. The challenge (problem) summaries for this year can be found online.

The Edventures in Robotics Challenge (ERC) 
Junkyard Wars, Battlebots, Robot Wars, Sumo Wrestling Robots and more! In the past few years there has been a tremendous surge of interest in mechanical challenges, invention, and robotics. For educators, this phenomenon has provided some wonderful resources for inspiring and motivating children in the areas of math, science, technology, & engineering. In direct response to this need, PCS Edventures developed a new and exciting competition called "The Edventures in Robotics Challenge" (ERC). The ERC is designed to be used at any time throughout the year to generate enthusiasm, prepare students for problem solving challenges, and create a real-world teamwork scenario for students to experience. The ERC is a challenge program designed to be more "approachable" for ALL educators: 1) it does not require any travel; 2) it is inexpensive; and 3) it allows you to utilize materials you may already own. It is also a great way to get some hands-on experience with this type of learning activity before you commit to one of the more extensive programs. Visit the website to see some examples from the recent competition -- teams from the US, Canada, Korea, Egypt, and Pakistan participated and had an awesome time!

West Point Bridge Design Contest 
The United States Military Academy is pleased to offer the West Point Bridge Design Contest. The purpose of this Internet-based competition is to provide middle school and high school students with a realistic, engaging introduction to engineering. Anyone may enter the contest, but only U.S. students age 13 through grade 12 are eligible to compete for prizes. Students may compete individually or in teams to two. Prizes include cash scholarships and notebook computers. Participation is FREE!

Botball Educational Robotics Program 
Botball is an outreach program that uses robotics technology to engage students in learning the practical applications of science, technology, engineering, and math. Any middle or high school aged student can get involved in Botball. The organization of the team is up to the team leader. All kinds of groups can participate in this technology based educational program as long as there is an adult contact.

BattleBotsIQ 
BattleBots IQ is a comprehensive educational program where students learn about the science of engineering through robot building. This unique curriculum fuses mathematics, physics, and engineering into tangible and relevant lessons for high school students.

BEST inc. 
BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology) is a non-profit, volunteer organization whose mission is to inspire students to pursue careers in engineering, science, and technology through participation in a sports-like, science- and engineering-based robotics competition. BEST is organized as hub sites. At the present time there are 32 hub sites in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, New Mexico, Kansas, Missouri, Alabama, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, and Connecticut. Winning teams from the hub competitions advance to the closest Regional Competition hosted in Texas, Alabama, or Arkansas.

MATHCOUNTS 
A national math coaching and competition program that promotes middle school mathematics achievement through grass roots involvement in every US state and territory.
MATHCOUNTS promotes student interest in mathematics by making math achievement as challenging, exciting and prestigious as a school sport. At the beginning of each school year, the MATHCOUNTS foundation provides a complimentary copy of its School Handbook to middle schools across the country. Teachers and volunteers use these problems and activities to coach student "Mathletes" (6th, 7th and 8th graders) as part of in-class instruction or as an extracurricular activity.

ExploraVision
A competition administered by the National Science Teachers Association that encourages K-12 students to create technologies—including energy technologies— of the future.

National Junior Solar Sprint
A U.S. Department of Energy program where student teams in grades 6-8 construct model solar-powered cars and race them.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory: Student Programs and Competitions
A full range of activities for elementary and secondary school students that provide tutoring, mentoring, science demonstrations, awards and recognition, and more.

National Science Bowl
The National Science Bowl¨ is a highly visible educational event and academic competition among teams of high school students who attend science seminars and compete in a verbal forum to solve technical problems and answer questions in all branches of science and math. The regional and national events encourage student involvement in math and science activities, improve awareness of career options in science and technology, and provide an avenue of enrichment and reward for academic science achievement.

Student Vehicle Competitions
Information from the U.S. Department of Energy on competitions involving vehicle technologies for students in elementary grades to university level.

Bayer/NSF Award for Community Innovation (Christopher Columbus).
Competition for teams of middle school students (sixth, seventh, and eighth graders) to find creative solutions to problems in their communities.

The International RoboCup Competition
The International RoboCup Competition entails the construction of fully autonomous, fast moving robots, which work together as a team to compete against similar teams of robots in a robotic soccer match. The RoboCup is an excellent test bed for developing new tools and techniques for controlling autonomous systems in uncertain and dynamic environments; applications include space exploration, disaster relief, and national defense. From an educational perspective, it is also a great means for exposing students to the systems engineering approach for designing, building, managing, and maintaining complex systems.

NSTA Scholarship Competitions
NSTA and our sponsors reward teachers and students with over $1 million in cash and prizes each year. This page outlines opportunities to receive personal and school recognition.

National Robotics Challenge
The National Robotics Challenge is open to students in Middle Schools, High Schools, Vocational Schools, Community Colleges and Universities from the United States. The National Robotics Challenge consists of nine different robotics contests with difficulty levels that are sure to challenge any student that wants to participate.

International Bridge Building Contest
Constructing and testing of model bridges promotes the study and application of fundamental principles physics and also helps high school students develop "hands on" skills through bridge construction.

Odyssey of the Mind
A world-wide program that promotes creative team-based problem solving for kids from kindergarten through college.

FutureCity
Welcome to the National Engineers Week Future City Competition. The Future City Competition, now in its eighth year, asks middle school students from around the nation to create - first on computer and then in large, three-dimensional models - their visions of the city of tomorrow.

Undergraduate Engineering Competitions

ASEE Model Design Competition
The ASEE Model Design Competition is a design/build robotics competition open to all freshmen and sophomore engineering and engineering technology students at both 2-year and 4-year colleges. The competition is held each year as part of the ASEE (American Society for Engineering Education) Annual Conference. The goal of the competition is to give student teams an opportunity to use the engineering design process to build an autonomous vehicle to complete a specified task or to complete a specified track. Student teams face many realistic challenges in this competition, such as constraints on cost, size, batteries, and, of course, time. Student teams not only have to build a vehicle to navigate the specified course or complete a specific task, but also have to give presentations before a panel of judges and provide the judges with written reports. The written reports include a summary of the team's design efforts, CAD drawings, parts list, and a cost analysis. The best part about the competition; however, is that it is fun!2006-2007 Material Handling Student Design Competition
This competition, now in its twelfth year, provides an opportunity for you to offer a five-week team project for your class in the fall, winter or spring semester/quarter. It is a way to have students use real-world data to design a manufacturing / warehousing facility and apply what they have learned regarding material handling, warehousing, facility design and operations management. Competition entries are due on June 1, 2007. Cash prizes will be awarded to winning entries ($1500, $1000, and $500 prizes for first, second and third place) as well as the teams' home department ($500 per department for each winning entry). The competition is to be performed in teams of 4 students (or less), up to two of the four can be graduate students.

ASHRAE Student Design Project Competition
ASHRAE sponsors this design project competition to encourage undergraduate students to become involved in the dynamic profession of Heating Ventilating and Air Conditioning, to apply their knowledge to practical design use, and to promote team work. ASHRAE will recognize the outstanding student design projects at next year's ASHRAE 2008 Winter Meeting in New York, NY.

The Collegiate Inventors Competition
A national competition designed to encourage college students active in science, engineering, mathematics, technology and creative invention, while stimulating their problem-solving abilities.

American Solar Challenge
University teams, companies, and clubs from around the world build solar-powered cars and race them across the country. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Energy Challenge
Teams of college engineering students design energy efficiency and waste minimization concepts that have real applications in the pulp and paper industry.

Hydro Power Contest
An opportunity for college students to demonstrate their ideas for turning water into power.

Solar Decathlon
A U.S. Department of Energy competition where teams of post-secondary students compete to capture, convert, store, and use enough solar energy to power our modern lifestyle.

FutureTruck
A U.S. Department of Energy competition where college students take on the challenge of optimizing a conventional Ford Explorer into a lower emissions vehicle.