The Engineering Link Group – Spaghetti Bridge Competition

The Spaghetti Bridge Competition is returning in 2019!

SNAP17

engauslogo_web

What is the Spaghetti Bridge Competition?

The competition is a fun and challenging opportunity for students to test their engineering skills and experience the planning, creativity, problem-solving and team-work required for a career in engineering.

Teams are challenged to build the strongest bridge weighing no more than 300 g (including a load plate, provided for free), constructed with only store-bought spaghetti and glue and to span a gap of at least 35 cm.

There must be an obvious bridge “deck” that a toy car could theoretically drive across.

In 2019, we will be testing bridges in three locations.

Chisholm Catholic College, Cornubia – Friday 30 August
TAFE Qld South Bank – Wednesday 23 October
St Eugene College, Burpengary – Friday 25 October

FREE Professional Development for Teachers:

A free PD session for coordinating teachers (or parents) will be held on Wednesday 28 August 2019 at Engineering House, 447 Upper Edward Street, Spring Hill from 4.00 pm. A civil engineer from the Department of Transport and Main Roads will be in attendance, to talk about bridge construction. TELG Staff will also provide insights into the competition and tips and tricks so you can better incorporate the event into your curriculum or extra-curricular activities. To register for this workshop, click on the button at the bottom of this page. A flyer to share with your colleagues is also available by clicking here.

Prizes:

In 2019, the total prize money of $2000 (thanks to the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads and Advance Queensland) will be awarded. All prizes are presented to the team’s school for distribution as it sees fit, but we encourage the schools to pass on the prize money to the winning team (with the exception of the “School Prize”).

First Place – Largest Peak Load (across all testing locations) – $1000
Second Place (across all testing locations) – $500
Third Place (across all testing locations) – $250
Best Middle School (Years 5 to 8) Team (if not receiving any of the above prizes) – $250**

Note: Teams are only eligible for one prize.

Registration of your schools’ teams is open NOW!

Note: teams will be sent up to three load hooks as part of their registration (for free). Additional load hooks can be ordered from us @ $7.20 each plus postage. Load hooks can be shared between teams – there is no need for each team to have their own hook.

Rules & Conditions

Teacher PD Registration

Resources to Help

“…sincere thanks for encouraging and inspiring the next generation to engage with engineering through the spaghetti bridge competition. I know our lads at St Edmund’s College really appreciated the opportunity. See you all again next year.”

Stuart Hasley

“Thank you again for running and producing another fantastic Spaghetti Bridge Competition; very much appreciated. Please pass on the College’s sincere thanks from our students, parents and staff to the Queensland Government Department of Transport and Main Roads, Advance Queensland, Engineers Australia, James Cook University and The Engineering Link Group for the continued support, commitment and investment given to Queensland’s future engineers, whom many may look back, and say this was the trigger that decided they wanted to be an engineer.

We look forward to 2019, where our students will once again put their engineering theory and research into tested practice once more.

.”

Larry Vint (Genesis Christian College)

How to Register Your Team(s):

1. Visit our Registration Page and register your teams

2. Schools can enter as many teams as they like. Each school will receive 3 load hooks (extra hooks are available to purchase for $7.20 each, plus postage). Load hooks used in 2018 can be reused in this year’s competition.

Note: By registering a team, you are automatically agreeing to abide by the competition rules, terms and conditions.