7th annual Bridge Building contest goes today

File photo

Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board
New Release

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St. Joseph-Scollard Hall Catholic Secondary School is pleased to serve as the venue for the 7th annual Bridge Building Contest for students hosted by the local chapter of the Professional Engineers of Ontario on Friday, March 5. The event, which coincides with National Engineering Month (NEM), aims to foster innovation by introducing and discussing real life technical issues faced by modern engineers and gives students the opportunity to interact with local engineers in a casual, fun-filled atmosphere.

Contest details are as follows:

o Local students from grades 5 though 12 participate in one of three age divisions:

o Junior (grades 5-8), Intermediate (grades 9 & 10), Senior (grades 11 & 12)

o Bridges will be judged for:

o craftsmanship

o dimensional conformity to contest guidelines

o engineering content and load carrying ability

o Bridges must be constructed using only carpenter glue and a supplied balsa wood kit

o The balsa wood may be laminated, shaped and/or cut. No additional materials (e.g. metal pins,
etc.) may be used.

o All bridges will be tested to destruction unless otherwise specified. The last weight held by the
bridge will be the basis for determining the points awarded.

o Senior participants will receive a length of string along with their balsa kit to permit the option to
design suspension bridges. Loading will be on the bridge deck (using a raised spacer). While this
will be technically more difficult to build, it will allow for teaching stresses and strains in a different
manner to truss bridges.

The event takes place in the SJSH Bishop Carter Auditorium. Judging begins at 12:30 p.m. and winners are expected to be announced between 3-3:30 p.m.

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