21st Annual Bridge Building Contest demonstrates youth engineering skills

Whitehorse - Science Adventures at Yukon College and the Association of Professional Engineers of Yukon are pleased to welcome everyone to the 21st Annual Bridge Building Contest Saturday, April 5, at Porter Creek Secondary School in the gym.

During the past three months, over 200 Yukon students, adults, families and corporate teams have been building bridges out of wooden coffee stir sticks, white glue and dental floss.  The challenge is to build the lightest bridge that can hold the most weight. The excitement is seeing what loads these bridges can endure before they break.

“The entries this year show a lot of innovation and dedication,” said Heather Dundas, Coordinator of Science Adventures at the Yukon Research Centre, Yukon College. “Students and families are learning engineering principles, design concepts, building skills, and teamwork, and having fun doing it.”

Bridge viewing happens between 12:00 and 1:00 pm, followed by the bridge strength testing.  The crowd actually holds its breath as the weights are added, one by one, until the bridge breaks.

In preparation for this event, members of the Association of Professional Engineers of Yukon have been making school presentations in French and English about bridge building techniques, as well as other fascinating engineering topics.  Schools in Carcross, Dawson City, and Whitehorse have taken advantage of this program.

All competitors receive a certificate that includes a photo of their bridge and a participation prize. Prizes will also be awarded in each category and there are special prizes for best narrative, best looking, strongest and lightest bridges.

Visit www.scienceadventures.ca for details on the competition. Contenders have until Thursday, April 3, to register.