General Lab Information

Motivation

The construction and testing of model bridges promotes the study and application of principles of physics and engineering, and it helps students develop hands-on skills. By participating, students gain insight into what it is to be an engineer: designing structures to a set of specifications and testing their functionality.

Audience for This Competition

This competition is suitable for High School students and teachers interested in mathematics, physics, research, and engineering.

Rules & Eligibility Criteria

This contest is open to High School students from Suffolk and Nassau counties, Long Island, NY.

Bridge Building Participants

bridge competition
High School students from Long Island compete to take part in a national competition!

Videos

Bridge Qualifications

Bridges must be brought to Brookhaven National Laboratory's Science Learning Center between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on one of the qualification dates listed on this page. At qualifications, the bridges will be inspected by lab staff to determine if all specifications have been met.

View Bridge Qualifications

Join the Competition & Awards Ceremony

This year's contest will be held in-person in Berkner Hall (Building 488) at Brookhaven National Laboratory on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 from 8:45 a.m.–4:00.p.m. If you cannot attend the contest, a video of the bridge testing will be available on the Brookhaven Lab YouTube channel a few weeks after the contest.

Awards

At the conclusion of the contest on April 3, 2024, awards will be given out for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, as well as an aesthetic award for bridge design. The first and second place bridges in this BNL regional contest will be entered into the International Contest which will be held in New Philadelphia, Ohio on Saturday, April 27, 2024.

Important Dates

December 15, 2023 General registration opens
March 8, 2024 General registration closes
March 8, 2024 Additional non-U.S. citizens registration deadline for all participants who do not have an active appointment with Brookhaven Lab. You will be directed to the appropriate form once you have completed the event registration.

Competition Information