2024 Bridge Building Competition

April 3, 2024

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory hosted the 45th annual Bridge Building Competition on April 3, 2024. The competition shows students in grades nine through 12 what it's like to be an engineer as they attempt to design a strong bridge out of only basswood and glue with a set of challenging specifications in mind. Their structures were put to the test under a crushing machine that slowly added more and more weight from above until the bridges broke or bent more than one inch. The event is organized by Brookhaven Lab's Office of Educational Programs (OEP) to advance its mission to cultivate the next generation of STEM professionals. Learn more.