Register Today for the Central Ohio Miniature Bridge Building Competition (COhMBBC)

TRC Co-sponsors Day of Hands-On, Fun-Filled Learning for Ohio Students 

Tasks that civil engineers carry out every day support the so-called “built environment,” a term loosely defined as any manmade structure that modern civilization needs to keep itself running.

For some high school students, the idea of pursuing the same career path might seem unrealistic. The reason might be because they don’t understand how classroom lessons in math and science have real-world applications in engineering and construction.

They can get that opportunity at the first annual Central Ohio Miniature Bridge Building Competition (COhMBBC) on Saturday April 11 at the Ohio State University Great Hall Meeting Room within the Ohio Union.

Co-sponsored by TRC, the Central Ohio Association of Bridge Construction and Design (ABCD), the Franklin County Engineer’s Office, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District 6 and university chapters of the ASCE and AISC, the event will provide local students with hands-on bridge building experience in a fun environment.

Open to high school juniors and seniors, the event will pit teams of two to three students against one another in a 3-hour contest to design and build a mini-structure with the highest load-to-weight capacity ratio (failure load/weight), over a predetermined span using supplied materials. The bridge must have an unobstructed flat roadbed capable of allowing a wheeled car to pass over its entire length.

Through this fun and interactive exercise, students will learn how to apply abstract physics and math lessons to the real world, and maybe even pursue a career in civil engineering.

To keep the competition free and fair to kids of all socioeconomic backgrounds, event organizers are requesting donations for all bridge building supplies and prizes, T-shirts, food and drinks. Volunteer judges are also needed.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Individuals or companies making the four highest monetary donations will get awards named after them (1st Place in Structural Efficiency, 2nd Place in Structural Efficiency, 3rd Place in Structural Efficiency, and an Aesthetics Award).

Where: Ohio Union Great Hall, 1739 N. High St. Columbus, OH

When: April 11, 2020 @ 9:00 a.m. (Check-in begins at 8:00 a.m.)