Young researchers learn how math and science are used in the real world, from protecting eggs to delivering tap water

By Helen Fields

Web edition: February 7, 2013

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Teams of young researchers brainstormed how to protect a raw egg — sometimes using bubble wrap — so that it could be dropped without breaking. It was an engineering challenge at a major competition in Washington, D.C., last fall.

Credit: iStockphoto

Six teams competed at the second annual Broadcom MASTERS competition, in Washington, D.C. The 7th- to 9th-grade finalists spent one fall weekend cooperatively brainstorming solutions in a series of team events. Each participant qualified for the competition based on a science fair project from the previous academic year. But the majority of a contestant’s final score would reflect how well she or he performed in group challenges, many of them in engineering. Like this egg drop.

Indeed, engineering served as a focus for the competition and related educational activities at this event. At stake: national bragging rights and a top educational award of $25,000. Additional awards were also handed out for demonstrating great innovation and exemplary performance in each of the STEM fields: science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Visit the new Science News for Kids website and read the full story: Engineering: The route to problem-solving