SCIENCE CENTER IS SEEKING STUDENTS FOR 29th ANNUAL ENGINEERING CONTEST

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PRESS CONTACT:

Slatkow & Husak Public Relations

Kelly Husak or Meredith Westheimer

(561) 278-0850 or Meredith@SlatkowHusak.com

FINAL 3.20.15

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                           

 

SCIENCE CENTER IS SEEKING STUDENTS FOR 29thANNUAL ENGINEERING CONTEST

$5,000 in cash and prizes is up for grabs at annual Drop it, Build it, Float it, Launch it, Thrill it

 

(West Palm Beach, Fla.)–  Calling all eager student engineers! Now is your chance for hands-on, minds-on science exploration at the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium’s 29th annual Drop it, Build it, Float it, Launch it, Thrill it Engineering Competition.  Elementary, middle and high school students from all over South Florida are invited to compete for nearly $5,000 in cash and prizes.  The competition takes place on Saturday, April 11, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m and the deadline to register is April 8. 

 

The contest celebrates engineering ingenuity with entrantsable to participate in five different design contests.  Competitors will see if they have a good egg or Humpty Dumpty after their egg containertakes a three-story drop from a cherry picker in the Drop It competition; or if their bottle rocket will blast off or fizzle out during the Launch It competition.  Bridges will be built, floatable boats will be crafted and roller coasters will operate as students compete for prize money, awarded to the first through third place winners in each category.  The competition will be judged by the Florida Engineering Society.

 

“We are very excited to be celebrating nearly 30 years as the host of the annual Drop it, Build it, Float it, Launch it, Thrill it Engineering Competition,” said Lew Crampton, Science Center CEO.  “Over the last year, we have tremendously increased our educational offerings to get students interested in careers in science.  Drop it, Build it has always been a popular annual contest, but now we have monthly programs like Hack Shack for computer coding and GEMS Club for young girls.  As part of our mission to ‘open every mind to science’ we are certainly serving as the local hub for informal science education.  We would especially like to thank the Florida Engineering Society for their long-standing partnership and support, as they too recognize the importance of getting kids involved in science.”

 

The South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, named the 2014 Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches’ nonprofit of the year, features more than 50 hands-on educational exhibits, an 8,000 gallon fresh and salt water aquarium- featuring both local and exotic marine life, a digital planetarium, conservation research station, Florida exhibit hall and an interactive Everglades exhibit.  Afterlife: Tombs & Treasures of Ancient Egypt, the Science Center’s newest traveling exhibit, features more than 200 ancient and authentic artifacts.  All exhibits are on display during Afterlife’s special showing.  In true Science Center style, the highly anticipated blockbuster exhibition has interactive components, making it feel like guests have taken a trip to Egypt to explore ancient artifacts and tombs.

 

Thanks to support from the Florida Engineering Society, and the support of generous sponsors, students will have the opportunity to take home nearly $5,000 in prize money.  Event sponsors include Alvin I. Brown & Peggy S. Brown Charitable Foundation, The Weiss School, Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County Inc., Florida Power & Light, AerojetRocketdyne, B/E Aerospace, Cultural Council of Palm Beach County and theTourist Development Council.

 

To register, and for competition rules and regulations, click here or call 561-370-7710.  Contest entry is $3 to each registrant and includes a complimentary lunch for the participant, along with complimentary admission for the participant and one adult. The community is invited to watch the excitement as local kids demonstrate their ingenuity and science skills.  In addition to individual prizes, a special prize will be awarded to the school with the most participants.

 

For more information on the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium’s upcoming events, like the Science Center on Facebook and follow it on Twitter @SFScienceCenter.

 

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