Tech Challenge Tests Student Creations
By Sharael Feist
March 19, 1999
Bay Area student teams are scheming, buying unusual parts from hardware stores, and getting ready to unveil strange new inventions. This is all part of the fun of the Tech Challenge, an annual science competition sponsored by America True and the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose.
The Tech Challenge is an annual science competition that presents students with an engineering problem, and asks them to come up with an original solution. America True marketing assistant Ian Clunies-Ross said technology is growing in leaps and bounds, and the Tech Challenge is a great way for kids to learn.
“In the Tech Challenge, the kids get an idea of working out a problem together,” said Clunies-Ross. “America True is about technology and teamwork. We hope they will get an idea that there’s a lot of technology involved in sailing and consider a career in maritime.”
As we reported in February, America True is following the progress of two students, Stephanie Olliffe and Todd Knoch, as they go through the various stages of developing their device to climb a swaying mast (this year’s challenge ).
Stephanie is on a team from Notre Dame High School in San Jose, where she is a senior. There are five students in her group. Todd is a junior at Oak Grove High School in San Jose. He is on a two-member team.
Stephanie learned about the Tech Challenge from her high school science teacher, Mr. Foster. For his class, students must participate in one out-of-class activity and the Tech Challenge was one of the choices. Although she’s never been sailing, Stephanie said that she is intrigued by the idea presented to them for the Tech Challenge.
Todd also learned about the Tech Challenge through a science class. His chemistry teacher, Mrs. Evans, gave her class an assignment to partake in a science competition. Todd chose the Tech Challenge because he liked the mechanics of it and also because he has a passion for sailing. His father and uncle both have boats, so Todd has had experience sailing.
When we first checked in with Stephanie, her team had just gotten together to set up times to meet, while Todd and his teammate were going over the rules of the competition and thinking of options to make their device work quickly.
Stephanie’s team has now met three times and developed two plans for different models. They are making two models to see which one is more efficient. This is similar to America’s Cup boat planning, as sailing teams try to test more than one design to discover the fastest boat.
Stephanie and her group have made a list of supplies they need to buy for the construction of their design. The list of supplies will include wheels, axles, and a remote control device. Todd and his teammate have put together an outline for their design. They have also started looking for parts, including springs, wheels, engines and plunges. They plan to have the first model built by the end of March.
The next step in the Tech Challenge is the trials March 20,21, and 27. During this time the teams will test their inventions. America True will continue following Todd and Stephanie on their way to technological discovery. The finals are on April 14. Good luck to all contestants.