Tiger Science Challenge

Overview

Tiger Science Challenge is a new approach to science that will get you brainstorming ways to beat each challenge! Each semester, RIT/NTID will release a challenge for middle school deaf and hard-of-hearing students to conquer. These challenges are no easy feat, and each one requires some knowledge of science concepts, a little bit of patience, and some hard work.

Are you up to the challenge?

The Challenge – Spring 2024

The Popsicle Bridge Challenge is open for spring 2024! Sign up today and choose one of two categories to submit your project in:

Register Now!

The Challenge: Design and construct a bridge out of popsicle sticks and glue. Students can compete to build either the strongest bridge or the most creative bridge. The best bridges for each category will win prizes!

Students must construct their bridges using standard popsicle sticks and hot glue. Using popsicle sticks of different sizes or glue that is stronger than standard hot glue is not permitted. 

To register for the challenge, participants must be a current 6th, 7th, or 8th grade deaf or hard-of-hearing student.

Students must register before they submit their bridge project. Your project must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on April 5, 2024. Submission materials must be given to our Tiger Science Challenge team prior to the deadline.

Register Now!

The Challenge Rules

Objective

Build a bridge that rests between two table that meets one of two criteria:

Strongest

The bridge that holds the most weight before breaking

To qualify for this category, you must secure a bucket under your bridge and add sand into the bucket. Your bridge and weight scale must be clearly visible in the video submission. Once the bridge breaks, weigh the bucket and record your final weight. 

For the Strongest bridge challenge:
> You may only use up to 200 standard popsicle sticks for your bridge.
> Your bridge must be at least 14 inches in length.

Instructions to test your bridge strength

To beat this challenge, your bridge design needs to have a strong base that can support a lot of weight.

Most Creative

The bridge with the most unique design

To qualify for this category, you could build a bridge with an intricate design, an optical illusion, or simply build something that looks cool!

To beat this challenge, your bridge design will need to be creative and artistic. 

For the Most Creative bridge challenge, you may use any amount of standard popsicle sticks to build your bridge.

Materials

Participants are only allowed to use standard 4.5” Popsicle sticks and hot glue as building materials. You are expected to take pictures of your materials to verify that they adhere to our requirements. Students are expected to use their own materials – RIT/NTID will not provide materials for this challenge.

Photo Requirements

Along with your video submission, you must include at least 5 progress pictures of you building your bridge. These photos are required to show proof of you building your bridge. You may put these photos in a Word document or PDF file and include them in your submission.

Video Submission

In order to ensure that your submission is legitimate, you are required to record a continuous, unedited video of yourself doing the following: 

  • Testing the bridge's weight limit
  • Capturing the moment it breaks.
  • Reporting the weight using a scale to show the final measurement.

Video Submission (strongest bridge)

Videos must be no longer than 5 minutes and include the following information:

  1. Introduction
    1. Your name
    2. Which school you attend
    3. What grade you are in
  2. Design
    1. Describe your design and which category you are submitting your tower to
  3. Construction
    1. Describe how you built your tower
    2. Describe your challenges with building your tower
    3. Describe any other information about your tower
  4. Tower
    1. Show the tower in a well-lit environment and a plain background

Instructions for submitting your video to YouTube

  • Video must be unlisted. 
    • To upload a video and make it unlisted:
      • Sign into or create your YouTube account.
      • Go to your My Channel Page.
      • Upload a video by clicking on “create a video” in the upper right banner, and then upload video. 
      • Change the setting to upload the video as unlisted and select the video. 
      • Click Done to confirm. 
      • Copy and paste the unlisted link for submission.
    • To edit a video and make it unlisted: 
      • Go to the Video Manager and click on the video. 
      • Go to Edit. Under Basic information, you’ll see the option to mark your video as unlisted, public, or private. 
      • Select unlisted. 
      • Copy the video URL (found to the right of the video in Video Manager under video information). 
    • Copy and paste the unlisted link for submission. 
  • The title of your video must include your project title and your first and last name.

When complete, send the URL of your video to TSCinfo@rit.edu along with your full name, grade level, school, and contact information. 

Prizes

The Tiger Science Challenge will feature prizes for the top submissions for each category! Winners will be judged on creativity, construction, and design. After the submission deadline, our Science and Engineering departments will review each and every video, and announce the winners after they have been chosen.

The top three winners for both categories will win a full program scholarship to our TechTigers program. TechTigers is a week-long summer program for deaf and hard-of-hearing middle school students interested in science, technology, engineering, and math. Travel costs to the program are included in the prizes.

In addition to this prize, the top three winners will also receive the following prizes: 

First Place  

iPad Mini

Second Place

Nintendo Switch

Third Place

$50 Amazon gift card

Registration Information

Tiger Science Challenge Participation Requirements

To be eligible to enter, you must be in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade as of spring 2024. The Tiger Science Challenge is open only to deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

Registration

To register for this event, visit our registration page and select the Tiger Science Challenge activity. If you are a teacher registering a group of students, email the Tiger Science Challenge team at TSCinfo@rit.edu to receive a group registration link.

You must upload your project to YouTube, and email the link to TSCinfo@rit.edu.

All required materials for your project must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on April 5, 2024.

Register Now!

Deadlines

The deadline for this spring's Tiger Science Challenge is April 5, 2024. For questions and inquiries about the challenge, contact NTID Outreach at TSCinfo@rit.edu