Students in grades 9 – 12 are encouraged to enter the competition. The contest goal this year is to knock over a pyramid of cups. See the complete rules here.Teams can pick up their box of materials at Gateway to Science starting January 5. A $10 refundable deposit is required for each team entry. Download this Registration Form. Registration deadline for participants is January 25. For more information, please contact Meredith at 701-258-1975 or email her .

The best widgets will win prizes! This year, the first place team will win $200, the second place team will win $100, and the third place team will win $75.

Previous competitions have included building a machine that will roll a die in as many convoluted steps as possible without any human intervention, and building a machine to unroll a roll of toilet paper at least 50 centimeters. At the competition, each team will be given all new materials to recreate their widgets in one hour. Professional engineers will serve as the judges.

The public is invited to watch the competition and cheer on their favorite teams.

For the past several years, Gateway to Science has partnered with the North Dakota Society of Professional Engineers, Chapter 3, to host a competion event for older students. The competition is held in February in recognition of National Engineers Week.

What began as a paper airplane contest, roller coaster contest and then a Rube Goldberg contest, has evolved into the Widget contest, open to grades 9 – 12. The competition involves teams of 3-6 members designing and creating a machine that can accomplish a simple task using as many steps as possible.

A widget machine combines science, engineering, and creativity with hints of absurdity and silliness.

2010 Widget Contest Winners