WHAT IS THE ENGINEERING MACHINE DESIGN CONTEST?

The Engineering Machine Design Contest is an opportunity for teams of 3 to 12 high school students to design and build a complex machine using everyday objects with the guidance of a coach. The completed machine will use multiple steps to complete a simple task. Teams showcase and exhibit their machine at a regional contest with the opportunity to advance to the Engineering Machine Design Championship. Teams are scored on a Team Journal, Team Presentation, and Machine Design and Operation.

Each year, a competition theme is chosen to guide the machine build and allow whimsical creativity to flourish. The theme for 2025 is Current of Creativity: Transforming Water Technology. Students can explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) principles while having fun in a collaborative environment. This competition is in collaboration with the Minnesota State Engineering Center of Excellence.

Objectives of the Program

1. Providing a low-cost or affordable experience for students,
2. Inspiring an interest in engineering and related career pathways, and
3. Equipping students with skills that will help prepare them for future careers.

2025 EMDC Handbook

Coach Resource Guide

EMDC Program Information

November Educator Update

Sponsors Needed!

We invite you to sponsor the Engineering Machine Design Contest (EMDC), a program that challenges 9th-12th grade students to apply advanced STEM principles—such as engineering, fluid mechanics, and chemical reactions—alongside creativity and teamwork to design a chain reaction machine. By sponsoring this event, your company will help inspire the next generation of STEM professionals and foster the development of future problem solvers. Your support is especially important this year as we host the EMDC Championship locally at WCTC. Become a sponsor today and make a lasting impact!

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Volunteer Opportunity:

Volunteer registration is now available for EMDC judging. Please register today to join us on Friday, March 14 at Discovery World in Milwaukee. Join a cluster of judges to view students’ creativity and ingenuity with these complex machines.

EMDC Championship is Coming to Wisconsin!

We are thrilled to partner with the Minnesota State Engineering Center of Excellence to host the Engineering Machine Design Contest Championship on April 25, 2025, at The Waukesha County Technical College. Don’t miss the opportunity to compete in this championship event in our backyard!

All teams competing at our regional event on March 14th will have the opportunity to qualify for the Championship! Several schools, including a wild card, will move forward from our regional contest. Best of luck to all teams in the regional competition as you aim for a spot at the Championship!

Sign up today for more information about the volunteer opportunities with this event by emailing Theresa Wolf at twolf@stemfoward.org! As the local supporter of this event, we need more support to bring this program to life.

Thank You to the Participants and Volunteers for a Successful 2024 Wisconsin Regional Competition!

Held on Friday, March 15, 2024

Discovery World

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We had an amazing time at the 2024 Engineering Machine Design Contest Wisconsin Regional held on Friday, March 15th, at the Discovery World. This cross-curricular program engaged a diverse team of high school students with various interests, including arts, visual media, writing, engineering, physics, construction, and more. The 2024 theme, “Human to Tech Transfer,” offered an exciting challenge for the students.