Spectator Overview


Pick a Pike Background

The Tech Challenge is an annual event of The Tech Museum of Innovation that engages young minds in the subjects of critical thinking, teamwork and perseverance. Each year, Bay Area fifth through twelfth graders are presented with a Design Challenge to solve a reality-based problem.

This year teams are looking to Sierra County's Lake Davis in Portola, CA for their problem. This is an area known to tourists for its trout fishing. The lake is home to a variety of fish species including golden shiners, brown bullheads, pumpkinseed sunfish, and rainbow and brown trout. Between 1994 and 1997, residents noticed an explosion in the population of northern pike. Northern pike are not native to Lake Davis; the history of the pike's introduction into the lake is unknown. The presence of this predatory, non-native fish caused a decline in the populations of the native species and in trout fishing.

If this pike population cannot be controlled effectively, the species in Lake Davis are in danger as well as trout fishing tourism. In addition, if these hearty fish travel and survive in the various bodies of water that lead to the Sacramento-San Joaquin river systems, then the commercial California salmon fishery, as well as native fish are all at risk. The Department of Fish and Game and the residents of Portola have developed a plan to control the population of northern pike. However, this plan costs $500,000 per year, requires the intense help of many people, and is not successful at controlling the pike population. Who better to take a fresh look at the problem then kids?


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What you will see

Some of the things you will see on the Big Day:

  • Judging
    It is time to get the devices wet. Teams will have 3 minutes to operate their device in front of the judges. If the pike makes it back to the FIN-ish area, the siren of success will sound.
  • Costumes
    Teams may compete for Best Costume. In previous years we have seen everything from matching t-shirts, to dyed red hair, to a full-fledged frog suit!
  • Tinkering
    Some devices may need some last minute adjustments before they are ready for judging. Teams bring their tool boxes and make sure their device is in tip top shape.
  • Awards Ceremony
    Join us in New Venture Hall at the Tech Museum to award this year's Tech Challenge winners. There are 22 prize categories for each of the three age groups. Admission to the awards ceremony is FREE.

* If anyone in your party has special needs for Tech Challenge events, please contact (408) 795-6105. As much advance notice as possible would be appreciated.


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Location

The Tech Challenge competition takes place at:

Parkside Hall
180 Park Avenue
San Jose, CA 95113
(Between Market Street and Almaden Boulevard)

The awards ceremony will be held in New Venture Hall inside The Tech Museum of Innovation at 201 S. Market Street (around the corner from Parkside Hall).

Maps, directions, parking and public transportation


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The Big Day Schedule

April 24th, 2004

Time Event
10:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Grades 5 - 6 judging
12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Grades 7 - 8 judging
1:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. Grades 5 - 6 Awards Ceremony
(New Venture Hall, The Tech Museum)
2:15 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Grades 9 - 12 judging
3:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. Grades 7 - 8 Awards Ceremony
(New Venture Hall, The Tech Museum)
4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Grades 9 - 12 Awards Ceremony
(New Venture Hall, The Tech Museum)

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Cost

Admission is FREE for anyone to the Big Day. Spectators can pick up discounted tickets for the Tech Museum inside Parkside Hall during competition.


Dining

There will be a concession stand open during competition in Parkside Hall. In addition there are several places to eat downtown


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Pick a Pike Scrapbook

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