Press Release:

More than 2,000 Students in Grades 4-12 to Participate in The Tech’s Premier Engineering Design Program

San Jose, April 24, 2024 – Prepare for an out-of-this-world experience as The Tech, the world-renowned science, technology, and education center in the heart of Silicon Valley, gears up to host the Final Showcase of 37th Annual Tech Challenge this weekend. Presented by Amazon, the event is set to ignite imaginations on Saturday, April 27, and Sunday, April 28, at South Hall in San Jose. This yearly event is free and open to the public.  The event schedule can be found here.

The Tech's annual team design challenge for Grades 4-12 stands as the institution's signature and longest-running program, marking its 37th year in 2024. This year's theme, Cosmic Quest, sends teams on a fictional journey to aid scientists in unraveling the mysteries of a distant planet and its largest moon. Students are tasked with crafting a launcher capable of delicately delivering vital supplies to the moon's surface, testing their engineering prowess and problem-solving skills.

This year-round program kicked off in October when teams of two to six students began working through the engineering design process to solve the given challenge. Participants have spent months collaborating and becoming deeply engaged in the challenge while documenting their progress and designs. The program culminates this weekend in an inspiring two-day showcase where teams put their solutions to the test in front of judges.

"The Tech Challenge sparks students' passion for engineering, fostering a profound love for learning, teamwork, and innovation," stated Abby Longcor, Senior Director of The Tech Challenge. “This year's cosmic theme, 'Cosmic Quest,' has captured imaginations far and wide, promising to not only elevate engineering prowess but also spark the curiosity of future astronomers and physicists. We're thrilled to witness countless students ascend to new heights of creativity and problem-solving this weekend.”

Over 500 teams, along with hundreds of dedicated volunteers and a multitude of spectators from all corners of California will descend upon South Hall this weekend for the Final Showcase. This year’s Test Trials, pre-event testing sessions held at The Tech Interactive, have shattered all previous records underscoring a burgeoning appetite for immersive engineering engagements, evident in both educational settings and aftercare programs alike.

The Tech Challenge presenting sponsor is Amazon; with additional support from eBay, Inc., Barbara and Bill Heil, eBay, Inc., Intel, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Adobe Foundation, Agilent, Arm, Deloitte Foundation, EY, Ford Motor Company, Gibson Dunn, Google, Hitachi Vantara, Marvell, Mayfield Fund Foundation, Neat, Renesas Electronics, and Snowflake.