The 37th Annual Tech Challenge Prepares for Landing

April 26, 2024

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

Prepare for an out-of-this-world experience at 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.

Tech Challenge 2024 Weekend Schedule

 

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.

Teams of two to six students began working through the engineering design process in October to solve this year’s 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. 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.” — Abby Longcor, Senior Director of The Tech Challenge

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.

Thank you to our sponsors

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.