Final preparations are underway for the 3rd Annual ATEMS Cardboard Boat Invitational at Abilene Christian University.
The Academy of Technology, Engineering, Math & Science, in partnership with the ACU Department of Engineering and the architecture and engineering firm of Parkhill, Smith, and Cooper, will host the event on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 9 a.m. at ACU’s Money Student Recreation and Wellness Center.
Nine Abilene ISD teams will launch their cardboard boats in the ACU swimming pool and embark on an afternoon of fun and competition.
The invitational, which consists of both a middle school division and an ATEMS High School division, challenges students to engineer their own boats using only cardboard, duct tape and glue over a span of eight weeks. This includes up to seven one-hour build dates on their own campuses followed by a final build day at the ACU Bennett Engineering Lab on Friday, Oct. 26.
After students have completed the process of researching, designing and building their boats, they will test them in the ACU pool through speed races and durability challenges. Winners of each of the competitions will be recognized and the top team in each division will be crowned as division champs.
This event provides an opportunity to build student interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) through a hands-on team-based approach. It reinforces several STEM concepts including linear measurement, volume, displacement, buoyancy and nets, while also emphasizing the importance of teamwork, cooperation and planning.
