The 2025 Maryland Engineering Challenge competition dates and project guides have been updated!
Curious how to begin? Follow these steps!
The Maryland Engineering Challenges (MEC) is a project-based STEM competition for grades 1 to 12 hosted at the Baltimore Museum of Industry. The MEC provides a group project that can be worked on during in-classroom or out-of-classroom time that culminates in state-wide competitions at the museum in the latter part of the school year–January through April.
The mission of the Maryland Engineering Challenges is to introduce students in grades 1 to 12 to the role of engineers in today’s society and connect what students learn in school with real-world engineering concepts.
Participating in the Challenges helps students develop comprehension and problem-solving skills; encourages teamwork and self-confidence; and can promote meaningful mentor relationships with engineering professionals.
In addition to developing students’ STEM skills (science, technology, engineering, and math), each Challenge also integrates reading, writing, and public speaking with hands-on, project-based learning.
Still have questions? Contact Education Manager Jessica Celmer at challenges@thebmi.org and sign up for our emails.
If you are interested in learning more about the Maryland Engineering Challenges, click here to fill out the interest form.
Please see the Challenge Guides on how to register for each challenge and read carefully, as rules or specs may change from year to year. Additional participation suggestions may be found in the Information Sheet at the top of the page.
Robot Coaches’ Hands-on Workshop
Learn the practical aspects of the Robot Challenge in this workshop. Work with engineers to explore design and construction aspects of this project. Especially helpful for first-time Coaches and/or those with little engineering experience. Pickup of robot kits can be arranged during the workshop. Free; registration required.
Questions? Reach out to challenges@thebmi.org
WHEN October 23, 2024 from 4:00-7:00pm (in-person) & January 25, 2025 from 10:00am-2:00pm (virtual)
WHERE The Baltimore Museum of Industry
REGISTER https://bit.ly/2025RobotWorkshopRegistration
Can’t make either workshop? Check out recording from last year’s virtual training: Part 1 & Part 2
Cargo Ship Student and Coaches’ Hands-on Workshop
Learn the practical aspects of the Cargo Ship Challenge in this in-person workshop hosted at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. Work with engineers to explore design and construction aspects of this project. Especially helpful for first-time coaches and students as well as those with little engineering experience. Check out the details of the workshop.
Free; registration required. Questions? Reach out to challenges@thebmi.org.
WHEN November 16, 2024 (If needed, the reschedule date is November23, 2024)
TIME 10:00am-1:00pm
School Levels
Elementary School Level
Elementary School Information Sheet
Paper Airplane — Grades 1 to 5
Date: April 12, 2025
Design a paper airplane to safely fly a paperclip “passenger” as far and accurately as possible.
2025 Paper Airplane Guide
Safe Racer — Grades 2 and 3
Date: March 22, 2025
Build a safe and speedy car to allow the “driver,” Eggbert[a], to survive a crash test and distance trial.
2025 Safe Racer Guide
Safe Racer FAQs
Hovercraft — Grades 5 to 8
Date: April 12, 2025
Build the fastest hovercraft to travel across the “Chesapeake Bay.”
2025 Hovercraft Guide
Straw Bridge — Grades 5 to 8
Date: February 8, 2025
Construct a structurally efficient paper straw bridge to support a specific weight for one minute.
2025 Straw Bridge Guide
2025 Straw Bridge Design Specification
Straw Bridge Written Report Guide
Middle School Level
Middle School Information Sheet
Future City — Grades 6 to 8
Date: January 18, 2025
Design a city of the future using SimCity software and create a model of one area.
Contact James Brown at midatlantic@futurecity.org for details.
For more information go to: https://futurecity.org/future-city-regions/mid-atlantic/
2025 Future City Information
Robot — Grades 6 to 8
In-Person Date: May 4, 2025
Virtual Date: May 3, 2025
Construct a two or four leg robot to walk under direction over uneven terrain.
2025 Robot Guide
Robot Overview
Hovercraft — Grades 5 to 8
Date: April 12, 2025
Build the fastest hovercraft to travel across the “Chesapeake Bay.”
2025 Hovercraft Guide
Straw Bridge — Grades 5 to 8
Date: February 8, 2025
Construct a structurally efficient paper straw bridge to support a specific weight for one minute.
2025 Straw Bridge Guide
2025 Straw Bridge Design Specification
Straw Bridge Written Report Guide
High School Level
Wood Bridge — Grades 9 to 12
Date: February 8, 2025
Design a structurally efficient bridge to hold the maximum load before breaking.
Contact Michael Newman at conradnewman13@gmail.com for details.
2025 International Competition Rules
2025 Wood Bridge Information Sheet
Robot — Grades 9 to 12
In-Person Date: May 4, 2025
Virtual Date: May 3, 2025
Construct a two or four leg robot to walk under direction over uneven terrain.
2025 Robot Guide
Robot Overview
Cargo Ship — Grades 9 to 12
Date: May 4, 2025
Design and demonstrate a ship to carry containerized cargo over a water course.
2025 Cargo Ship Guide
Sponsored by:
BD Diagnostics | BGE-an Exelon Company | The Engineering Society of Baltimore | The Helen and Harry Shealey Maryland Engineering Challenges Support and Development Fund
IEEE Baltimore | Intralox | KELVIN | Michael Hinkey and Kathryn Benson | NAVSEA at Carderock | Northrop Grumman | The Propeller Club of Baltimore | W.R. Grace
Supported by:
Technology & Engineering Educators Association of Maryland
Additional STEM Opportunities & Resources:
Morgan State University Science-Mathematics-Engineering Fair