Future engineers create Rube Goldberg machines for Goodyear's STEM Career Day

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Akron, Ohio, has issued a $15,000 challenge to students in grades 6 to 12 to design a Rube Goldberg™ machine using science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) principles to fill a Goodyear blimp.

The challenge, which offers up to $4,000 to the high school group that produces the most innovative concept, is part of Goodyear's 16th Annual STEM Career Day event, formerly Engineering Career Day, which will be held at The University of Akron on Saturday, April 18. The company anticipates welcoming more than 2,000 students, accompanied by 1,000 parents and teachers, to the university for its day-long event.

In addition to exploring the campus, students will interact with representatives from more than 50 local organizations, who will be hosting hands-on, STEM-based activities throughout the day. One of these hands-on activities will be a zombie apocalypse-themed challenge requiring the use of engineering acumen to design and build a mechanical system. The system they build will allow them to pick up "supplies" while remaining out of reach of the "undead."