March 24, 2010

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -  Participants in the 21st Annual Brent Newman Egg Drop Competition will watch eggs protected by their personally-designed contraptions be dropped three stories from the roof of the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) Business-Engineering Complex. The goal is for a participant's contraption to prevent the egg from breaking after the three-story drop. The event goal is to promote engineering education and inspire the next generation of Alabama engineers.

The event will be Friday, March 26 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the east lawn of the UAB Business-Engineering Complex, 1150 10th Ave. S.

Hundreds of students from more than 10 Central Alabama elementary, middle and high schools will participate. The contest is sponsored and managed by the UAB School of Engineering chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).

Students must use approved materials to design their egg drop contraption. The contraption must fit in a container no larger than 2' x 2' x 2' to be acceptable, but there are no design restrictions. First through third place winners will be named in elementary-, middle- and high-school categories. An overall winner will also be named. Students are judged on their design, its weight, ease of use and creativity.

About UAB

The UAB School of Engineering offers students real-world experience while they train in one of its degree programs, which include the only undergraduate biomedical engineering program in Alabama. Students experience cutting-edge research opportunities, industry co-ops and unique internships generated by the school's commitment to interdisciplinary learning.