Engineer Machine Design Contest

A STEM Competition for High School Students

2027 Theme is "Engineering the invisible universe: Atoms to applications at the nanoscale"

We are excited to announce that registration for the 2027 EMDC Milwaukee Regional is now open!

WHAT IS THE ENGINEERING MACHINE DESIGN CONTEST?

The Engineering Machine Design Contest (EMDC) is an opportunity for teams of 3 to 12 high school students to design and build a complex machine using everyday objects with the guidance of a coach. The completed machine will use multiple steps to complete a simple task. Teams showcase and exhibit their machine at a regional contest with the opportunity to advance to the Engineering Machine Design Championship. Teams are scored on a Team Journal, Team Presentation, and Machine Design and Operation.

Each year, a competition theme is chosen to guide the machine build, allowing whimsical creativity to flourish. The theme for 2027 is Engineering the Invisible Universe: Atoms to Applications at the Nanoscale.

Don’t delay, registration closes on February 26, 2027.

Students explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) principles while having fun in a collaborative environment. This competition is in collaboration with the Minnesota State Engineering Center of Excellence. The EMDC Championship event will be at Minnesota State University in Mankato, MN, on Friday, April 16, 2027.

Objectives of the Program

1. Providing a low-cost or affordable experience for students,
2. Inspiring an interest in engineering and related career pathways, and
3. Equipping students with skills that will help prepare them for future careers.

Interested in getting your students involved? Reach out to Rich Merkel at rmerkel@stemforward.org for more information.

Sponsors Needed!

STEM Forward is seeking corporate sponsors to support our spring engineering competitions and help inspire the next generation of STEM talent. Your sponsorship provides students with hands-on opportunities to develop critical skills in creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, and innovation through programs such as Future City, Contrapt Wisconsin, and the Engineering Machine Design Contest. These impactful experiences would not be possible without the support of industry partners committed to strengthening southeastern Wisconsin’s future workforce. Join us in investing in tomorrow’s engineers, scientists, and innovators while demonstrating your organization's commitment to STEM education and talent development.

2027 Sponsorship Opportunities for Engineering Design Programs

We are pleased to announce that one of our Wisconsin teams took 1st Place at the EMDC Championship at Minnesota State University, Mankato, on April 17, 2026! Congratulations to Team WaunakeeWAY Physics II from Waunakee High School!

Local news coverage from past EMDC competitions:

View some of the participating teams in action at the Wisconsin regional engineering machine design contest!