Register today to join us at the EMDC Milwaukee Regional on March 13, 2026!

Discovery World / Milwaukee, WI

Theme: "Engineering Across Eras: Innovating Industrial Engineering Through Time"

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 2026 is Engineering Across Eras: Innovating Industrial Engineering Through Time.

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 17, 2026.

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 Theresa Wolf at twolf@stemforward.org for more information about the Engineering Machine Design Contest and how to get started and register your team by February 20, 2026!

EMDC Program Information

Be A Volunteer Judge

Register today to join us at the Engineering Machine Design Contest as a volunteer judge on Friday, March 13, 2026. Work alongside a team of judges to experience students’ creativity, innovation, and problem-solving skills as they showcase their complex machine designs. Your support helps make this inspiring learning experience possible for students.

Sign Up to Volunteer

Sponsor Today

Invest in the Future: Sponsor Our Spring STEM Competitions

Each spring, STEM Forward engages hundreds of middle and high school students in hands-on competitions that challenge them to apply engineering design, teamwork, and problem-solving skills to real-world challenges.

Sponsorships help provide materials, event resources, student recognition, and opportunities for industry professionals to connect with students. Most importantly, sponsors help inspire the next generation of innovators while supporting the development of a strong future STEM workforce.

Join us in empowering students to explore STEM pathways and turn their ideas into solutions that impact our communities and beyond. Reach out to Theresa Wolf at twolf@stemforward.org with any questions.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the EMDC Milwaukee Regional Competition at Discovery World on March 14, 2025, and the EMDC Championship on April 25, 2025, at Waukesha County Technical College in Pewaukee, WI. Congratulations to all the teams!

View Championship Photos

Championship Program