Kansas City Area Teams Competing in Live Regional Rube Goldberg Machine Contest

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Feb. 16, 2016 -- Area schools are competing on February 27 in the Division 1 Regional Rube Goldberg Machine Contest at the Museum at Prairiefire in Overland Park. The competition is being sponsored by Black & Veatch and is free and open to the public.

The event is part of an international competition in which teams of students from middle school to college age compete in building the most elaborate and humorous Rube Goldberg Machines. Rube Goldberg Machines are overly complex contraptions used to accomplish a simple task. This year’s challenge is to design a machine that can open an umbrella.

“This contest is a fun way for students to put science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills to work,” said Lori Kelleher, Chief Human Resources Officer for Black & Veatch. “This hands-on learning experience is especially useful for students interested in careers in STEM-related areas such infrastructure development and smart cities initiatives.”

Area teams are competing in the Division 1 competition for students ages 11-14. They are from Indian Woods Middle School in Overland Park; Broken Arrow Elementary School in Shawnee, Kansas; and Aubry Bend Middle School in Overland Park. Team sizes range from five to 11 students. The competition begins at the museum at 10 a.m.

The winner of the competition will compete in the online finals for the International Division 1 Championship on April 23.

The Museum at Prairiefire is located at 5801 W. 135th Street and is the cultural anchor of a $430 million, 58-acre mixed use project that integrates residential, office, retail and entertainment.

Editor’s Note:

• Link for more information on Rube Goldberg:  www.rubegoldberg.com

About Black & Veatch
Black & Veatch is an employee-owned, global leader in building critical human infrastructure in Energy, Water, Telecommunications and Government Services. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people in over 100 countries through consulting, engineering, construction, operations and program management. Our revenues in 2014 were US$3.0 billion. Follow us on www.bv.com and in social media.

Media Contact Information:
GEORGE MINTER | +1 913-458-8001 P | +1 913-972-8811 M | [email protected] 
24-HOUR MEDIA HOTLINE | +1 866-496-9149

About the Museum at Prairiefire
Through a unique collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, as well as with other cultural and educational institutions in the Kansas City area, the Museum at Prairiefire is a place to understand and celebrate natural history and culture in our region and around the world. The Museum engages visitors and area students with world-class exhibitions, important programming and significant educational opportunities. It is the nation’s first permanent venue hosting continuous traveling American Museum of Natural History exhibitions.
5801 W. 135th Street, Overland Park, Kansas 66223 - Phone: (913) 333-3500 - museumatpf.org

Media Contact Information:
CARSON CURRY | +1 913-333-3519 P | +1 913-967-9154 | [email protected]