A Rube Goldberg Machine is a highly complex mechanism to perform a simple task. You may have seen a rather intricate one in the band OK Go’s music video “This Too Shall Pass”. This past weekend, Waterloo Engineering students worked with high school and elementary aged youth to design and build a Rube Goldberg built by innovative and creative volunteers and participants. Saturday was the big finale when all of the components were brought together through collaboration of each of the component teams and great teamwork between groups.
So why all the hard work? This Rube Goldberg machine marks one of thirteen concurrently being built across the province. Engineering undergrads across Ontario are teaming up to build Rube Goldberg machines with high school students for National Engineering Month. Through this event, youth are able to get a taste for the design, planning and team building skills that are all essential to the engineering profession. Each machine is connected to another through cell phone and internet connections. Waterloo’s machine will be set off by one built at the University of Toronto.
Waterloo’s own machine has been lucky enough to be chosen to set off the machine at the CN Tower! In order to promote awareness of National Engineering Month and the importance of engineering in modern society, the CN Tower, a feat of engineering in itself, lights up purple to commemorate the event. This year, each machine will run at schools across Ontario and as the signal is transmitted across the province, we will celebrate the brilliance, innovation and advancement of the field of engineering, and all its contributions to modern society.
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