Hands-on Popsicle Stick Engineering Challenge and Academic Guidance Session

Vidya, with the support of the Civil Engineering Department, takes several initiatives to introduce school students to the fundamentals of structural engineering through engaging, hands-on activities. These include bridge construction workshops, sessions on Dreamcraft – Building Tomorrow’s Home using SketchUp software, Building Information Modelling (BIM) workshops, and Let’s Draft the Plan Smartly, among others. These programs aim to provide practical exposure, foster interest in engineering, and develop students’ technical and creative skills from an early stage.

With an aim to introduce school students to the fundamentals of structural engineering, a  Popsicle Stick Engineering Challenge was successfully conducted under the auspices of Institution of Engineers (India) [IE(I)]  at Vivekodayam Higher Secondary School, Thrissur on 20 November 2025. The event saw enthusiastic participation from 56 students, who were divided into five groups for the activity. 

The session began with an insightful introduction to Popsicle Girder Construction, delivered by Ms.Ardra P. Nair (Asst Prof, CE Dept) . She provided both group-level and individual guidance, helping students understand the fundamentals of designing and constructing bridge models using popsicle sticks. After the hands-on activity, the bridge models were set aside to dry.

Dr. Anjali P. Sasidharan (Asso Prof, CE Dept)  conducted an informative session on KEAM, NEET, various engineering branches, and related career opportunities, offering valuable insights to help students gain clarity about their academic pathways and potential professional trajectories. This session offered valuable insights, helping students gain a clearer understanding of academic pathways and future professional options.

Feedback was then collected from the students regarding their experience with the activity. To further encourage analytical thinking and mathematical curiosity, a Mathematics Quiz was organized by Ms. Roshni Vijay(Asst Prof, CE Dept).This quiz provided an engaging and intellectually stimulating component to the event.

The bridge models were evaluated based on their maximum load-bearing capacity. Group 2 emerged as the winner, achieving the highest load-carrying performance. All members of the winning group were awarded a coffee mug in recognition of their accomplishment. Additionally, sweets were distributed to all participants, enriching the celebratory atmosphere.

The program concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Anjali, expressing sincere gratitude to the school management and all participating students for their support, enthusiasm and active involvement throughout the event