Integrated Building Services (IBS), the premier full-service engineering firm in The Bahamas, recently held the eleventh annual IBS Build-A-Bridge competition.
Teams participating in the IBS Build-A-Bridge Challenge use Popsicle sticks and Elmer’s glue to build the lightest bridge that can carry the most load.
Eighteen schools registered for the event and, for the first time in its history, both categories of the competition — efficiency load and aesthetics — were won by all-girls teams from Anatol Rodgers Senior High School and Central Andros High School respectively.
The IBS Build-A-Bridge Competition, which is endorsed by the Ministry of Education and supported by industry professionals and corporate Bahamas, is the first and only one of its kind in The Bahamas,
Mr Gary Scavella, director of maintenance and engineering at Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) and Ms Sharon Poitier, acting deputy director at the Ministry of Education were the guest speakers. Architects Marcus Laing and Kenrad Wilchombe judged the aesthetics competition.
Approximately 1,000 students have participated in the bridge building competition since its inception 11 years ago. The event was conceived by Nick Dean, an engineer and principal of IBS, as a way to increase the appeal of engineering and the applied sciences to high school students.
“The IBS Build-A-Bridge Challenge is an example of how the private sector can be socially responsible and work together to develop talent for our industries. This would not be possible without the continued support of The Ministry of Education, industry experts and our many sponsors, especially our gold sponsors ALIV and Bahamas Hot Mix,” said Dean. “As engineers, we’re proud to demonstrate the everyday need for science, technology, engineering and math. It is my hope that we can show future engineers, especially women, that they can have a career at home.”
