Many elementary school students, the future leaders of Japan, entered the contest! "The 31st Cardboard Bridges Contest" winners have been selected!

　The National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management (NILIM) of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) and the Public Works Research Institute (PWRI) of the National Institute for Civil Engineerings (NILI) held the "Cardboard Bridge Contest" to encourage elementary school students, the future leaders of Japan, to learn about the importance of bridges and other civil engineering infrastructure that support our lives through manufacturing.

　After a strict screening process, this year's winning entries have been selected, and an award ceremony will be held on November 16 (Sat) at the National Research Institute.

　All the winning entries will be exhibited at the "Civil Engineering Day 2024," an open-house event at the National Research Institute on Saturday, November 16. In addition, photo panels of the winning entries will be displayed at Tsukuba TX station, Tsukuba City Hall, and other locations.

Award-winning work 1

■About the Cardboard Bridges Contest

【Purpose of the Contest】

　The purpose of the contest is to let elementary school students, who are the future leaders of Japan, learn about the importance of bridges and other civil engineering infrastructure that supports our daily lives through manufacturing.

【Eligibility】

　4th and 5th graders of elementary school in Tsukuba City. Individuals and groups are both eligible to participate.

【Requirements for Entries】

　・Entrants must create "My Bridge" using construction paper.

　・The paperboard to be used must be 2 sheets of B3 size (380 x 525mm).

　・The bridge should be able to cross a river 30 cm wide.

　・The bridge must not break when a 1 kg weight is placed near the center.

　・The bridge must be colored and decorated to represent my bridge and my bridge.

【Awards】

　Entries will be judged on the basis of the following criteria all entries will be evaluated by bridge and art experts and educators, and the best entries will be awarded.

　"Grand Prize" (3 works)

　"Structural Design Award" (5 works)

　"Art Design Award" (5 works)

　"Effort Award" (5 works)

　The "Civil Engineering Day Prize" (1 work) will be awarded to the work that receives the most votes from visitors voting at the "Civil Engineering Day 2024" exhibition site.

【Viewpoints of work evaluation】

　Stability as a bridge

　Beauty of design and workmanship

　Originality and uniqueness

■About the Award Ceremony

　The award ceremony for the winning works will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2024, during the NILIM open house "Civil Engineering Day 2024".

Date: Saturday, November 16, 2024, 10:00 - 11:30

Place: National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management (Asahi Building) (1 Asahi, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture)

　　　8th Floor Conference Room

■Exhibition of works

　All entries will be exhibited at the NILIM Open House "Civil Engineering Day 2024" on November 16 (Sat.). In addition, photo panels of the winning entries will be displayed in the concourse of TX Tsukuba Station (exhibition period: Thursday, October 31 - Thursday, November 14) and Tsukuba City Hall (exhibition period: Monday, December 16 - Friday, December 27).

■Others

　This year's exhibition will also feature 40 works by 52 participants from Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture.

　This participation was initiated by an elementary school in the affected area, which soon marked the 30th anniversary of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, who became interested in the contest through disaster prevention studies and other activities, leading to the collaboration.

■Implementation Structure

Sponsor : National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism / Public Works Research Institute

Supported by: Tsukuba City Board of Education

Location: 1 Asahi, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, 305-0804, Japan

URL: https://www.nilim.go.jp/

【For inquiries regarding this matter, please contact】

Planning Division, National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management

TEL: 029-864-4090

E-mail: nil-tsukuba-event@gxb.mlit.go.jp