The Boston Society for Civil Engineers sponsors its annual Ralph Salvucci Online Bridge Competition — the Massachusetts sub-contest of the national Engineering Encounters Bridge Design Contest.  Massachusetts students in Grades 6-12, in teams of 1 or 2, use free software provided by the contest to design the cheapest bridge that can carry the specified truck.  Design your bridge, click on the truck, and see if it holds up or crashes.  The top 20 teams will be invited to the Awards Banquet as free guests.  All local contestants are automatically entered in the national contest.  Check out the flyer (PDF), see the rules, then on January 12 you may register (using local code RSOB) and download the software, and submit your design by 1PM on April 24.  For more information, to get help, to find a mentor, or to offer to help sponsor the contest, email the Contest Coordinator, Alex Bonnar, at alex.bonnar@gmail.com.