The third annual Iron Egg Launch competition will take place at 10 a.m. April 29 on the athletic field across from Ball Memorial Hospital near the intersection of University and Tillotson avenues.

The event, hosted by Ball State and the Purdue University College of Technology-Anderson/Muncie, is expected to draw more than 20 teams of high school students from across the state. Each team will construct a launcher and a container to protect the egg from cracking.

The eggs must survive three flights directed toward a bull's-eye 25 meters from the launch pad. Entries will be judged for accuracy, scientific calculations, cost of materials and how well the egg survives.

"Last year, the teams learned that what works well in practice doesn't automatically mean it will perform well in competition," said Dave Riegle, event coordinator. "The students really learn about teamwork and thinking 'on the fly' to make key decisions and adjustments to make their entries work."

The event will also promote Ball State's manufacturing engineering technology and construction management programs and the Purdue College of Technology-Anderson/Muncie.

(Note to editors: For more information contact Riegle at (765) 285-5554 or driegle@bsu.edu. For more stories, visit the Ball State University News Center at www.bsu.edu/news.)