Take the Science Buddies Engineering Challenge!
Ping Pong Pickup—2023 Engineering Challenge
Congratulations to everyone who participated in the Ping Pong Pickup Challenge! We will announce the winners of the ten $1,000 USD random prize drawings and the teams with the highest scores on April 6, 2023.
Although the challenge is over, you can still have fun building a device to pick up a ping pong ball and return it to the start line. Just follow the guidelines in the video and the written instructions. If you are looking for even more exciting engineering, try one of our past challenges.
Challenge instructions are available in these four formats:
- Elementary School Ping Pong Pickup Challenge Lesson Plan
- Middle School Ping Pong Pickup Challenge Lesson Plan
- High School Ping Pong Pickup Challenge Lesson Plan
- Ping Pong Pickup Challenge Instructions for Students
Made Possible With Support From

Past Engineering Challenges
- 2022 Ball Run Challenge
- 2021 Tallest Tower Challenge
- 2020 Cricket Wicket Knockdown Challenge
- 2019 Volleyball Machine Challenge
- 2018 Ball Launcher Challenge
- 2017 Follow the Flow Challenge
- 2016 Marble Machine Challenge
- 2015 Balloon-Powered Car Challenge
Explore Our Science Videos
Popsicle Stick Catapult
Tallest Tower: 2021 Engineering Challenge
Candy Chromatography: What Colors Are in Your Candy?