Racing with Ingenuity at SJI’s Mighty Mousetrap Car Challenge

On 2 July, SJI hosted the "Mighty Mousetrap Car Challenge". Thirteen schools, comprising 67 students, took part in this intensive and exciting competition. After two and a half months of building and testing their mousetrap-powered cars, the participants finally witnessed their creations travelling across the Indoor Sports Hall. From the heights of anticipation, excitement, and amazement to the depths of frustration … we saw the whole spectrum of emotions!

The event provided students with a hands-on opportunity to apply concepts of physics, engineering and problem-solving. They experimented with friction, force and balance, learning how small adjustments to axle alignment, string tension or wheel diameter could make a crucial difference. Many shared that the journey of collaborative tinkering, trial and error, and small triumphs along the way was just as rewarding as the final race.

This year’s Challenge also fostered camaraderie across schools, with students and teachers exchanging ideas and cheering one another on. As the final cars raced to the finish line, cheers erupted and bonds were formed, a testament to how interest and passion for STEM can bring people together.

The top 3 winners for the Secondary school category were:

• 1st place: Peicai Secondary School Team 1

• 2nd place: St. Joseph’s Institution Team 1

• 3rd place: CHIJ Toa Payoh Team 1

The top 3 winners for the Primary school category were:

• 1st place: St. Stephen’s Primary Team 1

• 2nd place: Zhangde Primary School Team 2

• 3rd place: Zhangde Primary School Team 1

Congratulations to the above schools! We look forward to more schools participating in next year’s Challenge, and to watching this vibrant community of budding innovators continue to grow.