Best design practices are introduced and known pitfalls in construction are outlined for the students. Once the engineers presentations are completed, the students begin designing and constructing with the materials provided for them. These seminars are intended to provide students and teachers with the opportunity to hear from a practicing engineer and receive assistance from an expert. Hints are given on how to build bridges to pre-determined specifications for the competition. Students are then given the materials to build a bridge on site.
Engineers conduct the mousetrap car seminar.
A video of the national competition, drawings, and reports usually precede the students building and racing their own mousetrap cars. Once the students design and construction phase is over, the engineers attach the rockets to the launch platform and blast them away. The computer seminars vary from year to year. This seminar is usually preceded by a hands-on activity unrelated to the Olympiad. Students then use engineering software or visit pre-determined web sites related to engineering.