UC Irvine EWBJunior Science & Engineeringcompetition 2026

Engineers Without Borders at the University of California, Irvine (EWB-UCI) is a student-led chapter of Engineers Without Borders USA, a nonprofit organization that works with communities around the world to design and implement sustainable engineering solutions. At EWB-UCI, members from diverse engineering and non-engineering backgrounds work collaboratively to tackle challenges that extend beyond the classroom. We engage in both international and domestic projects that support underserved communities, with an emphasis on clean water access, housing, infrastructure resilience, and educational outreach. Every project we take on is driven by community partnership, cultural understanding, and a commitment to sustainability.

UCI EWB Junior Science & Engineering Competition is part of the World STEM League. In the League, students compete across multiple competitions throughout the League Year, allowing them to:

• practice repeatedly
• track their improvement over time
• collaborate with teammates across competitions

This creates a cycle of growth: compete, learn, refine, and improve.

The UC Irvine EWB Junior Science & Engineering Competition is designed as an enriching introduction to STEM that nurtures curiosity, reinforces classroom learning, and encourages students to think beyond the textbook. The experience begins with a grade-level-appropriate online challenge aligned with core math and science concepts. Students then engage in developing solutions to real-world problems through drawing, building, and creative thinking, before sharing their ideas through a poster for the lower primary category and simple presentations for the upper primary category.

Each stage is intentionally structured to build confidence, develop problem-solving skills, and foster interest and curiosity in STEM.