A group of engineering students in Brazil became viral after constructing a bridge made from ice cream sticks that can support over 430 kilograms during a capacity test.
Five civil engineering students from São Paulo, Brazil, gained widespread attention on social media after successfully building a bridge entirely from ice cream sticks that could withstand more than 430 kilograms during a testing phase. The project was spearheaded by students from the fourth year of civil engineering at the Centro Universitario de Rio Preto (Unirp): Beatriz Rodrigues Borges (27), Camila Bonifácio da Rocha (23), Livian Pereira Duarte (22), Maria Helena Naime Thomé de Vasconcelos Grisi (32), and Yasmim Vitória Puga (21). This initiative was part of their curriculum, specifically focusing on the third-year structures coursework.
The building of this ice cream stick bridge serves not only as an educational exercise but has also become a cherished tradition at the university, where students from various disciplines come together to engage in this creativity-driven competition. This year, the test day captured the imagination and engagement of social media users, garnering over 29 million views and raising interest in the innovative approaches taken by the students in their civil engineering training.
This achievement highlights the students’ understanding of structural engineering principles and their ability to apply theoretical knowledge in practical, inventive ways. Such projects encourage collaboration and ingenuity among students while also showcasing their skills to a broader audience, potentially inspiring future engineering enthusiasts.
