Playing at Engineering Education: The Dirty Dozen Puzzle Contest

Abstract

Beginning in 2000, the author has run an annual online puzzle contest for engineering students as one of UTA’s Engineering Week activities. The goal of developing this tradition has been to show that problem solving can be both fun and profitable. The contest has been humorously dubbed the Dirty Dozen Puzzle Contest from the challenging nature of its thirteen problems. The winner of each year’s contest receives a $1000 scholarship, which also gives in-state tuition for up to three semesters for a non-Texas resident. As a result, approximately 10% of all engineering students participate. This paper provides details of the contest’s philosophy and administration, as well as past contest puzzles. Moreover, other engineering schools are invited to participate in an intercollegiate competition.