Students in the MS STEAM & Design track recently engaged in a quarantine boredom busting adventure that also required they put their engineering and design skills to the test. They built at home Rube Goldberg machines.

Professor Butts and the Self-Operating Napkin (1931) by Rube Goldberg

Rube Goldberg machines are contraptions named after the whimsical drawings of fantastical machines by cartoonist Rube Goldberg. A Rube Goldberg machine completes a seemingly banal task — like turning a light on, closing a door, or putting salt on your dinner — in a whimsical and elaborate way.

These machines have developed quite a following with world wide competitions and YouTube channels dedicated to the craft. Check out this Guinness Record holder for the Largest Rube Goldberg and the Cake Server by Joseph’s Machines.

The videos here highlight some of our own Pace students’ creations.

Colbie West’s Door Shutter (click here)
Sophia Webb’s Fish Feeder Machine (click here)
Hadley Gunn’s Light Switch Machine (click here)
Evan Secor’s Cat Feeder (click here)
Zach Sitterle’s Dog Feeder (set up video, click here; run video, click here).

Why not try your hand at creating your own Rube Goldberg? Contact Dr. Boehner or Ms. Harlan if you’d like to add your video here!