For Non-SLIET Participants Only: techFEST'26 is North India's premier technical festival, organised by Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology (SLIET), Longowal, Punjab . This is a paid opportunity with the early-bird packages mentioned below.
Accommodation and Meals: Registration for the techFEST’26 package is compulsory for accommodation and other perks, while participation in individual events is free*.
Note: Registration is mandatory for participation. Fee once paid is non-refundable.
About the Event: Tech Fest SLIET 2026 CIVICON presents Seismic Challenge , an exciting platform for civil engineering enthusiasts to showcase, test, and enhance their structural engineering skills. This hands-on competition challenges participants to design and construct a frame building model using popsicle sticks, capable of withstanding dynamic earthquake loading while minimizing inter-storey drift. SEISMIC brings the golden opportunity to learn the most diverse concepts of civil engineering with minimal background knowledge and come up with an innovative solution to the current issue of earthquakes that our time is currently experiencing. The objective is to provide students with an opportunity to work on a hands-on project designing and constructing a frame building to resist seismic loading and promote earthquake engineering study among students.
Challenge: Design and build a 3-storey earthquake-resistant frame structure using popsicle sticks. The structure will be tested on a shake table. Build a structure that withstands maximum earthquake acceleration with minimum inter-storey drift. Participants may use techniques such as cross-bracing, base isolation, or tuned mass dampers.
Height: 500–650 mm (±10 mm tolerance)
Floor Plan: ≤300 × 300 mm per floor (G+1+2)
Columns: Maximum 12 × 10 mm cross-section
Beams: 12 × 8 mm (±2 mm), maximum 3 sticks overlapped in depth
Footing: Wooden slab, 450 × 450 mm (±5 mm), thickness 6–8 mm
Screws: Maximum 8 screws to attach the structure to the footing; screws cannot be used elsewhere
Materials Allowed: Popsicle sticks only (maximum size 120 × 12 × 2 mm), which can be cut/trimmed to any shape Fevicol MR White glue, only to join popsicle sticks together Wooden plank, only for the footing Screws (bolt & nut), maximum 8, only to attach the structure to the footing Materials
Not Allowed: Glue on free stick surfaces to boost strength; adhesive is for joining only Any material other than popsicle sticks for bracing Any other material anywhere except for non-bracing earthquake-resisting mechanisms, such as tuned mass damper components Screws used anywhere other than footing attachment
Venue
Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology,Longowal,Punjab
Laungowal, India
Rules: Bring-from-home model Teams of 1–4 members Open to any branch No structural changes are allowed after measurement Not more than 4 sticks may be overlapped longitudinally for columns Not more than 3 sticks may be overlapped longitudinally for beams
Penalty: +5 points per dimension exceeding tolerance by up to 5 mm Exceeding the tolerance beyond 5 mm will result in disqualification
Marking Scheme: The score is calculated using the following formula: S = D × (1 + W) × (1 +
P/100) Where: D = Maximum inter-storey drift W = Dead weight in kg P = Penalty points
Winning Criteria: Lower score wins. In case of a tie, the winner will be determined by: Lower D Then lower W Join the Seismic Challenge. Make your mark.
Website: www.techfest26.com
Email: techfest@sliet.ac.in Rules and Regulations -
General Rules: All participants must carry a valid college ID card and their techFEST'26 registration receipt. Reporting time will be communicated to registered teams; late reporting may lead to walkover. The decision of the judges and organisers will be final and binding in all matters. Any form of misconduct, plagiarism or use of unfair means leads to immediate disqualification. Participants are responsible for their own equipment and personal belongings. Organisers reserve the right to modify any rule at any time; updates are announced at the venue.
Eligibility: Open to students of all institutes and all degree programmes, unless specified otherwise in the event rules above. Participants must be registered for techFEST'26 through the official portal. Cross-college teams are welcome.
Prizes: Prizes worth Rs 45,000+ for this event. 1st
Place: Winner trophy/certificate and cash prize 2nd
Place: Runner-up certificate and cash prize 3rd
Place: Certificate and cash prize
Participation: Certificates of participation for all registered participants About the Festival - techFEST'26 at
SLIET: techFEST'26 is the annual technical festival of Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology (SLIET), Longowal, Punjab - a deemed-to-be university under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. Established in 1989 and accredited with Grade A by NAAC, SLIET spreads across a lush 451-acre campus with 11 departments and more than 5,000 students. With a legacy of over 28 years, techFEST