Brought to you by the Semiconductor Fabrication Program
Electronics Lab Challenge
Summary
In this challenge, you’ll explore real science labs, talk with professionals, research different types of labs, and design your own! By the end, you’ll understand what makes a lab work safely and efficiently — and you’ll have created a full lab design project.
Eligibility
■ Participants must be in 9th – 12th grade and may attend a recognized school or be homeschooled
■ Participants must reside in one of the following Indiana Counties: Brown, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Morgan, Orange, Owen, or Washington
■ This is an individual challenge, so participants must each complete their own unique plan.
The Challenge
Your Task:
Develop a semiconductor laboratory space that contains needed equipment, allows for required activities, and follows all needed safety protocols.
Step 1: Tour a Lab
Goal: See how a real science lab works.
What to Do:
Find a lab to tour. It could be:
A local industry or research lab
A college lab (you can reach out to Andy Somogyi (esomogyi@ivytech.edu) to visit Ivy Tech Bloomington)
A high school lab
Read through this entire challenge before your visit — know what to look for!
After your visit, write a summary of your observations.
Your summary must include:
· The location (name of the company, college, or school)
· The name and contact information of the person who gave you the tour
· A description of your observations
Step 2: Interview a Lab Professional
Goal: Learn directly from someone who works in a lab.
What to Do:
Interview someone who works in an electronics/ semiconductor lab.
You can do this during your tour or set up a separate interview.
If you need help finding someone, contact Andy Somogyi (esomogyi@ivytech.edu).
Prepare your questions ahead of time — think about what you want to learn.
Write a summary of your interview.
Your summary must include:
· The name and contact info of the person you interviewed
· The type of lab they work in
· A brief description of what you learned
Step 3: Research Your Lab Type
Goal: Understand the needs of a specific kind of science lab.
What to Do:
Research electronics/ semiconductor labs — include equipment, safety needs, typical activities, and design considerations.
Write a summary of your research and include citations for your sources (both in-text and full citations at the end).
Step 4: Design Your Own Lab
Goal: Create a blueprint for your own electronics/ semiconductor lab.
What to Do:
You may add support spaces (like storage, prep areas, offices, etc.).
Draw a floor plan (hand drawn or computer drawn) that includes:
Equipment locations
Lab benches and utilities
Safety features (eyewash stations, fire extinguishers, etc.)
Any support spaces you added
(Bonus: Draw your plan to scale!)
You must provide the overall dimensions of your lab room and support spaces in your floor plan.
Create a tour of your lab. This can be:
Written descriptions
Labeled images
A presentation — your choice!
Step 5: Safety Audit
Goal: Evaluate the safety of your lab design.
What to Do:
Research how real lab safety audits are done.
Conduct a virtual safety audit of your lab.
Write an audit outcomes report that includes:
The issues you found and how you would fix them
Information about Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
Step 6: Final Summary
Goal: Reflect on what you learned from this project.
What to Do:
Write a final summary that includes:
What you learned through this challenge
What parts were most difficult or surprising
How you approached each task and solved problems
Final Product you will submit:
An overall report that includes
Summary of your lab tour
Summary of your interview
Research summary with citations (in text and fill citations)
Lab floorplan(s) and your lab tour presentation or description
Safety audit report, including your research (cited) and any checklists used
Final project summary
· A short biography paragraph and picture of yourself to be used if you are selected as a winner
· The signed waiver (note: if you are under 18, your legal guardian must also sign)
HOW TO SUBMIT
Due Date: Friday, March 6
Format: Submissions must be made using a gmail account. Submit here.
Please complete the Use of Image waiver as part of your submission - if you are a minor your parent/guardian must also sign.
If you experience trouble with your submission - please reach out to Sarah Nagy snagy6@ivytech.edu
WINNERS
Winners will be selected by committee and will be announced in April 2026
· First Place: $200 gift card
· Second Place: $100 gift card
· Third Place: $50 gift card
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