MESA DAYS
Goals of MESA Day:
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Students will have an opportunity to apply STEM principles to individual and team academic competitions and, over time, students will develop a mastery of these academic skills.
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Students will build confidence through preparation, participation and access to relevant real world STEM challenges, building of STEM identity, and fostering a STEM community.
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Students will be encouraged and motivated to excel, problem solve, think critically, and persevere through rigorous academic competitions that fosters creativity, collaboration, and communication skills.
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Students will be introduced to other campuses, college staff/faculty, technical equipment, laboratories, etc.
Prelims
The 2025 MESA Day Prelims will be held at CSU Long Beach on the following dates:
High School - SR MESA Day Prelims - Saturday, March 8, 2025
Middle School - JR MESA Day Prelims - Saturday, March 15, 2025
Regionals
The 2025 LA/Central Coast Regional MESA Day will be held at CSU Los Angeles on the following date:
Saturday, April 19, 2025
State
The 2025 NEDC State Finals will be held at San Jose State University on the following date:
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Nationals
The 2025 MESA NEDC National Championship will be held at San Diego State University on the following dates:
Monday, June 23, 2025 - Thursday, June 26, 2025
2024-2025 MESA Competitions
Click here to view the full MESA Day competition rules.
Bio Breakthrough PILOT
(2-3 students per team)
HIGH SCHOOL
Research, design, and present innovative ways to explore the potential of using CRISPR technology to solve real-world problems.
Coding Solutions
(1-2 students per team)
MIDDLE SCHOOL & HIGH SCHOOL
Test your knowledge on programming fundamentals and problem solving using JavaScript (MS) or Python (HS).
Impromptu Speech
(2-3 students per team)
HIGH SCHOOL
Research and prepare to deliver a short impromptu speech based on one of the 3 official sustainable development topics.
MESA Machine
(2-3 students per team)
MIDDLE SCHOOL & HIGH SCHOOL
Design and construct a complex machine that utilizes different sequential and dependent actions from designated categories of energy/simple machines.
NEDC
(2-4 students per team)
MIDDLE SCHOOL & HIGH SCHOOL
Identify an individual or group who experiences some type of inequity and employ human-centered design practices to engineer a solution.
Cargo Glider
(2-3 students per team)
MIDDLE SCHOOL & HIGH SCHOOL
Design and construct a glider capable of clearing an obstacle course and achieving the longest flight distance after being launched, all while carrying the largest possible weight.
Investigative Science
(2-3 students per team)
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Collaborate using your knowledge of science to solve a new crime scene mystery.
Math Escape Challenge
(2-3 students per team)
MIDDLE SCHOOL & HIGH SCHOOL
Use your math problem solving and critical thinking skills to navigate through an online escape room with the goal of “escaping” the quickest.
Moon Base
(2-3 students per team)
MIDDLE SCHOOL & HIGH SCHOOL
Design a structure to house new moon-based research activities with a safe zone for an astronaut.
Prepared Speech
(2-3 students per team)
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Research, prepare, and deliver a short prepared speech to demonstrate your knowledge on sustainable development.