STEM Design Challenge

The Colchester Zoo STEM Design Challenge is a FREE project offering children the chance to solve real-world problems faced by zookeepers and staff at Colchester Zoo. Following the STEM design process and using science, technology, engineering and maths skills, children will reimagine a new design for an animal enclosure at the zoo.

This FREE project and the contest are open to all groups across the country. Resources are delivered digitally and virtually and there is no need to visit Colchester Zoo to participate. This includes schools groups KS1-KS4, Home Educators, Uniform Youth Groups, and any other interested children’s groups.

STEM Challenge 2025

More details, including which enclosure will be redesigned, will be coming by Janaury!

Initial timeline:
  • Jan 2025 – Full details on this webpage
  • Jan 2025 – Registration opens
  • Feb 2025 – CPD for teachers/leaders on STEM Design thinking
  • Mar-Apr 2025 – Real-world feedback for designs in-progress
  • Jun 2025 – Contest submissions
  • Jul 2025 – Contest winners announced

STEM Design Challenge 2024

From January-July 2024, children from across Essex, the country, and around the world participated in our STEM Design Challenge! They used their creativity, ingenuity, and STEM thinking to help us imagine our ‘Future Zoo’ and how our Mixed African Paddock could be redesigned for the future. Over 10,000 children participated in the initial Challenge.

For our final contest in July 2024, there were 68 amazing entries from over 400 children.

Across the prize categories winners are:

  • Home Education – Frizzel Family
  • School KS2 Lower – St. Andrew’s Marks Tey
  • School KS2 Upper – St Mary’s School Colchester
  • School KS3 – St. Martins School Brentwood
  • Special Award – Creative Briefs

See their incredible designs below: