Students will launch the engineering challenge by examining crystal evidence, predicting how environmental conditions affect formation, distinguishing crystals from organisms, and defining initial expectations for a safe crystal-growing system and gallery display.

Students will apply crystallization science and engineering design practices to compare multiple safe thermal-control concepts, select one using quantitative evidence, and complete a build-ready design brief and fair-test plan.

Students will present and defend their tested crystal-growing systems, evidence, design revisions, and scientific explanations during a gallery exhibition, then complete their individual before-and-after reflections.