Really interesting way that math (particularly Geometry) and the symmetrical aspects of certain shapes can help protect those who put their lives on the line every day for us! See the video above...
Governor's STEM Competition 16-17
As a team, this year's student group has developed and created a design to install in facilities that will lessen the amount of money that must be spent on electricity each year. There design contains a written program of light sensors that will automatically adjust to sunlight. The Suns Out Lights Out (S.O.L.O.) 2017 will help schools save money on electricity. The money and energy saved helps schools comply with Act 129 because the it can be used for energy improvements like the smart meter.
Awarding Place: 3rd Place Competition Style: Regional Location: Intermediate Unit 14, Reading, Pennsylvania
Governor's STEM Competition 15-16
As a team, this year's student group has developed and created a product that would show the consumer that their food has spoiled. Knowing that many people keep leftover, raw and cooked meat in their refrigerators, they decided to focus mainly on meat. To get more information and background knowledge on food spoilage, the team met with Dr. Gourama, Ph.D (a professor at Penn State, Berks) in the department of Food Science. While there, they ran an experiment involving raw meat in glass jars rotting until it was unsafe to eat. They looked into how sulfides were released in the jar's headspace and how pH was affected by spoiling. The prototype created (called Spoiler Alert!...a simple way to watch what you mEAT) is a small plastic tray with Sulfate Paper showing through a clear plastic layer on top. This clearly displays the hue of the lead acetate paper so as to tell people when their meat has spoiled.
Awarding Place: 3rd Place Competition Style: Regional Location: Intermediate Unit 14, Reading, Pennsylvania
Jobs1st STEM Competition 14-15
The Wilson High School Jobs First team believes to have found a simple, effective, and versatile solution to this issue. The product, HydrAIDE, has the ability to detect levels of dehydration after minutes into a workout or activity. Using a combination of many other dehydration detection methods such as pH paper and sweat or urine tests, the team have developed a product that is simpler and easier to use than any existing solution. The product resembles the shape and size of a patch or bandage, which have similar properties to the manner that it is applied. HydrAIDE is fastened to the body using an adhesive which surrounds the device itself. When the patch is applied, a gauze-like strip makes contact with the skin. When the skin releases sweat, the substance absorbs the liquids. As the sweat continues to build up in the device, it begins to change color. The product starts as the color purple, but when the sweat is released and the user is hydrated, the gauze changes to pink. When the user is dehydrated, it changes to a light blue. The product is completely natural and safe for skin due to the simple ingredients of red cabbage, water, and rubbing alcohol. Therefore, when applied to the skin, no remnants of any sort are left after the product is removed. Adding on, no risks are taken when using the product due to the naturality of it.
Awarding Place: 2nd Place Competition Style: Regional Location: Intermediate Unit 14, Reading, Pennsylvania