Nationals, Here We Come...

2018 National Finalist Teams Head to Reston, VA in the Washington, D.C. Area

Teams from across the country, including its US Territories and DoDEA, are heading to Reston, VA, just outside our nation's capital, in June to compete in the 2018 National Judging and Educational Event held by eCYBERMISSION, an Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP). From 5 regions, 20 national qualifying teams are bringing their A-games and putting their year-long hard work to the test to see who will come out on top.

To see who made it in your and what they’ve been working on check it out:

6^th Grade Finalist Teams

NORTH EAST REGION

Blazing Radiance

Location: Maryland

Project Summary: In an effort to detect forest fires early and prevent damage to life and property, team Blazing Radiance developed FICSS (Fire Indicators Combined to Save Souls). This product gets positioned in a forest, and is programmed to electronically submit geographical coordinates to authorities when a flame is detected; allowing firefighters to more quickly locate and extinguish the fire. Blazing Radiance is working to partner with firefighters and park rangers to refine their prototype and distribute their life-saving product.

NORTH CENTRAL REGION

MADScientists

Location: Illinois

Project Summary: Team MADScientists observed the problem of phosphorus runoff from artificial fertilizers affecting the ecosystem of local ponds and streams. They decided to investigate the use of natural alternatives from the existing phosphorous cycle to reduce the contribution of additional phosphorous. Their results showed comparable grass and soil quality with the natural products as well as slightly reduced phosphorus runoff with some natural products. MADScientists met and shared their findings with their mayor and local authorities to encourage them to convert to natural fertilizing products.

SOUTH EAST REGION

Gladiator 16

Location: Tennessee

Project Summary: Research conducted by team Gladiator 16 revealed that cardiac arrest affects more than 350,000 people in the US each year. These startling numbers led them to study the impact of CPR training for middle school students. Since blood circulation of an affected person needs to be restored in less than six minutes, the more people who are trained in CPR, the more likely lives can be saved. Team Gladiator 16 found that middle school students can effectively be trained in this life-saving process, and are working toward offering the program to their entire middle school population.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION

Squeegee Feast

Location: Mississippi

Project Summary: After a particularly bad flu season in their school, team Squeegee Feast determined that a new cleaning system was necessary to help prevent illness. They created the Squage – a cordless, rechargeable cleaning machine that removes solid debris, absorbs liquid, removes sticky residue, and disinfects and sanitizes surfaces. The Squage performed well in tests, but Squeegee Feast is determined to make their prototype even safer and more effective in the future, to improve the health of students and teachers at their school.

WEST REGION

Purple Bananas

Location: Utah

Project Summary: Team Purple Bananas learned that more than 1.1 billion people in the world do not have access to batteries or electricity, meaning no light source after the sun went down. They explored alternative energy solutions and created a thermoelectric flashlight that runs on body heat rather than nonrenewable resources. The testing of their prototype showed great promise, creating at least ten lumens of light using only a person’s body heat in most temperatures. Further enhancements are being considered to keep the light shining brighter and longer.

7^th Grade Finalist Teams

NORTH EAST REGION

TeamANKS

Location: Maryland

Project Summary: Because pollution and global warming are growing concerns in the world today, TeamANKS decided to pursue a way to reduce greenhouse gasses, particularly nitrous oxide, from artificial fertilizers. They created the Model EFFE (Environmental Friendly Faming Efficiency) that includes a specially engineered organic TANKS fertilizer and a cloud-based automated watering system, the TANKS Farm Alarm (TFA). Together these products provide a cost-effective, environmentally-friendly alternative to harmful synthetic fertilizers. TeamANKS presented their proposal to the EPA and technology experts at Amazon.

NORTH CENTRAL REGION

Aerogals

Location: Illinois

Project Summary: Team Aerogals learned in their research that unpredictable weather patterns are becoming more common due to climate change and global warming. When wildfires, hurricanes, and snow storms hit, much of the focus is on disaster relief. Aerogals, however, decided to investigate a proactive rather than reactive approach – creating easily deployable safety shelters. After testing various products, the team developed the Aerogal Shelter Cone, made of polyimide, steel and cellulose aerogel. The team shared their results with representatives from FEMA as well as their city leaders.

SOUTH EAST REGION

Ecstatic Statics

Location: Alabama

Project Summary: Batteries are bulky, expensive, and are harmful to the environment if not disposed properly. Team Ecstatic Statics endeavored to find a solution to this problem by using the triboelectric effect, or static electricity, to generate usable electricity while on the move. They created a Triboelectric Nanogenerator (TENG) that harnesses electricity from the motion of walking. Their ultimate result is a lightweight, portable energy source that can power small electronics on the go, all while promoting healthy habits of walking. They believe their product has both military and civilian applications, from exploration in remote locations to use during power outages.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION

Cricketeers

Location: Texas

Project Summary: Solving world hunger is a global issue that team Cricketeers believes requires immediate action. To this end, they worked to identify a sustainable food source that provides densely packed nutrients but uses less water, less processing and less land to produce. Five potential food sources with low environmental impact were tested for protein percentages. Cricket flour was then used to create the Cricketeer Protein Cookie, a high protein meal replacement that can easily be transported overseas where they are most needed. The Cricketeers are working to distribute their product in India and other food insecure countries.

WEST REGION

Brainiacs with Blue

Location: Oregon

Project Summary: Storm water is filtered before it reaches lakes and rivers by bioswales, which help eliminate pollutants like nitrates and phosphates. Team Brainiacs with Blue endeavored to find a way to ensure that bioswales are working effectively while reducing the costs associated with quarterly inspection visits. They created a product that uses sensors to proactively detect key maintenance issues, such as moisture level and flow-through. The results are transmitted to local water management authorities through their BioPro app, which allows inspectors to target specific areas of need, thus saving up to 20% of maintenance costs.

8^th Grade Finalist Teams

NORTH EAST REGION

dronesquad

Location: Virginia

Project Summary: Team dronesquad learned that litter clean-up costs Americans more than $11 billion each year. Despite programs aimed at informing and encouraging the public to make changes, littering continues to have negative effects on property, wildlife and people. So the dronesquad decided to take another approach and gamify the process. The app they developed, Litter.Finder, connects with drones to identify litter and then monitor environmental behaviors in the community, awarding points for environmentally responsible disposal of trash while penalizing perpetrators of litter. They are refining their prototype to be more effective so they can roll it out in their community.

NORTH CENTRAL REGION

Under Control

Location: Ohio

Project Summary: Harmful algae blooms (HABs) are a major environmental problem both in the US and globally. To combat the negative effects of HBAs, team Under Control created the Biochar Infused Floating Island (BIFI), which is made of biochar, an eco-friendly organic solid that is rich in carbon and absorbs phosphorus from the water. During testing, the BIFI resulted in a 92% reduction in phosphorous, a significant amount greater than traditional chemical and ultrasonic treatments, with a lower cost and greater safety to marine life. Their local township will explore Under Control’s BIFI, testing it in a limited area before possibly expanding its use.

SOUTH EAST REGION

Aguarico

Location: Puerto Rico

Project Summary: After Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, team Aguarico learned firsthand the hazards of drinking contaminated water. They used this crisis to create a way to filter water and make it safe for consumption. Using steam collected from a solar water distiller in union with a secondary filter made of local, natural materials, the team created the Aguarico Distillation Filtration Device that produces safe drinking water from unsafe water in rivers, off rooftops, and out of faucets. Team Aguarico plans to deliver the devices throughout the island and to educate the community about how to create water purification systems.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION

Hemophilia Hope

Location: Oklahoma

Project Summary: Hemophilia, a genetic blood disorder that inhibits the clotting of blood, affects more than 20,000 Americans, one of whom is the friend and classmate of team Hemophilia Hope. The team aspired to create a sleeve to help people with hemophilia worry less about bruising and bleeding, so they could focus more on enjoying life. After considerable testing, Hemophilia Hope developed a sleeve using Sorbothane, to cushion impact, and Ballistic Nylon, to prevent cuts form sharp objects, surrounded by a flexible micro-fiber stretch knit to keep the sleeve in place. Hemophilia Hope would like to implement their sleeve by reaching out to doctors who work with patients with hemophilia.

WEST REGION

Absolute Zero

Location: Utah

Project Summary: Team Absolute Zero aims to eliminate the water shortage crisis throughout the world by creating a safe, inexpensive, durable and reusable water filter out of simple materials and methods. The H2 Whoa 2.0 filtration kit purifies water to meet the EPA guidelines without having to heat the water, which is especially important in areas without electricity. The kit is portable, easy to assemble, can be used up to ten times, and costs less than $2.50 USD. Absolute Zero hopes to distribute their kits locally and globally for disaster relief, philanthropic missions, or even for “just in case” scenarios.

9^th Grade Finalist Teams

NORTH EAST REGION

Blackout

Location: Massachusetts

Project Summary: Prolonged power outages cost Americans about $70 billion each year, according to research conducted by team Blackout. In an effort to offset some of these losses, and to protect people from foodborne illnesses, they created a refrigerator adjunct that senses temperature and alerts owners through an app when their refrigerator has reached unsafe temperatures and for how long. This allows users to know if their food is safe to consume or if it must be discarded. Blackout believes this will save millions of dollars in food waste as well as saving lives lost from consuming spoiled food.

NORTH CENTRAL REGION

Mission WaterSmart

Location: Illinois

Project Summary: Fresh water is the most precious natural resource in the world, yet Americans waste more than 40,000 liters per household per year just waiting for it to warm up so they could wash their hands. To stop this waste, Mission WaterSmart created a device that attaches to a faucet and automatically heats the water to a comfortable temperature as soon as the faucet is opened. Initial testing showed a water savings of 35,544 liters per year. The team hopes to expand their product to showerheads in the future, to conserve even more of this precious resource.

SOUTH EAST REGION

Hawks 9

Location: North Carolina

Project Summary: The use of fossil fuels for electricity is polluting the air and depleting our resources. Hawks 9 (Team ElectroHawk) found that some football stadiums use more than 24 million kilowatt hours per year to power their games. Rather than wasting these huge amounts of nonrenewable resources, they developed a way to harness the human kinetic energy in a stadium through electromagnetic induction. By inserting coils and magnets into stadium seats, Hawks 9 (Team ElectroHawk) was able to produce enough electricity to power __ of a large football stadium, saving money and resources while reducing the stadium’s carbon footprint.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION

MemoryTygers

Location: New Mexico

Project Summary: Team MemoryTygers learned that recent studies link Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease and Diabetes to a cellular dysfunction called amyloidosis. Although the incidence of these illnesses is increasing overall, Chinese and Hispanic populations have significantly fewer occurrences of these neurodegenerative diseases. MemoryTygers investigated the natural remedies found in these cultures to produce a medicine that has the potential to reduce amyloidosis and the accompanying disorders. While their testing showed positive results, further investigation is needed. Team MemoryTygers believes they can develop an effective drug to reduce amyloid production and give people more time with their memories and their loved ones.

WEST REGION

Westview Wildcats

Location: Oregon

Project Summary: Approximately 44 million Americans suffer from anxiety disorders, according to research completed by team Westview Wildcats. One of the challenges associated with these disorders is the occurrence of panic attacks. While medication is often used after an attack occurs, the Westview Wildcats sought a way to help during the attack. They created a device, PAWS, that uses sensors to alert the wearer and bystanders of the occurrence of a panic attack. Further enhancements to their device will include features to soothe the patient during the attack. The Westview Wildcats plan to partner with local clinics to further develop and distribute their device.

STEM-In-Action Award Teams

As well as our national qualifiers Blazing Radiance, Brainiacs in Blue and Mission WaterSmart, these teams just won our STEM-In-Action grant…

Team Bebi Davis

Location: Hawaii

Project Summary: The Centers for Disease Control estimates that six- to twelve-million head lice infestations occur each year in American children aged three to eleven. Team Bebi Davis noted high incidence in Hawaii because the climate makes a perfect breeding ground for these parasitic pests. To combat the emotional, educational and financial losses caused by a lice infestation, they created a safe, affordable product that destroys lice and their eggs with 100% efficacy. They are planning to mass produce their product to make it available to families in their local area and worldwide.

Whiz Kids

School: Michigan

Project Summary: Stamp sand is a waste product from copper mining in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. Its migration along Lake Superior is damaging a fish spawning ground and a local marina. Team Whiz Kids investigated removing this waste product from the fish spawning areas and using it as a base for concrete. They found that a concrete mix using a combination of stamp sand and commercial sand met the compressive strength requirements for lightweight and ready-mix concrete. They have shared their findings with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and are hoping to convince local concrete suppliers to use their findings to reduce the negative environmental impact of stamp sand.

Good luck to all students, TA’s, ambassadors, etc who are heading to nationals next month!

Mission Control