Today, students from across the United States and Canada were recognized as national winners of the 29th annual ExploraVision program, the world’s largest K-12 science challenge, in a virtual ceremony. ExploraVision is sponsored by Toshiba and administered by the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA). This challenge is designed to help students develop skills emphasized in the Next Generation Science Standards, including problem-solving, critical-thinking and collaboration skills. To participate, students were challenged to imagine and come up with an idea for a tool or technology of the future with the potential to solve the world’s critical problems.
On Fri., June 4, the eight winning teams will present their projects during the virtual ExploraVision Science Showcase. In attendance will be Bill Nye the Science Guy, as well as, special guests from Toshiba and NSTA, who will help honor the teams’ creativity and achievements.
Fostering young minds’ interest in STEM is at the core of Toshiba—a company committed to raising the quality of life for people around the world. This commitment drove the company to partner with NSTA to create the ExploraVision competition in 1992. For 29 consecutive years, ExploraVision has helped cultivate the next generation of scientists, technology experts, engineers, mathematicians and more.
Virtual Science Showcase
During the virtual Science Showcase on Fri., June 4, the eight winning student teams will showcase their prototypes and self-designed project websites. The students will present to members of the press, their peers, parents, educators, NSTA board and council members and leaders in education policy, including Bill Nye the Science Guy; Ayumi Wada, Chairwoman and CEO, Toshiba America, Inc.; Joyce Ward, Office of Education, United States Patent and Trademark Office; Dr. Eric Pyle, President, NSTA; and Dr. Shirlee Wohl, Epidemiologist and past ExploraVision winner.
More Than Just a Science Competition
Nearly 2,000 team projects entered the Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision competition this year, comprised of more than 5,000 students from across the United States and Canada. This year’s winners have gone above and beyond to think critically and creatively about the biggest problems facing our world, from healthcare challenges to sustainability efforts to energy efficiency. Projects include an AI-powered toothbrush that can detect viruses, eco-friendly diapers that reduce carbon emissions, and a reusable electromagnetic repulsion system designed to reduce the cost of launching rockets into space.
The eight national winning teams are comprised of a first-place winner and second-place winner from four groups based on grade level. Members of first place national winning teams each receive a $10,000 U.S. Series EE Savings Bond (at maturity). Members of second place national winning teams will each receive a $5,000 U.S. Series EE Savings Bond (at maturity).
For more information or to access an application for the 2020/2021 program, visit http://www.exploravision.org or email exploravision@nsta.org. Follow ExploraVision on Twitter at @ToshibaAmerica or join the ExploraVision Facebook Fan Page at www.Facebook.com/ToshibaAmerica.
Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision 2021 National Winners
2021 First-Place Winners
Grade K-3: Toothbrush of the Future
Lockwood Elementary, Bothell, Washington
Website: https://tinyurl.com/ExploraBrush
Grade 4-6: Coagulation Filtration System
Open Window School, Bellevue, Washington
Website: https://nstawebdirector.wixsite.com/coagulationsystem
Grade 7-9: Mag-Launcher: Magnetic Repulsion Rocket Launcher
Marlboro Memorial Middle School, Morganville, New Jersey
Website: https://nstawebdirector.wixsite.com/my-site
Grade 10-12: Shiitake Diapers: Capturing CO Poo One Diaper at a Time
William Lyon Mackenzie C.I., Toronto, Ontario
Website: https://nstawebdirector.wixsite.com/exploravision/our-product
2021 Second-Place Winners
Grade K-3: Lung Transplant Using Stem Cells
Hawthorn Elementary South, Vernon Hills, Illinois
Website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0npiJEQ6xgw
Grade 4-6: The BioBot
A.D. Henderson University School, Boca Raton, Florida
Website: https://nstawebdirector.wixsite.com/biobot
Grade 7-9: Degrade-a-Pad
University of Illinois Laboratory High School, Urbana, Illinois
Website: https://nstawebdirector.wixsite.com/degrade-a-pad
Grade 10-12: An Artificial Intelligence Based System to Neutralize Pesticides and Sustain Honey Bee Populations
Bob Jones High School, Madison, Alabama
Website: https://neutralbeeproject.wixsite.com/honeybees
About Toshiba
Toshiba Corporation leads a global group of companies that combines knowledge and capabilities from over 140 years of experience in a wide range of businesses—from energy and social infrastructure to electronic devices—with world-class capabilities in information processing, digital and AI technologies. These distinctive strengths support Toshiba’s continued evolution toward becoming an Infrastructure Services Company that promotes data utilization and digitization, and one of the world’s leading cyber-physical-systems technology companies. Guided by the Basic Commitment of the Toshiba Group, “Committed to People, Committed to the Future,” Toshiba contributes to society’s positive development with services and solutions that lead to a better world. The Group and its 120,000 employees worldwide secured annual sales surpassing 3.1 trillion yen (US$27.5 billion) in fiscal year 2020.
Find out more about Toshiba at https://www.global.toshiba/ww/outline/corporate.html.
About Toshiba America, Inc.
Founded in 1965, Toshiba America, Inc. (TAI) is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Toshiba Corporation and the holding company of four Toshiba operating companies that offer a broad range of products and solutions for the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. The four companies, which along with TAI are known collectively as Toshiba America Group, are Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (Semiconductor solutions), Toshiba America Energy Systems, Corp. (Power generation solutions), Toshiba International Corporation (Industrial, power electronics & transmission & distribution solutions) and Toshiba America Research, Inc.(R&D).
About NSTA
The National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) is a vibrant community of 40,000 science educators and professionals committed to best practices in teaching science and its impact on student learning. NSTA offers high quality science resources and continuous learning so that science educators grow professionally and excel in their career. For new and experienced teachers alike, the NSTA community offers the opportunity to network with like-minded peers at the national level, connect with mentors and leading researchers, and learn from the best in the field. Founded in 1944 as the National Science Teachers Association, the NSTA is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It is the largest organization in the world dedicated to promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA’s current membership includes science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in and committed to science education.
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