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2019-20 Final Challenge Grand Prize Winners
R.E.M Remote Environmental Monitoring
Middle School- Grand Prize Winner
PS 28 Christa McAuliffe School
Location: Jersey City, NJ
Teacher Advisor: Mahvish Haq, Joel Naatus
Team: Johandry, Isabel, Nour, Romayssae, Lexie, Liana
In the first challenge, these enterprising students made it their mission to make the public aware of potentially polluted locations to help people avoid places that may negatively impact their health. R.E.M. created, programmed, and tested two types of remote sensors: one to detect temperature and humidity and one to check hydrogen sulfide and air-quality levels so that in the future, the public would be able to check readings and know if an area is safe. They also programmed a lake sensor to detect any potentially toxic algal bloom. Additionally, the students created a prototype for a floatable sensor, naming it S.P.L.A.S.H.: Solar Powered Local Algal-bloom Sensor Housing. To raise awareness about their project, the group created brochures and a website, which included podcasts, blog posts, and information about their prototypes and the importance of these sensors. R.E.M. also used Instagram and Twitter to get the word out, and taught a fourth-grade class about their work. For the final challenge, the team went bigger, researching how to implement their prototypes on a larger scale, and purchased an eight-channel gateway (essential for public data access), a hydrogen-sulfide sensor, air quality/VOC sensor, and a color sensor. After getting permission to place these sensors in four locations, the group: registered and set up the gateway in the school’s greenhouse; programmed a temperature and humidity sensor with a programmer and sensor expert; assembled, programmed, and set up their air-quality sensor for Washington Park in Jersey City, utilizing Ubidots to share the sensors’ data publically; set up S.P.L.A.S.H. In Lincoln Park; and set up the hydrogen-sulfide sensor near the soccer fields. They also prepared a sensor kit for a school in Colombia, and are writing a manual and DIY installation video that will be sent with it. The group won’t stop there: R.E.M. plans to send more sensor kits to other schools and communities in other countries, creating a global outreach. In addition, the team created and tested a temperature and humidity sensor headband prototype, specific for the recent outbreak of COVID-19, called T.A.C.O. (Temperature Auditor for Coronavirus Obviation). The T.A.C.O. headband will be able to detect a patient’s temperature, and a message will be sent to the doctor and patient if the patient’s temperature rises above 100.4°F.
Turtle Trackers
High School- Grand Prize Winner
Arlington High School
Location: LaGrangeville, NY
Teacher Advisor: Tricia Muraco, Maribel Pregnall
Team: Phoebe, James, Matthew, Rina, Keshav, Kyra
For the first challenge, the Turtle Trackers decided to address the decline of the local Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) population, a federally endangered species. New York State has labeled the Blanding’s turtle as threatened since 1983; losing these turtles will significantly alter the current wetland ecosystem, resulting in a loss of biodiversity. Over seven months, the Turtle Trackers reached out to turtle-research centers to gain more knowledge, and worked in natural and man-made mitigation wetlands to protect the turtles as well as increase their numbers by monitoring hatchlings and nests. They tracked adult female turtles every night, following their locations to see if they were nesting. If one was nesting, they would stay for several hours, until she completed laying all of her eggs. Afterward, they placed a cage over the nest to protect it from predators. Then they collected physical data and tracked the hatchlings’ progress. They got the word out about their project by actively posting on social media; an article about the team was published in Hudson Valley Parent magazine, reaching 200,000 people in the community. The group also taught classes at Overlook Elementary School and asked fellow high school students to take a pledge to help. For the final challenge, these dedicated students chose to continue to tackle the threats to Blanding’s turtles in their area but also address the problem in other regions across the country and Canada. In addition to confronting many hurdles to save their turtles— including rebuilding their damaged conservation and rehab center, dealing with the politics of working with an endangered species, getting the word out, meeting with legislators, and caring for hatchlings in a makeshift setup after needing to transfer them to their high school—the Trackers successful reached all of their goals. They also created a new Blanding’s turtle curriculum to be implemented in their school district, along with others throughout the country; shared their research and enterprising and efficient caging system with turtle researchers around the globe; and reached the public through a wide variety of newspapers, social media platforms, community events, and classrooms.
2019-20 Final Challenge First Prize Winners
Aeroponics28
Middle School- First Prize Winner
PS 28 Christa McAuliffe School
Location: Jersey City, NJ
Teacher Advisor: Christopher Brown, Malissa Yabut
Team: Aya, Gisela, Ty, Arianna, Sergio, Juan, Renzo
Knowing that nitrogen-based fertilizers have chemicals that have a negative effect on air and soil, these students with green thumbs decided to try to solve that issue with aeroponics. The team found that by using a nutrient mist, they could successfully grow herbs and vegetables without producing carbon dioxide in the process. Their goal: to create a portable aeroponics system, which would reduce their carbon footprint and make fresh herbs and vegetables accessible to their families and community—in an urban area in which people do not have access to a backyard. The group created two sizes: a big prototype, which showed the higher volume one can produce, upcycling water bottles, a humidifier, and a tube; and a more compact windowsill version. The team successfully grew parsley and mustard seeds in the larger unit and parsley and cilantro in the smaller one. They spread awareness through flyers, Instagram, and a website; contacted aeroponic farms in New Jersey; and interacted with experts. The team also taught a variety of classes showing younger students how they could create their own system at home. For the final challenge, they used the 3D modeling software Google SketchUp to design two more systems: a Mini Aeroponic System (M.A.S.), which allowed them to grow more than two plants (this time cilantro, sage, and parsley); and a Vertical Aeroponic System (V.A.S.), that, through the misting system, allows indoor gardeners to keep air moist and avoid viruses, which thrive on dry air. A third prototype called R.A.S. (Recyclable Aeroponic System), made from an old bin, helped the team further its goal of using upcycled materials. Utilizing Skype, the group took their concepts beyond New Jersey and taught a class in Queen Creek, Arizona, about their systems. They created a YouTube tutorial and website, and are continuing their collaboration with that school and also one in Cúcuta, Colombia.
Clean Green Recycling Machine
Middle School- First Prize Winner
Bednarcik Junior High School
Location: Aurora, IL
Teacher Advisor: Amy Truemper
Team: Ava, Olivette, Megan, Manya, Denise, Jensie, Makenna, Jessica
According to the EPA, 80% of American waste is recyclable but only 30% ends up being recycled. Instead it ends up in landfills, polluting groundwater and releasing toxic chemicals, resulting in greenhouse gasses that lead to global warming and death to aquatic life. After learning these facts, this enterprising group chose to tackle the problem by designing the Clean Green Recycling Machine, modifying a school recycling bin with a motion sensor to detect when someone actually recycles. To motivate participation, they created a competition. In addition, the students: conducted a survey to determine why students were throwing away recyclable objects; consulted with a local food-management expert; worked with the junior high’s environment and energy conservation teams to spread the word—creating a website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts, flyers, posters, and a YouTube video; and organized several community-cleanup events. Their incentive program worked successfully; their fellow students were eager to compete for prizes and had fun interacting with the bin. For the final challenge, the group strove to educate the greater community about its mission to reduce single-use plastic. The students planned and attended even more public events, worked with local government officials and the school board, added more social media and website content, and were featured on a popular Chicago radio station promoting their #pausebeforeusingstraws campaign—all while still providing an incentive program for students. They even developed an app called Eco Goals that gives users targets for reducing their environmental footprint and points for completing them; the app is currently being reviewed for the Google Play store!
Starry Nights
Middle School- First Prize Winner
White Cloud Junior High
Location: White Cloud, MI
Teacher Advisor: Sherry Claflin
Team: Elijah, Gabriella, Ysidro, Cole, Christian
The U.S. wastes $3.3 billion on lights left on at night. In addition, because fossil fuels are used to generate electricity, this extra usage is adding more and more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, a key climate change issue. For the first challenge, this group decided to get the residents of Newaygo County to turn off their porch, garage, and yard lights to lower light pollution; contribute less CO2; and see more stars. The team first got the school’s 8th grade science classes to participate in a Globe at Night light-pollution study on clear nights, then created a Starry Nights Lights Out event. To ensure participation, the Starry Nights team started a letter-writing campaign, posted an article in their school announcements, and also got coverage in the Fremont Times Indicator about their project. Their teacher and members of the Newaygo County Dark Sky Astronomers helped count the 3,770 homes that participated. For the final challenge, the team pushed their dark-skies goal even further to help migrating birds, which often hit brightly lit buildings, cell towers, power lines, and power poles at night when they return in early spring; 57 million birds die each year. To aid bird migration, the students reached out to Michigan Astronomers and other astronomy groups worldwide to organize another Lights Out event. They also organized a Blue Star Kids Day, asking kids to wear blue to bring awareness to light-pollution problems, and asked citizens to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count in February, to help identify the number of bird species that stay all winter, so they could track migrating birds. Their outreach took flight: They created a new Starry Nights website; posted school announcements, sent flyers and Facebook messages to other Michigan schools and to students and earth science teachers around the country; created a YouTube Starry Nights video; emailed articles to all major Michigan newspapers; and emailed 343 astronomy clubs in the USA to spread the word to turn off lights on two consecutive March weekends when the birds would return, ensuring them a safer journey home.
Aqua Leaders
Middle School- First Prize Winner
Assumption Regional Catholic School
Location: Galloway, NJ
Teacher Advisor: Patricia Naples
Team: Anastasia, Isabella, Mackenzie, Owen, Steven
For years people have believed that the water in their homes, schools, and communities is safe for consumption. The Aqua Leaders were skeptical, and they set out to study the water quality in NJ schools to determine if there is a relationship between the socioeconomic factors of a school district and the quality of their water and lead contamination; if there is a simple and inexpensive method for students to test the water they are drinking; and ways to educate their community, especially new parents and parents of young children, about the developmental and long-term effects of lead exposure. The team worked with researchers at Rutgers University Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI) to learn how to investigate water quality. After collecting water samples from schools in South Jersey districts, the team sent them to EOHSI for analysis. They then worked with a statistics professor at Stockton University to analyze their water-collection data. Their conclusion: Socioeconomic status and lead presence are significantly related. For the team’s final challenge, the students: attended the NJ State Board of Ed meeting to present their findings; spoke with a representative from Just One Africa via Zoom and learned about Africa’s water crisis; hosted the “Everything Water Festival” to educate the community; presented their project to the Superintendent of Camden Diocese Schools; started a national “Get the Lead Out Now!” postcard campaign; spoke at all weekend masses and collected donations; solicited donations from local businesses; contacted St. Bonaventure Indian Mission and School to assess its water needs; made $500 donations to Just One Africa and St. Bonaventure; purchased water filters for a mission trip to Haiti; and donated a portion of their winnings from the first challenge to donate a water-bottle refilling station for Our Lady Star of the Sea school.
Bio Bucs
High School- First Prize Winner
Hoover High School
Location: Hoover, AL
Teacher Advisor: Janet Ort
Team: Reid, Abhinav, Carson, Noel, Navya
Knowing that one of the most pressing issues of climate change is caused by greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide, the Bio Bucs strove to create an accurate way to track the passage of carbon in and out of bodies of water to better understand its movements throughout all our ecosystems. An additional goal was to get their fellow students to understand the complexities of the issue, so they decided to construct a simple visualization of the process that would be clearer than what textbooks provide and start a domino effect of school communities in their area talking about the increasing rate of climate change and its effects. After extensive research, the team also collected CO2 data in different environments and created easily replicable vessels to be used in labs and ones that could carry a carbon dioxide sensor over a body of water; the sensors can connect to the lab or to the Vernier GoWireless app on phones and computers. After successfully designing a unit, they were able to evolve their design into a 3D model that could be used by engineers worldwide. In addition, the group created a game called Carbon Towers (similar to Jenga) to demonstrate how carbon moves through the ocean, air, soil, and more. They co-sponsored events for their high school and three others, as well as for the community, and brought their efforts and game to many science classes, teaching younger students how to follow the carbon! For the final challenge, the team chose to continue to gather carbon data but also added to the project to help their community understand the issues about climate change and the loss of biodiversity, and the link between them. Using the tools they had already created, they acquired more precise ground data of local areas’ biologically diverse ecosystems to analyze and then compare how CO2 concentrations change in fragile habitats. Their efforts were published in Vernier Biology’s publication Caliper and website, and the group expanded its outreach, partnering with NASA’s GLOBE Observe. The team was also featured on the local Fox news channel and website.
The Cli-Mates
High School- First Prize Winner
Herricks High School
Location: New Hyde Park, NY
Teacher Advisor: Renee Barcia
Team: Prableen, Sarah, Mina, Alyssa, Roshni
Climate change, the result of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, can create ozone-layer depletion and increased air pollutants, which will ultimately destroy the planet. U.S. consumers are responsible for a large amount of food-related GHG emissions, which increases the population’s carbon footprint. Switching to a more sustainable diet, however, could help decrease these emissions, improving the environment. With these facts in mind, the Cli-Mates decided to tackle this problem by educating their community through various events and online initiatives to implement low-carbon diets. In the first challenge, the team educated their peers on low-carbon foods; set up informational booths at community events and conducted an interactive survey; and hosted a school bake sale with low-carbon treats to further inform their classmates and donate the proceeds to the Nature Conservancy. In addition, they created an interactive carbon-food calculator program and even coded their own computer program that can calculate a user’s carbon footprint for a specific food he or she eats over the course of a year. They used social media outlets as well as brochures to get their message out and contacted legislators and various organizations, including the U.S. Green Building Council and the NY Academy of Sciences, to help them publicize their mission. For the final challenge, they intensified their efforts by: contacting local researchers, worldwide social media influencers, charities and organizations, and senators, as well as maintaining their established platforms to spread the word beyond New York; participating in their district’s CommUNITY Festival to inform people about low-carbon diets while they tasted low-carbon treats; working with elementary schools to teach kids about low-carbon diets through fun interactive games; working alongside high school administration to get more low-carbon snacks into the cafeteria; and creating a #MyLowCarbonPlate hashtag on Instagram where users all around the world posted pictures of their low-carbon meals.
Finding Nano
High School- First Prize Winner
Jericho High School
Location: Jericho, NY
Teacher Advisor: Serena McCalla
Team: Catherine, Katherine, Harrison, Riya, Maya, Janice, Audrey
When this team found out that 61% of NY waterways are contaminated with unregulated, likely carcinogenic contaminants, such as 1-4 dioxane, pesticides, and heavy metals, the students felt strongly about the need to study wastewater treatment and create more efficient options. They then created a sustainable ultrafiltration membrane using nanocellulose and also designed “FrackTrack”: a new app for residents to monitor water quality. The students also: raised and donated funds to two collaborating environmental organizations to help improve water quality on a global scale; extensively shared their message via educational YouTube videos, a website, and daily blog posts explaining the local and global impacts of fracking; and participated in local events educating the community about ways to reduce their water footprint. They also demonstrated filtration experiments with filter paper, sand, and water to middle school students to teach them about membrane technology and water, and went on radio station 106.1 WBLI to air a PSA about Long Island water pollution and encourage cleanup support. For the final challenge, the team chose to study how to remediate antibiotic and textile dye water pollution with nanocellulose, to change current treatments that are costly, inefficient, and ineffective, and increase humans’ risk of developing chronic diseases. First, the students expanded their social media presence through posts focusing on global environmentalism, created additional videos on YouTube, and wrote more blog posts to increase international awareness. Then they devised a sustainable and reusable DCNC-SA Hydrogel to target the pollution, creating a two-phase test kit. They reached out to water authorities and demonstrated how current wastewater-treatment processes are inadequate and encouraged using nanocellulose-based filtration systems. Finding Nano then formed an international network of Finding Nano Ambassadors to encourage high school environmentalists to express their local concerns, learn sustainable practices from each other, and educate their communities. They also collaborated with UN delegates to maximize sustainable efforts.
Chat Up the Hooch
High School- First Prize Winner
Jasper County High School
Location: Monticello, GA
Teacher Advisors: Bonnie Galvin, Elizabeth Proctor
Team: Tionna, Nykeria, Spencer, Kedarius, Gavin, Julia, Zion
For the first challenge, this resourceful group learned that: 80% of Atlanta’s water comes from the Chattahoochee River—one of the smallest rivers serving a major city; there is a moratorium on drilling wells in South Georgia; and that Georgia’s water issues are not an official part of state educational standards. In addition, they discovered 2019 data that showed Atlanta at the medium-to-high water stress level, which means the state of Georgia needs to prevent a water crisis. They decided to take action. Their answer: education. They predict that, in the next decade, water rights between Georgia, Florida, and Alabama are going to be a hot topic in the court system. Their theory: If students are educated about local water issues in school, they will be more involved with creating water-usage solutions and conservation efforts to prevent future shortages. After researching Georgia educational standards, the students concluded that this topic could be taught easily in Science and Social Studies curriculums for second, third, fourth, sixth, and eighth grade classes. The team strove to teach younger students the background of water issues in their state, featuring historical information about the Tri-State Water Wars, the basis of much of the current problem. They used Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube—as well as the classes they visited—to get the word out about their research. They prepared educational materials and had them translated into Spanish so teachers could help inspire English Language Learners to participate too. In the final challenge, the team got their message out further, and presented their project to the Department of Education, future high schoolers at a High School Your Way event, at regional science and social studies fairs, to the local Civic Club, and to the State Curriculum staff at the Georgia Department of Education. They also led a water activity at their local elementary school parent night, linking local and global water issues. The students visited the state capitol and learned about the legislative process and the legal issues surrounding water rights, and researched water concerns in other states, like California, to study how they have addressed water scarcity.
2019-20 Air & Climate Challenge Winners: Middle School
Climate Action Alliance (CAA)
Middle School- Air & Climate Challenge Winner
Grace Christian School
Location: Escondido, CA
Teacher Advisor: Karisa May
Team: Logan, Kallie, Emilia, Pearl, Joseph, Tara
This team was determined to help reduce carbon emissions generated by the large number of cars idling in the school parking lot during drop-off and pickup hours. Toxic fumes were accumulating underneath solar panels in the loading zone. The team decided to say, “Get lost, exhaust!” The students developed a “Fresh Air Friday” action plan to confront the air-quality issue for this academic year and for future generations by: getting permission from the City Clerk’s office to create a limited-time parking loading zone on a street near campus; getting participation pledges from parents; designing the “No Idling” zone and its signage; and recording changed parking behavior and lowered carbon emissions. They raised awareness by directly emailing parents and school staff to inform them about their initiatives, advertising with banners and flyers hung around campus, posting on a school website, and showing an educational video at a school assembly. In addition, CAA raised awareness in the greater community by delivering a presentation to the Escondido City Council, posting on influential social media platforms, and by having the story of their efforts published in the local newspaper and on the council’s website. The results: In just one day, decreasing the number of cars idling during pickup and drop-off on Fresh Air Friday prevented 12.2 pounds of carbon from entering the atmosphere; each driver saved money by not running their engines while waiting on campus; and the number of families who walked from a parking area to school boosted their physical activity and improved the overall health of the student population. In addition: Grace School administrators agreed to implement Fresh Air Friday weekly beyond the November event; the Climate Action Alliance developed a working relationship with the city of Escondido; and individuals throughout the community have indicated an increase in their commitment to changing their driving habits.
Back Street Gurls
Middle School- Air & Climate Challenge Winner
Hyde Park Middle School
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Teacher Advisor: Robin Hill
Team: Kimberly, Kristina, Jeslyn, Coco, Niki, Jolie, Sabdy
When this group realized that horribly rising temperatures (often 105°F and above in the summer!) was taking a toll on their city, the team decided to design a system that would create a smart and reliable source of renewable energy that could also help solve the heat crisis. By taking advantage of the excessive amounts of heat coming into Las Vegas Valley, they figured that they could trap the heat absorbed by asphalt and convert it into electrical energy. Because they had to experiment in the fall, when the sun is less intense, they purchased a UV light to simulate it and a multimeter to test the electricity generated from the heated asphalt. After many trials and tweaks to their model, the students were able to successfully generate a maximum of 82.4 millivolts when the generator was at a temperature of 176.2°F, proving their theory. To get the word out about their efforts, the Back Street Gurls created a website and Instagram account, offering constant updates on their experiments, and also made and handed out brochures and pins, and put up posters and flyers. They also made presentations to several science classes in the school to demonstrate their findings, and contacted Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman, Univ. of Nevada/Las Vegas Professor of Environmental and Public Affairs Ted Greenhalgh, and environmental social media influencers about their mission and its results.
Mangrove Miracles
Middle School- Air & Climate Challenge Winner
North Broward Preparatory School
Location: Coconut Creek, FL
Teacher Advisor: Hope Kennedy
Team: Zening, Simona, Jordanna, Lucie, James
Living in South Florida, this team knew firsthand the damage that hurricanes cause to shorelines and communities. They learned that mangroves help protect the coastline during these horrible storms and severe weather by breaking up the waves and wind energy and holding the land in place. Mangroves also provide habitat for animals both above and below the water, and are also a part of the ecosystem, as their leaves start the food chain in coastal areas. The Miracles decided to educate people about the importance of mangroves, what is happening to them, and how much carbon dioxide can be saved if they are planted and nurtured. To accomplish their goal, the students: planted mangroves at their school and homes; did presentations at their school and at the lower school; conducted a survey; spread the word by making a poster and fliers, created a YouTube and Instagram account (their teacher shared their message on her Twitter account), and wrote letters to cities, agencies, nature centers, and more. They also presented at their school’s first-ever Eco Challenge Fair. In addition, the group met with the mayor of Punta Gorda and convinced city officials to stop cutting down mangroves; she, in turn, got them involved with the Sea Grant Coordinator and Florida Wildlife Commission. They also worked with the Mayor of Coconut Creek to educate more people about mangroves and donated 20 of their mangrove plants to Deerfield Island Park and 25 plants to the MANG organization.
Starry Nights
Middle School- Air & Climate Challenge Winner
White Cloud Junior High
Location: White Cloud, MI
Teacher Advisor: Sherry Claflin
Team: Elijah, Gabriella, Ysidro, Cole, Christian
The U.S. wastes $3.3 billion on lights left on at night. In addition, because fossil fuels are used to generate electricity, this extra usage is adding more and more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, a key climate change issue. Armed with these facts, this group decided to make it their mission to get the residents of Newaygo County to turn off their porch lights, garage lights, and yard lights to lower light pollution, contribute less CO2, and see more stars. The team first got the school’s 8th grade science classes to participate in a Globe at Night light pollution study on clear nights, October 19–28. Students found Pegasus to be a Magnitude 6 on clear nights with little light pollution, a Magnitude 4 when light pollution was evident, and a Magnitude 2 with heavy yard lights. They then set up a Starry Nights Lights Out event, where they observed the constellation Perseus and saw how with less light, the results changed. Without the city lights of the five Newaygo County towns, the magnitude increased from a 4 to 5 where some light pollution was evident, and when no light pollution was evident, the Magnitude increased to a 6, proving their theory! To ensure participation, the Starry Nights team started a letter-writing campaign, posted an article in their school announcements, and also got coverage in the Fremont Times Indicator about the facts and their experiment. They asked people in all five towns to turn off their lights on November 22 and 23. Their teacher and members of the Newaygo Country Dark Sky Astronomers counted the houses that turned off their outside lights (that organization had also publicized the event on its Facebook page). The result of their efforts: 3,770 homes participated, reducing greenhouse gases and light pollution and allowing stargazers to see beautiful night skies.
Aeroponics28
Middle School- Air & Climate Challenge Winner
PS 28 Christa McAuliffe School
Location: Jersey City, NJ
Teacher Advisors: Christopher Brown, Malissa Yabut
Team: Aya, Gisela, Ty, Arianna, Sergio, Juan, Renzo
Knowing that nitrogen-based fertilizers have chemicals that have a negative effect on air and soil, these students with a green thumb decided to try to solve that issue with aeroponics. The team found that by using a nutrient mist, they could successfully grow herbs and vegetables and that no carbon dioxide is produced in the process. Their goal: to create a portable aeroponics system, which would reduce their carbon footprint and make fresh herbs and vegetables accessible to their families and community—an urban area in which people do not have access to a backyard. The portability factor would also help future planters pick the area around their home best suited for growing vegetation. After extensive research to find materials to upcycle and design an inexpensive system, the group created two sizes: a big prototype, which showed the higher volume one can produce, just reusing water bottles, a humidifier, and a tube; and a more compact version that can fit in a windowsill. They successfully grew parsley and mustard seeds in the larger unit and parsley and cilantro in the smaller one. They spread awareness through flyers, Instagram, and a website; have contacted aeroponic farms in New Jersey; and interacted with experts in the field. The team also taught a variety of classes about their mission and showed younger students how they could create their own system at home.
WMS Climate Justice League
Middle School- Air & Climate Challenge Winner
Whitehall Middle School
Location: Whitehall, MI
Teacher Advisor: Susan Tate
Team: Adalyn, Kenzie, Lianne, Grace, Kaiden, McKayla, Tyler
Inspired by Paul Hawken’s book Drawdown, as well as student climate change activist Greta Thunberg, this team decided to focus on the issue of deforestation with a goal of protecting and planting trees to mitigate climate change. After learning that 7 billion trees are cut down each year to produce paper products, such as paper plates, paper towels, and tissues, but that a tree can absorb 48 pounds of carbon dioxide each year and 1 ton of carbon over 40 years, they knew they had to take action. They reduced the use of paper products at school by replacing paper napkins in the staff lounge with reusable linen napkins they made themselves and creating Eco Party Packs filled with reusable plates, bowls, cups and silverware for the school. The team partnered with a tree-planting organization (they chose the Michigan DNR/State Parks “Happy Little Trees” program, in which native tree seeds are collected at state parks experiencing tree loss and grown in correctional facilities, then transplanted back in the parks) and planted succulents for a fundraiser for the program. The group also educated their school and community about reducing the use of disposable paper products. They got the word out by creating a display case about reducing paper product use and wrote an article in the school paper, which was sent to parents and posted on the school’s website. In addition, the school district’s Facebook page featured the team’s efforts, and the students were interviewed by a writer from MuskeganChannel.com at a West Michigan U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) conference they attended, called “Rise Up & Drawdown Michigan.” Drawdown Michigan later added the interview and the article to its website.
R.E.M. (Remote Environmental Monitoring)
Middle School- Air & Climate Challenge Winner
PS 28 Christa McAuliffe School
Location: Jersey City, NJ
Teacher Advisors: Mahvish Haq, Joel Naatus
Team: Johandry, Isabel, Nour, Romayssae, Lexie, Liana
When there is excess humidity, more mold grows and causes structural damage due to the rot and decomposition of wood and other organic materials. Insects and pests are drawn to these moist environments. These bugs are usually invasive and cause the ecosystem to lose its balance, which in turn, heavily impacts the food chain and environment. Additionally, power plant explosions release dangerous gases into the air, which spread as the wind blows. The gases negatively affect the environment and harm numerous organisms. The same goes for landfills and algal blooms, which, if left unchecked, produce harmful toxins. With all these concerns in mind, R.E.M. (which stands for Remote Environmental Monitoring) decided to test and program two types of remote sensors: one to detect temperature and humidity and one to check hydrogen sulfide and air-quality levels, so that in the future, the public would be able to check readings and know if an area was safe to visit. They also programmed a color sensor to place in a lake in order to detect any potentially harmful algal bloom. After many tests and modifications, the team was successful on all fronts. Additionally, the students created a prototype for a sensor to be able to float on water, naming it S.P.L.A.S.H., which stands for Solar Powered Local Algal-bloom Sensor Housing. The team utilized 4-inch PVC pipes so that it could float on water, modeled on an oyster float. To power the sensor, the team used a 100-watt solar panel. To raise awareness about their project, the group first created a website, which included podcasts, blog posts, and information about their prototypes. They also wrote about why it is important to have these sensors. R.E.M. also used Instagram and Twitter to get the word out and taught a fourth grade class about their work.
Carbon Keepers
Middle School- Air & Climate Challenge Winner
Southcrest Christian School
Location: Lubbock, TX
Teacher Advisor: Laura Wilbanks
Team: Briley, Brinly, Eliza, Felipe, Johnathan
The area in which this team lives is dependent on five major industries: agricultural farms, agricultural ranches, dairies, oil production, and natural gas production, all of which greatly impact the air and climate. Because of the group’s connection to the environment, the Carbon Keepers decided to tackle the issue of increased greenhouse gases. After researching and conducting interviews with experts, the group developed a proposal to decrease the gases and met with Texas Tech University professors to assess their theories. Their idea: Instead of thinking of air, land, and water separately, they decided to look at how soil could be the answer, if carbon could be sequestered in the soil and kept from being released into the atmosphere as greenhouse gases. They then conducted a series of carbon sequestration experiments to test their hypothesis, by collecting different soil types from farms in the area and testing them with different compost. After analyzing their data, which linked decreased carbon in the air to carbon sequestration in the soil, the students reached out to community organizations and government agencies with the results and partnered with them to spread the word. They raised community awareness through a PSA, an email campaign, radio spots, news coverage, special events, and more. They developed a following on social media and through a website. Later they produced an education campaign for land-use professionals; conducted hands-on education for farmers and ranchers; taught children about climate change and agricultural impact; presented their findings to local community service groups; and continue to survey individuals and farmers.
2019-20 Air & Climate Challenge Winners: High School
Ladue Project ReBearth
High School- Air & Climate Challenge Winner
Ladue Horton Watkins High School
Location: St. Louis, MO
Teacher Advisors: Katie Kane, Monica Bowman
Team: Abby, Matthew, Ayushya, Shelei, Cindy, Christopher, Arya, Orion, Lauren
Construction-site landscaping methods, specifically those used at public schools, both degrade the soil and pollute the environment. At Ladue High School, in order to reduce erosion during construction, the bare dirt stripped after construction was covered with a weak plastic mesh. It neither held up to the elements nor kept the dirt in place, serving no function except to pollute the environment with more microplastics than were already present in the suburban ecosystem. The team observed this situation and made it their goal to create a method to inhibit and reverse soil degradation during construction without contributing to climate change, soil erosion, or water pollution. To accomplish this, the team: constructed “garden teas” (mixtures of easily-obtained organic compounds) by combining mushrooms, charcoal, superworm and red crawler droppings (both native species), and water; constructed several sets of experimental, indoor plots, planting the same species in each tub, and also experimented with outdoor plots; and developed a list of native species to recommend to the Ladue Schools administration. At a school district meeting, with principals and superintendents in attendance, the group presented their upcoming plan and used the opportunity to educate these community leaders and spread awareness about their campaign. They also contacted the Missouri Botanical Garden, Missouri Dept. of Conservation, and the Deer Creek Watershed Alliance. The experiments confirmed their method worked; they saw a significant increase in grass height and growth density, and even saw increasing inquiries for their help on baseball and playground fields, demonstrating their (and the district’s) new sustainability efforts.
Kalamazoo Central Climate Advocates
High School- Air & Climate Challenge Winner
Kalamazoo Central High School
Location: Kalamazoo, MI
Teacher Advisor: Josh Gottlieb
Team: Kevin, Nora, Natalie, Margaret, Miles, Owen, Kearney, Kendal, Chloe
Kalamazoo Public Schools is an urban district that educates roughly 13,000 students across 26 buildings. Many of the facilities are quite old, and much of the capital infrastructure is out of date. After doing their research, the Central Climate Advocates found that in general, building construction and operations, when examined together, are the largest contributor to CO2 emissions. The team made it their mission to come up with a plan to reduce the school district’s carbon footprint by 30% over 10 years, by retrofitting existing buildings with modern, efficient technologies that address issues of heating and cooling, lighting, insulation, energy use and production, and water usage, among others. To make this happen, the team partnered over the summer with other local organizations (Western Michigan University Office of Sustainability and Climate Change Working Group, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Sierra Club, and Extinction Rebellion) to form the Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition. Additionally, they enlisted the support of the West Michigan U.S. Green Building Council and Consumers Energy to act as project consultants. They spoke at a major rally on September 20 in downtown Kalamazoo; lobbied the city to declare a climate emergency; planned a yearlong series of Friday community events in support of Greta Thunberg’s Fridays for Future movement; and produced a climate change video and had every teacher play it on different days throughout the fall. They spread the word via numerous morning announcements at school, social media posts, and news stories.
Carbon Free Lawrence
High School- Air & Climate Challenge Winner
Greater Lawrence Technical High School
Location: Andover, MA
Teacher Advisors: Marla Hilderbrand-Chae, Caroline McCullough, Patricia Giampa
Team: Robert, Andy, Alexis, Yasmerlin, Isabel, Benedict, Emily
Powering everyday machines without increasing carbon emissions was a problem this team decided to solve. Rather than using fossil fuel, the group wanted to make renewable energy, like biofuels, derived from algae. With the help of a grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, the students designed a bioreactor (a machine used to re-create biological processes); built it and set it up outside; started and maintained healthy algae cultures; determined accurate cell counts; spun the algae down into slurry; found they could ultrasonicate the slurry (breaking down the cell wall of algae with sound waves); extracted oils from the algae using a new ethyl acetate procedure; and used the oil to power landscaping machines. Their results: They produced 5 milliliters of oil and successfully created a new approach for environmental partners to build on. In addition, they used the oil in machines in the school’s horticulture shop, reducing some of the emissions. They raised awareness at school via a video about their work and coverage on the school’s website. They also presented their findings to representatives at the Massachusetts State House, and at community events and local companies, such as LearnLaunch, Boston Scientific, and Pfizer.
The Cli-Mates
High School- Air & Climate Challenge Winner
Herricks High School
Location: New Hyde Park, NY
Teacher Advisor: Renee Barcia
Team: Prableen, Sarah, Mina, Alyssa, Roshni
Climate change, the result of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, can result in ozone-layer depletion and increased air pollutants, which will ultimately destroy the planet. U.S. consumers are responsible for a large amount of food-related GHG emissions, especially due to the massive consumption of poultry, among other foods, which increases the population’s carbon footprint. Switching to a more sustainable diet, however, could help decrease these emissions, improving the environment. With these facts in mind, the Cli-Mates decided to tackle this problem by educating their community through various events and online initiatives to implement low-carbon diets. The team: educated their peers on low-carbon foods, conducting seminars at school-club meetings; set up informational booths at community events and conducted an interactive survey; and set up a bake sale with low-carbon treats to further inform their classmates and donated the proceeds to the Nature Conservancy. In addition, they created an interactive carbon-food calculator program, then compared school-lunch emissions to low-carbon meal emissions. They even coded their own computer program that can calculate a user’s carbon footprint for a specific food he or she eats over the course of a year. They used social media outlets such as Instagram to get their message out as well as brochures, and contacted various organizations, including the U.S. Green Building Council and the NY Academy of Sciences, to help publicize their mission and the group. The students also contacted NY State Senator Kevin Thomas; local legislator Ellen Birnbaum, about locations for implementing their ideas; and worked with Great Neck library staff (who wrote an article about the group) to set up a low-carbon food stand to educate the community. The Roslyn News/New Hyde Park Illustrated also reported on the team’s efforts.
Bio Bucs
High School- Air & Climate Challenge Winner
Hoover High School
Location: Hoover, AL
Teacher Advisor: Janet Ort
Team: Reid, Abhinav, Carson, Noel, Abi
Knowing that one of the most pressing issues of climate change is caused by greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide, the Bio Bucs strove to create an accurate way to track the passage of carbon in and out of bodies of water to better understand its movements throughout all our ecosystems. An additional goal was to get their fellow students to understand the complexities of the issue, so they decided to construct a simple visualization of the process that would be clearer than what textbooks provide and start a domino effect of school communities in their area talking about the increasing rate of climate change and its effects. They researched the topic extensively, including trees’ and forests’ role the cycles, and how their structure has a huge effect on how ecosystems function. The team also collected CO2 data in different environments and created easily replicable vessels to be used in labs and ones that could carry a carbon dioxide sensor over a body of water; the sensors can connect to the lab or to the Vernier GoWireless app on phones and computers. After successfully designing a unit, they were able to evolve their design into a 3D model that could be used by engineers worldwide. They also mapped and tracked trees in their area, measuring the different types, heights, and circumferences of trees to learn and later show their peers how carbon moves around them. In addition, the group created a game called Carbon Towers (similar to Jenga) to demonstrate how carbon moves through the ocean, air, soil, and more. They cosponsored events for their high school and three others, as well as for the community, and brought their efforts and game to many science classes, teaching younger students how to follow the carbon!
Tiger Prairie Initiative
High School- Air & Climate Challenge Winner
Katy High School
Location: Katy, TX
Teacher Advisors: Dr. Rhonda Burrough, Dr. Kelly Knight, Sue Barker
Team: Ashlyn, Brandon, Corey, Olivia, Demetrius, Sarah, Kayla, Jason, Cameron
The population of Katy has grown significantly over the recent years. Due to this growth, the amount of impervious surfaces, such as concrete, has also increased, leading to increased runoff and flooding. Because they live in Katy, Texas, very close to the site of the recent category 4 Hurricane Harvey, the students decided to study how prairie vegetation mitigates flooding and drought. The team compared the infiltration rates of the prairie site to a control site, turf grass. Using infiltration rings, they measured the rate that water was absorbed into the ground in several locations around both sites. The data showed that the prairie site absorbed water 2.4 times faster than the control site. With this information, the team concluded that prairie plants increase infiltration rates, reducing flooding due to the increased permeability of the soil and the long roots of their cover crops, thus creating better water absorption than turf grass or traditional lawn grasses. The group then wanted to apply what they learned and help educate people in their community about the positive effects of planting pocket prairies all around the Katy/Houston area. The Tiger Prairie Initiative hosted a community gathering advertised through social media, and many emails were sent to teachers, professors, and local organizations. As a result, both the students of Katy High School and students and teachers from other high schools attended the presentation, allowing them to reach a greater audience who now understand the critical ecosystem services of prairies.
ReeHive
High School- Air & Climate Challenge Winner
Peak to Peak Charter School
Location: Lafayette, CO
Teacher Advisor: Kristie Letter
Team: Sophia, Caroline, Nicholas, Caleb, Domenic, Milan, Arya
In recent years, the bee population has been declining due to loss of biodiversity and habitat and climate change. Bees now have to travel miles from their hives to find a sufficient amount of nutrients to survive and plants to pollinate; this, in turn, has a direct effect on the U.S. ecosystem and agriculture. Once this group learned these facts, they became committed to boosting the decreasing honeybee population. ReeHive chose to reuse trash in landfills to construct safe, sustainable, and efficient beehives that are made entirely from recycled materials and that can be used in place of traditional beehives. During this project, ReeHive was part of an innovation fair with elementary students at Peak to Peak. The students set up posters and games to educate children about honeybees and how they affect the climate. The team also developed a rough prototype of the sustainable beehive in collaboration with the Mile Hive Bee Club and a local beekeeper. They created: an active Instagram account to raise awareness; a website that provides blueprints on how to build a sustainable hive and honeybee information; and a survey their teachers have promoted in their classes. Posters, brochures, flyers, and school announcements also added to their impact; the posters and flyers were also in the community’s public library, Lafayette Rec Center, Butterfly Pavilion, and in buildings on the campuses of Harvey Mudd, Scripps College, Pomona College, Claremont McKenna, and Pitzer College in Claremont, California, where thousands of people and college students walk through every day. Future partnerships are in the works with the Colorado Bee Company, Savannah Bee Company, and the Boulder County Bee Association.
NPS Indigi-Geek Squad
High School- Air & Climate Challenge Winner
Navajo Preparatory School
Location: Farmington, NM
Teacher Advisor: Yolanda Flores
Team: Sky, Alesia, Keona, Kiera, Jaden, Justyna
Smoke from wood that is not burned completely contains many different types of chemicals, many of which are dangerous, like carbon monoxide. In addition, the smoke is made up of a complex mixture of gases and fine toxic particles (also called particle pollution or particulate matter—PM), which stay longer in the air and harm humans’ and animals’ respiratory systems. Armed with this knowledge, the Indigi-Geek Squad strove to study the risks and analyze data specifically for Navajo Nation inhabitants, who heavily rely on firewood for heating and cooking in their Hogan homes. They wanted to find the stats for carbon monoxide levels, radon levels, and PM counts when burning different types of wood inside or at traditional Navajo ceremonies in order to recommend the best type of tree and wood for their fellow students and their families to mitigate the short-term and long-term effects to the body and the environment. Also from their research results, the team aimed to help rehabilitate and reforest burned areas in California and New Mexico. The team studied pinon, pine, oak, and cedar firewood and ranked them from best to worst based on carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and PM levels emitted because of incomplete combustion, measuring the gas levels before and after burning the wood using several types of sensors. (Cedar turned out to be the worst, and pine was the best.) They made a presentation to the school and community, and also got the word out about their project via Instagram, Facebook, the school newsletter and website, posters, and flyers, as well as an article posted in the Daily Times, a newspaper in Farmington, New Mexico.
2019-20 Land & Water Challenge Winners: Middle School
Clean Green Recycling Machine
Middle School- Land & Water Challenge Winner
Bednarcik Junior High School
Location: Aurora, IL
Teacher Advisor: Amy Truemper
Team: Ava, Olivette, Megan, Manya, Denise, Jensie, Makenna, Jessica
According to the EPA, 75% of American waste is recyclable but only 30% ends up being recycled. Instead it ends up in landfills, polluting groundwater and releasing toxic chemicals resulting in greenhouse gasses that lead to global warming and death to aquatic life. After learning these facts, this enterprising group chose to tackle the problem by designing the Clean Green Recycling Machine, modifying a school recycling bin with a motion sensor to detect when someone actually recycles. To motivate participation, they made it a competition and added a tablet to prompt students to enter their school ID number to gain points. In addition, they: conducted a survey to determine why students were throwing away recyclable objects; consulted with a local food management expert; worked with the junior high’s environment and energy conservation teams to spread the word—creating a website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts, flyers, posters, and a YouTube video; and organized several community cleanup events. After just one week of their efforts, they were proud to report that no plastic bottles or aluminum cans were thrown away and 203 were recycled. Their incentive program worked successfully; their fellow students were eager to compete for prizes and had fun interacting with the bin.
Lanternfly Levelers
Middle School- Land & Water Challenge Winner
Octorara Intermediate School
Location: Atglen, PA
Teacher Advisor: Christine Gray
Team: Caleb, Nicholas, Trevor, Cassidy, Elise, Faith, Brayden, Grant, Valerie
The Spotted Lanternfly is an invasive species that came to the U.S. from Southeast Asia; it targets a variety of grapevines, fruit plants, and trees and has cost the U.S. an estimated $11.5 billion. The Levelers, many of whom live on farms, decided to explore the species as they are especially prevalent in their area, causing a loss in crop production and infesting maple trees around the school. The group’s mission: to educate citizens and help stop the spread and environmental destruction. To do that, the students researched the species and its effect, contacting experts at local, state, and federal organizations; collected and studied the insects; conducted experiments both inside and outside school; and created community outreach via a website and video, Twitter, Facebook, and local newspapers and news stations. They also shared their research with experts at the Penn State University Department of Entomology, the Penn State Extension, and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The group plans to publicize their findings at upcoming community events and via Skype with other schools and students around the country.
Aqua Leaders
Middle School- Land & Water Challenge Winner
Assumption Regional Catholic School
Location: Galloway, NJ
Teacher Advisor: Patricia Naples
Team: Anastasia, Isabella, Mackenzie, Owen, Steven
For years people have believed that the water in their homes, schools, and communities is safe for consumption. The Aqua Leaders were skeptical, and they set out to study the water quality in NJ schools to determine if there is a relationship between the socioeconomic factors of a school district and the quality of their water and lead contamination; if the quality of water in private schools is comparable to the quality of water in public schools in the same area; if there is a simple and inexpensive method for students to test the water they are drinking; and ways to educate their community, especially new parents and parents of young children, about the developmental and long-term effects of lead exposure. The team worked with researchers at Rutgers University Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI) to find out how to investigate water quality. After collecting water samples from schools in South Jersey districts, the team sent them to EOHSI for analysis. They then worked with a statistics professor at Stockton University to learn how to analyze their water-collection data. Their conclusion: Socioeconomic status and lead presence are significantly related. The group developed an educational pamphlet on the possible health hazards of lead exposure, and will be distributing it at school and community events throughout the year. They are currently preparing a presentation for Camden Diocese Schools and NJ state officials. The students have also been contacted by The Press of Atlantic City to discuss their project.
The Aqua Squad
Middle School- Land & Water Challenge Winner
PS #28 Christa McAuliffe School
Location: Jersey City, NJ
Teacher Advisors: Christopher Brown, Robert O’Donnell
Team: Daphne, Nathan, Mia, Marco, Miley, Giuseppe
Duckweed is an invasive flowering plant, native to the northern and Midwestern parts of the U.S. It can sometimes be dangerous when people mistake it for grass when it covers the surface of a body of water. The Aqua Squad decided to show how to be cautious around it, but also prove that this plant can be useful too. They studied duckweed intensively , contacting research professionals all over the U.S. They then created lesson plans for fourth and fifth grade classes on how it grows and raised awareness for the plant by starting multiple social media accounts, using Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and other outlets. Their outreach paid off; professors from Rutgers, Michigan State, and more started following them and their efforts, offering advice and encouragement. When the team discovered duckweed is high in protein, the students grew cultures of it and conducted cooking experiments; their tilapia at school loved it! Through additional testing, they learned it can be a natural filtration and cleaner in aquarium tanks. They plan to continue their research and hope that duckweed can at some point be converted into a food source for people.
Magnolia STEM Scholars
Middle School- Land & Water Challenge Winner
Hutto Middle School
Location: Bainbridge, GA
Teacher Advisor: Tiffany Rambo
Team: Neal, Demarion, Yarissa, Kanaziayonia, Caroline, Patricia, Jada, Courtney, Kaylie, Tavarius
When the Magnolia STEM Scholars found out that their local county had stopped recycling plastic in May, they were determined to do something about it. They wanted to stop the flow of plastic into landfills, waterways, and parks. The team planned a community outreach program to inform the public as well as a system to control the amount of plastic being used and tossed by the student body. The students submitted an article to the local Bainbridge paper, The Post Searchlight, to share research info, concerns, and solutions. They designed a website and created an Instagram account to share research and recycling tips and published and distributed flyers throughout the school campus. In addition, the group constructed a DIY vertical garden utilizing discarded plastic bottles, and organized a student-designed shirt fundraiser; proceeds will be used to purchase new drinking fountains that will allow students and faculty the ability to easily refill reusable drinking bottles. Next steps: working with other schools in the area to join the effort for new drinking fountains; meeting with bank officials about potential sponsorships; and talking to the city’s waste management director about transporting plastic to a recycling plant in Tallahassee.
Soil Savoirs
Middle School- Land & Water Challenge Winner
Dallas Environmental Science Academy
Location: Dallas, TX
Teacher Advisor: Ernest Barlow
Team: Ailyn, Mayra, Amy, Kylaa, Adrian, Roberto, Elliott, Jael
This team aimed to raise awareness about soil contamination caused by big companies’ poor waste-management strategies. When the group learned their school was a half-mile away from a location that used to be a superfund site (U.S. land that has been contaminated by hazardous waste and identified by the EPA as a cleanup candidate because of its risk to human health and the environment), they decided to test the pH levels of the soil around their houses and the school. The students also created flyers and posters about composting, designed and constructed plans for a robot that makes the soil-testing process easier and more efficient, and implemented a compost plan at their school and others in the area. Their theory did check out; soil in nearby homes had very high pH levels. Though still in progress, the students will compile evidence and results from their composting project, then spread the word around the district to convince more schools to have a similar program and let the kids be responsible for it. Their ultimate goal: to teach students valuable skills and knowledge about helping the environment. They also plan to reach out to the EPA Region 6 and compare their methods of extracting contaminants from the soil to the EPA’s.
The Amazon Firesticks
Middle School- Land & Water Challenge Winner
Hyde Park Middle School
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Teacher Advisor: Robin Hill
Team: Angelica, Brianna, Chloe, Christopher, Daiki, Landon, Mia, Nayan, Veda
With the number of forest fires on the rise, The Amazon Firesticks decided to fight this ongoing problem with a way to get help to the scene faster, before the blaze gets out of control. They devised a plan that would use an active Terra satellite to detect the fires. This satellite will immediately send a signal to its location using GPS coordinates to a drone stationed nearby. The drone would receive the information on a developing wildfire, which would in turn activate the drone to fly to the site and drop a fire-extinguisher bomb to put out or contain the fire before it becomes too big. They modeled their solution using a drone and a balloon: The GPS coordinates of the drone represented the GPS signal that the satellite would send about the location of the fire. The pressing of a button activated a dropper to send out the electronic signals of the satellite to the drone for when and where to drop. They filled the balloons with three different combinations of air, monoammonium phosphate, and water. The model was moderately successful containing very small amounts of fire, and the group hopes to expand the experiment further. The team got the word out about their idea and the dangers of escalating wildfires via posters, brochures, making a video and posting it on YouTube, and creating an Instagram account and website.
Fanplastics H2.0
Middle School- Land & Water Challenge Winner
Olympus Junior High School
Location: Holladay, UT
Teacher Advisor: JoAnne Brown
Team: Zack, Julia, Emily, Nevyn, Eleanor, Grace
This team chose to address the pressing issue of microplastics (tiny degraded strings/particles of plastic waste) because of the way they affect everyone’s daily lives, especially in Utah, where freshwater is in limited supply. If the water gets contaminated, the microplastic particles increase in concentration, increasing the probability of many diseases, including cancer. To help prevent human ingestion of these deadly waste particles, the Fanplastics designed an activated carbon block (ACB) filter that can be built and used at home. After many early prototypes, the final product ended up being made out of activated carbon, clean sand, aluminum mesh, and coffee filters. The team layered these components together, in both a polyvinyl chloride container and a recycled plastic water bottle, to make a fully functional water filter that can eliminate nearly 100% of observable microplastics, using a microscope to count. They spread knowledge through a website, Instagram, and Facebook, and also created a YouTube video explaining the huge problem that microplastics are posing to animals and humans. By educating those in their community about this problem, the students helped people recognize the growing threat plastic waste constitutes and understand its lasting environmental impact.
2019-20 Land & Water Challenge Winners: High School
The Bee Boys
High School- Land & Water Challenge Winner
Parkway North High School
Location: St. Louis, MO
Teacher Advisor: Karen LaFever
Team: Nevan, Christopher, Mason, Max, Caden, Josh, Lorenzo
Pollinators are among the most important living organisms to humans because of their involvement in agriculture and plant reproduction. However, bees—one of the main pollinators—have a rapidly declining population. To protect ecosystems around the globe, bee populations must be more stable and diverse. The Bee Boys made it their mission to discover and distribute ways to both maintain and repair these populations in their community. They talked to local beekeepers for advice, learned about local species and hives, and designed and built a regular plywood hive for social bees and a “bee hotel” for solitary species. The team gathered materials to use in presentations to local elementary schools to spread awareness about bee population problems and educate students, teaching them about what is happening to bees and how they can build their own bee hotel to help. They also presented their research to five science classes in their high school.
Ursula Upcyclers
High School- Land & Water Challenge Winner
St. Ursula Academy
Location: Toledo, OH
Teacher Advisor: Jackie Kane
Team: Sarah, Madelyn, Hannah, Veronica, Ellie
Northwest Ohio has many different environmental waste materials that pose a significant problem due to their large quantities, regulated disposal, and unusual properties. These products are Zebra Mussel shells, dredged sediment, leaf litter, and manure. The Upcyclers aimed to address all four of these waste products by repurposing each material into a single soil product—an efficient and affordable upcycled soil to help the local environment. They designed a soil composition with an ideal carbon-to-nitrogen ratio using the four ingredients. The group worked with Dr. Anita Simic Milas from Bowling Green State University to determine plant health and analyze soil with remote sensing. The team raised awareness by organizing outreach to 200 eighth graders to help them understand the problem; contacted 30 academic, professional, governmental, and environmental groups; and used newsletters, social media, a video, and a website to spread the word about their findings. The team also appeared on local TV news and radio programs, and worked with experts from the University of Toledo, The Ohio State University, Bowling Green State University, Heidelberg University, the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Toledo City Council, the Great Lakes Commission, and Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority.
Turtle Trackers
High School- Land & Water Challenge Winner
Arlington High School
Location: LaGrangeville, NY
Teacher Advisors: Tricia Muraco, Maribel Pregnall
Team: Phoebe, James, Matthew, Rina, Keshav, Kyra
The Turtle Trackers decided to address the decline of the local Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) population, a federally endangered species. New York State has labeled the Blanding’s turtle as threatened since 1983. Though there have been local efforts to protect the species, there is little awareness of the extinction risk that they face. Losing these turtles will significantly alter the current wetland ecosystem, resulting in a loss of biodiversity. Over seven months, the Turtle Trackers reached out to turtle-research centers to gain more knowledge, and worked in natural and man-made mitigation wetlands to protect the turtles as well as increase their numbers by monitoring hatchlings and nests. In May and June, they tracked adult female turtles every night, following their locations to see if they were nesting. If one was nesting, they would stay for several hours, until she completed laying all of her eggs. Afterward, they placed a cage over the nest to protect it from predators. Then they collected physical data and tracked the hatchlings’ progress. They got the word out about their project by actively posting on social media (they now have more than 340 followers); an article about the team was published in Hudson Valley Parent magazine, reaching 200,000 people in the community. The group also taught classes at Overlook Elementary School and asked fellow high school students to take a pledge to help; more than 300 have pledged so far.
Finding Nano
High School- Land & Water Challenge Winner
Jericho Senior High School
Location: Jericho, NY
Teacher Advisor: Serena McCalla
Team: Catherine, Katherine, Harrison, Riya, Maya, Janice, Audrey
When this team found out that 61% of NY waterways are contaminated with unregulated, likely carcinogenic contaminants, such as 1-4 dioxane, pesticides, and heavy metals, the students felt the need to study wastewater treatment and create more efficient options. They learned that fracking contaminates water supplies and produces toxic wastewater, which is expensive and hard to treat or dispose of, and that monitoring water quality is necessary to avoid fracking’s adverse health impacts. They reached out to local officials about current Long Island water-treatment policies as well as the Jericho Water Department about the limitations of local water-treatment plants. After researching the issue, they created a sustainable ultrafiltration membrane using nanocellulose and also designed “FrackTrack”: a new app for residents to monitor water quality. The app detects fracking contaminants and alerts people not to use tap water when the concentrations are above EPA-regulated levels. The students also raised and donated funds to two collaborating environmental organizations to help improve water quality on a global scale: the Water Project, which provides lifetime clean water access to sub-Saharan African communities; and Earthworks, which provides funding for clean energy to decrease fracking and minimize pollution. The team used extensive outreach to share their message, including educational YouTube videos; a website; daily blog posts explaining the local and global impacts of fracking; various forms of social media; and participation in local events educating community members about ways to reduce their water footprint. They also demonstrated filtration experiments with filter paper, sand, and water to teach middle school students about membrane technology and water, and went on radio station 106.1 WBLI to air a PSA about LI water pollution and encourage cleanup support.
Chat Up the Hooch
High School- Land & Water Challenge Winner
Jasper County High School
Location: Monticello, GA
Teacher Advisors: Bonnie Garvin, Elizabeth Proctor
Team: Tionna, Nykeria, Spencer, Kedarius, Gavin, Julia, Zion
This resourceful group learned that: 80% of Atlanta’s water comes from the Chattahoochee River—one of the smallest rivers serving a major city; there is a moratorium on drilling wells in South Georgia; and that Georgia’s water issues are not an official part of state educational standards. In addition, they discovered 2019 data that showed Atlanta at the medium-to-high water stress level, which means the state of Georgia needs to prevent a water crisis. They decided to take action. Their answer: education. They predict that, in the next decade, water rights between Georgia, Florida, and Alabama are going to be a hot topic in the court system. Their theory: If students are educated about water issues in school, then they will be more involved with creating water-usage solutions and conservation efforts to prevent future shortages. The educational system in Georgia does not specifically address how water rights are determined. The team felt that students need to be better informed about local water issues and how water is divided. After searching Georgia standards, the students concluded that this topic could be easily taught in Science and Social Studies curriculums for second, third, fourth, sixth, and eighth grade classes. The team strove to teach younger students the background of water issues in their state, featuring historical information about the Tri-State Water Wars, the basis of much of the current problem. They used Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube to get the word out about their research and the classes they visited. They prepared educational materials and had them translated into Spanish so teachers could inspire English Language Learners to participate too.
Central Recycles
High School- Land & Water Challenge Winner
Central Magnet School
Location: Murfreesboro, TN
Teacher Advisor: Marc Guthrie
Team: Isabelle, Brian, Emma Kate, Bella, Aaron
In Davidson County, 1.2 million tons of waste was produced in 2016; only 25% of that waste was recycled. In county landfills, 66% of the trash was able to be recycled but wasn’t. After the group learned those facts, it became clear to the Central Recycles team that throughout middle Tennessee, residents are impacting local waterways and, inevitably, the ocean. In the students’ community, single-use plastic is common, and awareness about recycling options is limited. Therefore, the group chose to help its community reduce plastic use, specifically targeting single-use and soft plastics. They created a campaign to educate students and citizens about plastic pollution in local water systems and started a recycling club to raise recycling awareness. In addition, they spoke with local stores about changing wasteful plastic habits and adding ways to educate their customers via displays and new bag designs. In addition, team members: established a partnership with Plastic Free Tennessee for river cleanup events and spread awareness at the Urban Runoff 5K Race and Water Quality Festival in Nashville. The recycling club has also been busy educating fellow students on how to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastics. They set up containers to collect both soft and hard plastics, partnering with Trex and launching a soft-plastic recycling competition; Trex will repurpose the recycled plastic into a bench for the school. The team put “dos and don’ts” signs above the recycling and garbage bins; passed out reusable water bottles to club members; and participated in trash pickups (students received service hours for participation). The team also spread the word using Instagram and by creating a website.
Conservation Catalysts
High School- Land & Water Challenge Winner
Mountain Heights Academy
Location: West Jordan, UT
Teacher Advisors: Lora Gibbons, Amy Pace
Team: Alexander, Gavin, Kate, Kate, Kristina
Utah’s freshwater supplies are suffering from water-quality problems, which in turn affects the amount of freshwater available for use. The state’s largest body of freshwater, Utah Lake, has several types of pollution problems. One of the biggest is eutrophication, which can lead to harmful algae blooms. Utah Lake has become so highly concentrated with algal blooms and other parasitic organisms, it is no longer safe to swim there or participate in other recreational activities. In addition, Cyanobacteria, which causes Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), are very common in this environment. The Catalysts took on this issue because they believe everyone in the state is responsible for freshwater quality and health. HABs mainly get out of hand when excess nutrients find their way into the water. These nutrients come from nitrogen- and phosphorus-based fertilizers, grass clippings, yard waste, pet waste, and other products that leak into the waterways. The students felt that it was their responsibility to protect and spread awareness about conserving clean water. After extensive research, the team: spearheaded a schoolwide event to educate students, the administration, and parents and present their action plan; created social media messages to post on school Instagram and Facebook accounts; passed out brochures to the school board, administration, and students; wrote letters and emails; contacted environmental organizations; created a website to document all research and house all digital information; brainstormed with Kari Malkovich, a member of the Utah Lake Committee and a city council member; and set up an educational event at Brigham Young University to continue their outreach.
Salton Sea Pollution Patrol
High School- Land & Water Challenge Winner
Holtville High School
Location: Holtville, CA
Teacher Advisor: Bonnie Sorenson
Team: Amelie, Leonela, Kayla, Abigail, Andree, Hadley, Ella
The Salton Sea is around 50 miles away from Holtville and is creating a major health crisis for residents of the Imperial Valley. Without a continuous source of freshwater, the Salton Sea is drying up at drastic rates, which is causing severe health problems for surrounding areas. The Salton is filled with agricultural runoff, and therefore has many toxins within its water and soil. Once the man-made sea starts to dry up, the wind picks up and carries the toxic soil particles to nearby communities. These particles can embed in the lungs, enter the bloodstream, and are known to cause asthma and other respiratory illnesses, including lung cancer. Eleven years ago, a group of students from Holtville High School performed an experiment on the sea, so the Pollution Patrol team wanted to check on it and compare results to see how the Salton Sea has changed over time and uncover the severity of pollution there now. The team visited the Salton Sea State Recreation Area and collected a sample of the water for testing in the lab with a water distillation device. They tested the nitrogen, phosphorus, pH, and other chemical levels within the collected water, and verified their results with an outside lab. In comparing their results of contamination with those of the prior group, this process revealed that the Salton Sea water sample currently had no traces of nitrogen or phosphorus, amazing when compared to results from 11 years ago, when nitrogen levels were 77 mg/L. However, overall, the group learned that the Salton Sea water has changed drastically in other ways over this time period. The students got the word out about their research through the school’s Sustainability Through Environmental Practices & Solutions (STEPS) Club, which works to increase awareness about environmental issues and changes.
