2012 National Winners
Toshiba and the National Science Teachers Association are proud to announce the 2012 ExploraVision national winners.
Click here to view the 2012 Regional Winners
Click here to view the 2012 Honorable Mentions
1st Place North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics — Durham, NC
Left to right: Dr. Myra Halpin (coach), Tejas Sundareson, Jaehyeong Lee, Duncan Kane (Toshiba)
Amphipathic Films for Water Collection
Amphipathic Films for Water Collection will provide an easy, cost-effective water collection method by avoiding groundwater depletion. Amphipathic film with localized hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions will extract water from the atmosphere by using three key features: the most efficient hydrophobicity pattern, inexpensive extraction of gold substrate, and use of a cheap, robust, and strong self-assembling monolayer.
2nd Place Westwood High School — Austin, TX
Left to right: Jodie L. Glaze (Toshiba), Aneesha Kommineni, Shruti Subramanian, Corinne Alford, Eley Ng, Doug Landers (coach)
LANAPT
LANAPT (Ligand Attached Nanoshells Assisting Photothermal Therapy) integrates nanotechnology, photothermal therapy, and biomolecular recognition in pancreatic cancer therapy. Anti-Ca19-9 biomolecules conjugated to gold nanoshells and used in photothermal cancer therapy will eradicate all cancer cells in pancreatic tumors with a high success rate. It will reduce the use of chemotherapy , radiation and surgery, thereby decreasing the incidence of the negative side effects associated with those therapies.
1st Place David Thompson Secondary School — Vancouver, BC
Left to right: Jason Crowther (Toshiba), Narae Kim, Jairah Alindogan, Yvonne Hao, Danny Borges (coach)
Thermoresponsive Hydrogel Injection
The Thermoresponsive Hydrogel Injection is an effective and minimally invasive operation used to treat trigeminal neuralgia. The procedure combines microvascular decompression and percutaneous procedures with the advantages of thermoresponsive hydrogels to provide better alternatives to the current treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. This new surgical procedure will help those who do not want to take the risk of undergoing the surgeries that exist today.
2nd Place The Alternative School for Math and Science — Corning, NY
Left to right: Ms. Linda Cole (Academic Head of School), Ms. Terry Doerksen (mentor), Hannah Doerksen-Goldwater, Charlie Giunta (Toshiba), Kayle Watson, Ms. Pat Killian (coach), Ms. Kim Frock (Administrative Head of School)
Radiclear — A System to Filter Radium from Water
The RadiClear filtration system will combine magnesium oxide on nanotubes to separate dangerous radium from water. The nanotubes will precipitate out of the water after binding with the radium and remain in storage tanks where they will be recycled and reused. For people in areas affected by very high radium levels, RadiClear will be a cost-effective method of providing safer drinking water in households.
1st Place Fairmont Private School — Anaheim, CA
Back row left to right: Jason White (Toshiba), Kathryn Baham (coach)
Front row left to right: Taylor Tran, Raj Sawhney, Riya Beri, Chloe Shin
Helping the World's Silent Side
Hearing the World's Silent Side mixes nanofibers used in spinal cord technology along with a cochlear implant to correct sensorineural and conductive hearing loss. HWSS will attach nanofibers to the auditory nerve that will allow sound to reach the brain smoothly by passing over the nerve rather than through the damaged portion.
2nd Place Countryside Montessori Charter — Land O'Lakes, FL
Left to right: Bobbianne Grant (coach), Katie Champion, Sam Talero, Colby Tomasello, Jack Sturgess, and Peter Fehrenbach (Toshiba)
The S.M.A.R.T. School
S.M.A.R.T. Schools will be powered by human energy, primarily through student heat, sound, and movement. Acoustic tiles will capture sound vibrations and noise energy while piezoelectric floors will capture student movement energy. This environmentally friendly school will use renewable energy sources and help reduce the reliance on fossil fuels.
1st Place LD Batchelder Elementary School — North Reading, MA
Back row left to right: Bill Cassell (coach), Mary Hatton (mentor), Mary Ellen Murzyn (Toshiba)
Front row left to right: Brian Heffernan, Blake Miller, Megan Carey, Sarah Hatton
SMART Desk
The SMART Desk will help students by replacing the typical school desk with something for the next generation: a desk that uses wireless technology and a touchscreen. Equipped with standard school supplies, the SMART Desk will wirelessly transmit videos to assist students with visual problems and have other features that may help students with various learning disabilities. The SMART Desk will also help teachers save time by grading papers and quickly exchanging information with students.
2nd Place Flippen Elementary School — McDonough, GA
Front row left to right: Caleb Robinson, Alec Jackson, Evan Jackson
Back row: Peter Fehrenbach (Toshiba)
COOL Pads: Shoulder Pads that Keep Players Safe from Overheating
COOL PADS: Shoulder Pads that Keep Players Safe from Overheating is a cooling system in football shoulder pads that analyzes changes in body temperature to keep players from getting overheated. Temperature sensors located in the armpits, chest, and groin along with one located in the helmet will track and maintain body temperature for optimum sports performance. COOL PADS will prevent heat stroke and save lives.
