2010 Regional Winners
Toshiba and the National Science Teachers Association are proud to announce the 2010 ExploraVision Awards regional winners.
Grades 10–12 | Grades 7–9 | Grades 4–6 | Grades K–3
Grades 10–12
Region 1
Stuyvesant High School*
Left to Right: Satoshi Kawada (Toshiba), Donna Lee, Angela Fan, Mimi Yen, Michelle Zhang, Zhen-Chuan Li (Coach), Jonathan Gastel (Mentor)
Not in the picture: Laura Cronin (TAF)
I-CEE: IKVAV — Scaffold Center-Surround Eyesight Enhancement
I-CEE (IKVAV — Scaffold Center-Surround Eyesight Enhancement) employs advances in ophthalmology and material science to treat age-related macular disease and retinitis pigmentosa. I-CEE consists of color-filtering photovoltaic cells — acting as photoreceptors that convert photons into electricity — housed in a pentapeptide IKVAV scaffold base to promote cell adhesion, aid in neural growth and link the eye’s natural system to I-CEE to restore color vision and improve resolution.
*2 Honorable Mention Winners
Region 2
Manalapan High School*
Left to right: Tamura Taylor (Toshiba), Michael Horsfield, Melanie Parikh, Ilana Porter, Parag Srivastava, Bharathi Srinivas (Coach), Teresa Morales (Science and Engineering Supervisor)
Seeing into the Future
The Seeing into the Future robotic eye creates a needed cure for wet macular degeneration. Since wet AMD patients lack function of the retinal nerves, the new technology implants electrodes into the visual center of the brain instead of the nerves of the retina; a camera in the prosthetic eye transmits information to a video processing microchip in the implant.
*1 Honorable Mention Winner
Region 3
Gulliver Preparatory
Left to right: Jennifer Guerra (Coach), Jimmy Cuy, Jeffrey Dresnick, Gary Miller (Toshiba)
SNCES: Selective Nanotechnology Cancer Eradication System
SNCES (Selective Nanotechnology Cancer Eradication System) is an innovative system that transforms the landscape of cancer treatment and eliminates devastating side effects. SNCES uses fluorescent semiconductor quantum dots to probe organisms at the cellular level and detect cancer, and then employs artificial RNA aptamer-coated gold rods to deliver cancer fighting drugs to tumors.
Region 4
University Laboratory High School*
Left to right: David Stone (Coach), Zach Korol-Gold, Chris Mathy, Daniel Earl, Eric Chen, David Ansehl (Toshiba)
NIBEye: Neural Interfaced Bionic Eye
The NIBEye: Neural Interfaced Bionic Eye creates a visual prosthesis using principles behind biocompatibility. The functional prosthetic eye is conceptualized to restore sight to the blind through the integration of biocompatible alloys, lotus effect hydrophobic corneas, multi-focal intraocular lenses, stretchable silicon retinas, cortical stimulation, brain-machine interfaces and biobatteries.
*3 Honorable Mention Winners
Region 5
John Burroughs School*
From left to Right: James Roble (Coach), Carolina Ramos, Supriya Hobbs, Marvin Mack, Paul Cox (Toshiba)
Electro-Boot: The Boot that Generates Electricity
The Electro-Boot provides a beneficial portable, reliable energy source that can be most valuable to soldiers and campers. The shoes are designed based on Faraday’s law of induction, lowering small magnets into solenoids in the sole, generating a changing magnetic flux generating an electric field around and an electric current through the coil that is converted into a direct current and stored in a new efficient battery in the shoe.
*1 Honorable Mention Winner
Region 6
North Hollywood High School
Left to right: Josh Ludwig (Toshiba), Sam Xu, Hans Susilo, Jimin Hong, Altair Maine (Coach), Rui Pei (Mentor)
ACT for Alzheimer’s
Artificial Cell Transplant (ATC) for Alzheimer’s proposes to cure Alzheimer’s. The network of advanced drug-delivering siRNA-containing liposomes uses RNA interference gene therapy to detect and eliminate the production of the malfunctioning proteins that form the plaques and tangles that impair neural functions associated with the disease.
Grades 7–9
Region 1
Alternative School for Math & Science
Left to right: Jim Benesch (Toshiba), Sara Major, Katheryn Trupeny, Leslie Antos (Coach), Mary Major (Mentor)
Hydroponic Vertical Farm
Hydroponic Vertical Farm is a cost-saving, high production, energy-efficient food growing source that combats depletion of arable land while helping the world meet increased food demands. The purpose-built facility utilizes quantum dot-based solar cells embedded into architectural glass to generate electricity and supply additional power to the LED growing light source that supplements the natural light source.
Region 2
Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls*
Left to Right: Maria Repole (Toshiba), Phyllis Serfaty (Coach), Eliana Applebaum, Elana Forman and Ariella Applebaum.
REGENX: Human Limb Regenerative Protein Cocktail Injections
REGENX investigates human cellular differentiation to develop a bioengineered approach to limb regeneration using induced stem cell technology. Functionally timed human limb regenerative protein cocktail injections containing an individual’s own tissue and introduced into the site of an amputation dedifferentiate adult somatic cells back to stem cells to redevelop tissue and limbs.
*1 Honorable Mention Winner
Region 3
Bishop Kenny High School*
Left to right: Camille Meschia, Madison Barrow, Natasha Centeno, Karli Himmelreich
Not in the picture: Lee Paulus (Coach), Warren Stovall (Toshiba)
Looking at the World in a New Way
Looking at the World in a New Way examines revolutionary, easy-to-use liquid eye drop contacts designed to correct visual impairments while decreasing the spread of bacteria and infection more prevalent with hand-held contact insertion. The liquefied polymer drops chemically react with a person’s tears to form a lens over the eyeball that focuses light entering the eye on the retina to improve vision.
*3 Honorable Mention Winners
Region 4
Ontario Middle School*
Back row, left to right: Doug Fullerton (Toshiba), Anthony Gasiecki, Sue DiPuccio (Coach)
Font row, left to right: Paul Homan, Lucas Vanarsdalen, Tyler Weber
Photo credit: Daniel Melograna/Mansfield News Journal
SR Glasses
SRG (Sight Restoring Glasses) contain camera lenses that send video data through color filters and charged coupled device sensor arrays that convert images to pixels; images are transmitted through an analog-digital converter to wireless transmitters in the glasses that send the images to receivers inserted in the occipital lobe of the brain that allows people to see.
*1 Honorable Mention Winner
Region 5
John Burroughs School*
Top row, from left to right: Mary Harris (Coach), Xavier Bledsoe, Adam Hotaling
Bottom row, from left to right: Vicky Liu, Melissa Zhang, Paul Cox (Toshiba)
Metaredd — Metabolic Reduction Device
Metaredd — Metabolic Reduction Device is a wristband device that suspends bodily functions in an injured person to prolong survival until the patient receives medical help. The device detects a life-threatening injury and induces suspended animation by injecting nano-capsule infused gel containing sodium sulfide into the blood stream before alerting medical professionals via a GPS system.
*1 Honorable Mention Winner
Region 6
Forest Ridge School
Left to right: Uresh Patel (Mentor), Bruce Engberg (Toshiba), Anika Patel, Angela Riggins, Sara Konek (Coach)
EPPIC – Ecological Paper Printing and Ink Collector
The EPPIC (Ecological Paper Printer and Ink Collector) laser printer system recycles and reuses printed paper and its ink created by binding an organic renewable pigment to a graphene sheet with a large surface area made using nanotechnology. EPPIC extracts the ink from the paper by reducing the graphene surface contact area and then reuses the collected ink and paper to make new prints.
Grades 4–6
Region 1
Scofield Magnet Middle School
Left to right: Vito Chiarella (Toshiba), Marc Ira (Mentor), Richard Ira, Louise McMinn (Coach), Brian Niguidula, Janet Rossman (Principal)
Community Algae BioReactor
The Community Algae Bioreactor (mCAB) is a miniature renewable energy processing unit that creates biofuels from algae while cleaning water and reducing CO2 levels. The closed-system mCAB uses plastic tubes lined with nanosand to remove fast-growing, easily-harvested “super algae” with a high and constant oil content from wastewater and then extracts oil from the algae for fuel production.
Region 2
Virginia Academy*
From left to right (front row): Sanomraj Bal, Varun Patel, Bailey Matias, Jack Dudley
From left to right (back row): Jennifer Davis-Miller (Coach), Rudy Salvucci (Toshiba), Brenda Conwell-Dudley (Mentor)
The Food Buddy Bot
The Food Buddy Bot is a portable food pathogen detection device designed for residential and family use. The invention uses advanced nanotechnology biosensors and photodiode sensors to quickly detect pathogens in food.
*1 Honorable Mention Winner
Region 3
Lincoln Avenue Academy
From left to right: Evelyn Hollen (Principal), Isabella Wallace, John Davis (Toshiba), Emily Haight, Matthew Chang, Mijana Lockard (Coach), Tim Achinger, Holly Wallace (Mentor)
The Steminator
The Steminator employs a surgically implanted micro-computer to manage growth and delivery of stem cells to regenerate tissue and cure paralysis and diseases that affect the nervous system. The computer calculates specific needs of a patient to administer the correct number of cells, erythropoietin and fibroblast growth factors, and TGF Beta growth inhibitors and provides critical control of cell replication.
Region 4
Parkside Intermediate School*
Back row (left to right): Cindy Hronek (Mentor), Pam English (LA Teacher), Sonny Kumar (Toshiba), Patrick McMorrow (Coach)
Front row (left to right): John Willi, Jack Bogart
Downspout Generator
The D.G. (Downspout Generator) creates an inexpensive renewable energy source for storm-related or other power outages by harnessing the kinetic power of water collected in home gutters during storms. D.G. capitalizes on the gravitational force of water falling in a downspout, striking a series of hydro-micro turbines that spin a generator to create electricity that is subsequently amplified by a diminutive transformer and stored in a battery for use.
*9 Honorable Mention Winners
Region 5
Woodrow Wilson Elementary
From left to right: Terry Healy (Coach), Jay Chuwonganant, Joe Hirsch, Keegan Taylor, Paul Cox (Toshiba)
Drone Bee
The Drone Bee is a robotic bee that will help maintain a sufficient food supply for the world by answering the critical need for pollinators. The Drone Bee — guided by a GPS system and powered by nano-sized batteries that recharge themselves in a solar powered hive — has nano fibers on its legs to collect and deposit pollen from flower to flower.
Region 6
Fairmont Private School
Back row (left to right): Kathryn Baham (Coach), Jeanie Kensler (Toshiba), Laura Talbert (Toshiba), Robert Narumi (Mentor)
Front row (left to right): John Wen, Valerie Narumi
A.C.E.
Automatic Correcting Eyeglasses (A.C.E.) contain computer-controlled lenses and micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) ultrasonic sensors to continuously track the cornea and measure refractive errors from eyes and adjust the shape and distance of the lenses accordingly to correct vision. A.C.E. eliminates the need for renewing prescriptions while monitoring and alerting the wearer of more serious problems through wireless data transmission.
Grades K–3
Region 1
LD Batchelder School*
Back left to right: Bill Cassell (Coach), Bill Cassell (Coach), Mary Ellen Murzyn (Toshiba)
Front left to right: Maxwell Dorrington, Matthew Capozzoli, Duncan Macneil, Francis Walsh
Photo credit: Dave Bornestain (Toshiba)
ToothGuard Plus
ToothGuard Plus is a dental office that fits in your mouth to provide daily dental care, routine examinations and DNA testing to identify the user-patient. The mouth guard-like device is outfitted with a brush and flossing component, a fluoride and whitener dispenser, and a cavity detector as well as a mini X-ray machine and tiny robots designed using nanotechnology.
*4 Honorable Mention Winners
Region 2
Burgettstown Area Elementary Center
Left to right: Kinda O’Brian (Coach), Samuel Berdine, Erin Smith, Dane Butler, Melissa Mankey (Principal)
Not in the picture: Charlie Giunta (Toshiba)
Hovers
“Hovers” lift people off the ground by forcing air through an aerodynamic intake base attached to their shoes and moving the air through propellers in the base to provide lifting ability. Air pumped fast enough through the base builds up pressure in the chamber to exert force equal to the weight of the hovercraft and passenger to lift the passenger up from a surface.
Region 3
Tampa Christian Community School
Left to right: Eric Liederman (Toshiba), Shawn Nobles (Mentor), Kristen Holmes, Sophia Nobles, Grace Nobles, Jodi Mitchell (Coach)
Smart Touch First Aid Kit
The Smart Touch First Aid Kit provides specialized treatment for injuries and emergencies by packaging medical supplies, instructions and communication devices in one kit. Touch screen, GPS, wireless Internet and cell phone components are used to identify the injury, activate video treatment instructions, connect the caregiver with medical or emergency staff via videoconferencing and provide directions to hospitals.
Region 4
Sunnyside Elementary School
Left to right: Susan Weinbeck (Coach), Andrew Brueck, Lelu Rogers, Kayla Glasgow, Jaelyn Armentrout, Kennedy Cross (Toshiba)
Poison Tracker Belt
The Poison Tracker Belt (PTB) uses technology to identify poisonous plants and help people avoid such dangers as getting poison ivy. Improvements in biometrics technology enable the PTB to work effectively without the need for the poisonous plants to touch the belt to work.
Region 5
Joss Ross Elementary*
Left to right: Shawn Frost (Toshiba), Heidi Walter (Coach), Allison Karnig, Grace Plant, Rachel Blitz, and Mike Fitzpatrick
(Toshiba).
Not present: Reia Storch
Always Stop
Always Stop is a microchip combination installed in vehicles and in stop signs to improve driving safety. The microchips communicate with each other to alert drivers with a verbal warning when a vehicle approaches a stop sign.
*2 Honorable Mention Winners
Region 6
Willow Grove Elementary*
Front (left to right): Jessica Jiang, Ryan Ulmer, Ariana Williams, Jordan Sider
Back (left to right): Stacey Lamb (Coach), Colleen Smith (Toshiba), Cindy Declerq (Principal)
Sign Language Interpreter
The Sign Language Interpreter converts hand-created signing into verbal words to help deaf people better communicate with people who do not understand sign language. Electrodes on the signers’ fingertips sense movement and send signals to a tiny computer inside a finger ring that translates the signals into recognizable sounds.
*6 Honorable Mention Winners
