Futuristic products like the “zipperless zipper” and a mini generator were some of the best ideas presented by area middle school students this week at the annual Invention Convention.
Each year, poster projects and skits acted out by the teams demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed inventions, while PowerPoint presentations explain how the students created their products. Students spend the academic year developing and building their creations with a teacher mentor. Some of their work is funded by BSU and its The Center for PreK-12 Educational Outreach.
The center’s director, Mary Price, said the primary goal of the event is to pique young students' interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education.
Again this year, the slate of inventions were impressive, Ms. Price said. "The presentations showed how hard the students worked this year," she said. "In my book everyone is a winner."
This year’s winning teams and their inventions were:
Best Use of TechnologySafe Cuffs - Silver Lake Middle School, Kingston
Most Likely to be MarketedZipidy Do Dah Zipperless Zipper - Ahern Middle School, Foxboro
Honorable MentionIndependence Shower - Chapman Middle School, Weymouth
Honorable MentionSafe Tent - Harwich Middle School, Harwich
3rd PlacePortable Solar Power Charger - Silver Lake Middle School, Kingston
2nd Place"Credit Tracker App - Chatham Middle School, Chatham
1st PlaceThe Mini Hydropower Generator - Bird Middle School, Walpole
See additional, downloadable photos.
(Story by John Winters, G '11; photos by student Keri Spero; University News)
