Last week, the national winners of the 31st annual ExploraVision program, the world’s largest K-12 science competition, gathered in Washington, DC to be formally recognized for their winning projects. ExploraVision is sponsored by Toshiba and administered by the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA). This competition is designed to help students develop skills emphasized in the Next Generation Science Standards, including problem-solving, critical-thinking and collaboration skills. To participate, students were challenged to imagine and come up with an idea for a tool or technology of the future with the potential to solve the world’s critical problems.
Fostering young minds’ interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) is at the core of Toshiba—a company committed to raising the quality of life for people around the world. This commitment drove the company to partner with NSTA to create the ExploraVision competition in 1992. For 31 consecutive years, ExploraVision has helped children to expand their imaginations and have fun while developing an interest in STEM education at an early age.
Science Showcase
During the Science Showcase on June 9th, the eight winning student teams will showcase their prototypes and self-designed project websites. The students will present to members of the press, their peers, parents, educators, previous ExploraVision winners, NSTA board and council members, and leaders in education policy. High-profile attendees include Bill Nye the Science Guy; Justin “Mr. Fascinate” Shaifer; Ryuji Maruyama, chairman and CEO, Toshiba America, Inc.; Derrick Brent, Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office; Dr. Elizabeth Mulkerrin, retiring president, NSTA; and Mr. Jorge Vidal, engineering research associate at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and past ExploraVision winner.
More Than Just a Science Competition
Over 2,000 teams entered projects in the 31st Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision competition, comprised of over 6,000 students from across the United States and Canada. This year’s winners have gone above and beyond to think critically and creatively about the biggest problems facing our world, from healthcare challenges to sustainability efforts to energy efficiency.
The eight national winning teams are comprised of a first-place winner and second-place winner from four groups based on grade level. Members of first place national winning teams each receive a $10,000 U.S. Series EE Savings Bond (at maturity). Members of second place national winning teams will each receive a $5,000 U.S. Series EE Savings Bond (at maturity).
Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision 2023 National Winners
- 2023 First-Place Winners
- Grade K-3: MasterPack – St. Joseph’s School, Seattle, WA
- Grade 4-6: PetConnect – Open Window School, Bellevue, WA
- Grade 7-9: Fungi Fabrics – W.I. Dick Middle School, Milton, ON, Canada
- Grade 10-12: Martian Mycrops: Transporting Perchlorate Reducing Bacteria via Fungal Mycelium to Effectively Reduce Perchlorate Concentration in Martian Regolith – The Bronx High School of Science, Bronx, NY
- 2023 Second-Place Winners
- Grade K-3: Project Forest – L.D. Batchelder, North Reading, MA
- Grade 4-6: The ER Assistant – W.I. Dick Middle School, Milton, ON
- Grade 7-9: Isolating and Producing Targeted Bacteriophages for the Eradication of African River Blindness – Connetquot High School, Bohemia, NY
- Grade 10-12: CiliaBuilder: A Hair Prosthetic for Your Ears – Alabama School of Math & Science, Mobile, AL
Source: Businesswire
