Makeathon team wins the VDE Northern Bavaria Young Talent Award
Hard work during the second phase of the Makeathon at Gymnasium Höchstadt (Bavaria) paid off for Jonas L., Lorenz S. and Oliver R. (all current 10th grade). Together with their German team partners, they won the finals of the Vision-Ing21 student competition in the documentation and presentation categories with their "EvoScan" invention.
In collaboration with engineers, university student coaches and their teachers, the team constructed a prototype of a “smart” school bag that helps students organize themselves better for each school day. The EvoScan backpack receives up-to-date class schedule information from the school’s timetables’ database via a built-in minicomputer that recognizes which subject materials are needed. Varied colored lights signal whether the school bag has been packed correctly. The system is sustainably powered by solar energy and will include a port for charging a cell phone. The successfully presented prototype demonstrated that implementation of the idea has a future.
The Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies (VDE) promotes the T in STEM. Helmut Melzer of VDE Bavaria and the School Working Group explained: "We are happy to support the Vision-Ing21 student team competition of the Förderkreis Ingenieurstudium e.V. through our young talent award. Because a convincing presentation with complete documentation can be crucial for project success in a future business career."
Congratulations to the winning team!
What's next for the GISW in the Makeathon?
In early November, the students from Höchstadt will visit us for the third phase of the Makeathon in which the prototypes will be further developed. (https://giswashington.org/makeathon/index-engl.htm)
The anticipation on both sides of the Atlantic is already great. We would like to thank all the "Makeathon parents” for reciprocating the great hospitality that our students and their teachers experienced during their stay in Bavaria.
Curious? Then mark your calendar for our “Night of Science” on November 4! That evening all three student teams will present their developed prototypes alongside other exhibitors and participants showcasing the MINT-program of the GISW.
Steffi Colopy
(MINT Coordinator)