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Discovery Inventors Join Duracell Competition

(with photo)

BY ANN MARIE COHEN

How would you like to serve yourself ice cream immediately with no wait or

messy fingers?

Bethany Ober and Alana Jawby thought it was a good idea when they created a

heated ice cream scoop. These girls were among a group of seventh grade

students from the Discovery program at Newtown Middle School that has recently

entered the 17th annual Duracell National Science Teachers Association

Scholarship Competition.

John Vouros, Discovery enrichment teacher, has encouraged the students to call

upon their creativity and critical thinking skills to complete this project.

Students were required to design and build a working device powered by

batteries, a device that could educate, entertain, or make life easier in some

way. They then were asked to submit a descriptive two-page essay, a wiring

device, and clear photos of the device.

Students will be given the opportunity to win US Series EE Savings Bonds that

will range from $500 to $20,000. The competition rewards imagination,

ingenuity and mechanical ability. Devices are to be judged on their practical

use and on how well they function.

Mr Vouros said he met with no resistance on this assignment. In fact, many

students went right to the task, busily creating a draft in the next

half-hour. The competition has been a way for Mr Vouros to infuse science into

the daily curriculum.

The entries will be judged by a panel of distinguished scientists and science

educators. One hundred final entries will be selected, and finalists will be

notified by March 24.

Students described their creations with enthusiasm and pride. Among the many

inventive devices were:

Kristin Provost's radio that attached to a bike, using a strip of velcro. She

told of how useful a radio broadcast of a weather report could be when riding

a bike.

Carolyn Brennan's alarm clock pill dispenser designed to be particularly

helpful to the elderly or those who need to take daily multiple pills.

Kristen Landolfi's mirror that lights up and attaches to the backseat of a car

with a velcro strip. Kristen commented on how portable and compact the mirror

was and how it now services back seat passengers.

Aaron Cooper's pen that lights up in the dark. Aaron thought this would be a

good device to use in a car when travelling at night.

Tyler Hull's automatic corkscrew that activated with a key. Tyler felt parents

would appreciate this design in that it would child proof all wine.

David Bunger and Brett Eastman's mailbox that can bring mail to the house by

pressing a switch that routes to the mailbox and sounds a buzzer inside the

home. A winch attached to the mailbox allows you to retrieve mail without

leaving home!

Matt Barackman's alarm clock that plays a message with the help of a cassette

recorder. Matt used the example of waking up to the message, "Make your bed".

Other participants with unique contributions include Matt Dorinsky, Tyler

Dotter, Alana Jawby, Dan Letson, Rylan McCollum, Chris Mahmood, Rory

Morrissey, Sean Rawson, Sharon Small, Steven Truitt and John White.