Lower Dauphin High School's Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) team of Kelly Barr, Morgan Cummings, Annie Dickinson, Hailey Foreman, and Abbie Natkin recently won first place in the state and also won first place in the people's choice category at the annual Pennsylvania Invention Convention in State College.
The team's winning project created a tapioca-based plastic to substitute for traditional polymer-based plastics. The product can be used to make beverage can six-pack holders that will be biodegradable and not contribute to plastic pollution in oceans. Plastioca is a biodegradable, renewable, and green alternative to traditional polymer-based plastics. In addition to trial-and-error experimentation to come up with the right tapioca-based formula for their plastic alternative, the team members used 3-D printers to create the molds in which to make the final product.
The team is coached by Lower Dauphin science teacher Elizabeth Kirman.
By virtue of their state win, the team is eligible to compete at nationals, which will be held Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Dearborn, Mich., in late May. To reach nationals, the team is seeking donations to offset the per-student cost of $1,200 for plane tickets, hotels and conference registrations. Those interested in making a donation may call superintendent Robert Schultz at 717-566-5334.
Leave a Review