Center For Science Teaching & Learning Welcomes Worldwide Finalists for 2014 Clean Tech Competition

May 22, 2014 - PRLog -- (Rockville Centre, NY) –– The Center for Science Teaching & Learning (CSTL) has recently announced the ten finalists for the Clean Tech Competition, to be held on May 30 at Long Island Forum for Technology’s (LIFT) Morrelly Homeland Security Center in Bethpage from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. With this year’s theme, “A Solution to Pollution,” the global research and design competition challenged students to analyze and develop a solution to a pollution problem locally or globally by using clean technology, like wind power or solar power.  CSTL is welcoming ten finalist teams to Long Island from Singapore, California, and Illinois to compete for the title of 2014 Clean Tech Competition champion.

Below are the top ten finalists that were chosen from around the globe:
Team ABC Pollution Police from Raffles Girls School in Singapore; Team Algae Fuel from the Univeristy of Illinois Laboratory High School in Illinois, United States; Team Anti Ionisers from Anderson Junior College in Singapore; Team Aurum fron Hwa Chong Institute in Singapore; Team Bactricity from Monta Vista High School in California, United States; Team CJJ from the National Junior College in Singapore; Team Durio from Hwa Chong Institute in Singapore; Team RemedAID from Anderson Junior College in Singapore; and Team Vitis vinifera from Yishun Junior College in Singapore.

CSTL decided to hold the final competition at LIFT’s facility because it serves as NYSTAR’s designated Regional Technology Development Center for Long Island and one of nearly 350 MEP (Manufacturing Extension Partnership) locations across the country that encourages science and technology growth on Long Island.

“We are excited to welcome these bright innovative students from across the world and encourage their passion for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education,” says William Wahlig, Executive Director, Long Island Forum for Technology (LIFT).

CSTL and the Clean Tech Competition challenged students to develop “A Solution to Pollution” and asked participants to identify, describe, analyze, and design a written solution for a major pollution problem that affects the population in their local area or individuals around the globe. Contestants were required to use clean technology to address the problem, which will ultimately help human needs and improve lives. Participants, which are teams of one to three students (ages 15-18 years old) accompanied by a team leader, submitted their written projects on March 7, 2014.

Initially, there were 132 entries for the competition from around the world, ranging from Ireland, to Canada, to Singapore. On April 7, 2014, fifty semi-finalists were chosen—including several teams from Nassau and Suffolk Counties—although none of them were admitted into the finals. On April 14, 2014, 10 finalist teams were named—all of which are from Singapore, California, and Illinois. Contestants presented proposals on various types of water and air pollution and how to fix the detrimental issues. Each team was assigned a STEM mentor to guide them to the finish line, along with a $200 stipend. Each of the 10 mentors are from prestigious universities and corporations around the U.S.

The 10 finalist teams are flying into New York to present their prototypes at the final judging event, as well as sightsee for a few days. Teams will present their projects to the judges, which should include a prototype, a slideshow (optional), and up to two posters (optional). The first-place winner of the Clean Tech Competition “A Solution to Pollution” will be granted $15,000, followed by monetary rewards for remaining finalist teams. Judges for the contest include employees from Stony Brook University and D&B Engineers.

“We are so excited for the final competition,” says Dr. Ray Ann Havasy, Administrator of the Competition, Center for Science Teaching and Learning (CSTL). “These 10 teams from around the world have an immense amount of talent. We cannot wait for our judges to meet the team members and assess their innovative projects that focus on STEM research and real-life pollution issues.”

For more information, please visit the Clean Tech Competition website at www.cleantechcompetition.org, or call (516) 764-0045.

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About the Center for Science Teaching and Learning:
The Center for Science Teaching and Learning (CSTL) is a not-for-profit organization with a mission of encouraging science learning and literacy. CSTL develops programs for people of all ages and utilizes inquiry-based learning as its foundation for program development. This year marks the first for which CSTL is serving as the administrator of the Clean Tech Competition.

About the Long Island Forum for Technology:
LIFT is a non-for-profit economic development organization working with the New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR®) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). LIFT serves as NYSTAR’s designated Regional Technology Development Center for Long Island and one of nearly 350 MEP locations across the country. www.lift.org.