Lockwood Student Team Named Regional Winner of the 29th Annual ExploraVision Competition

Congratulations to the team of second grade students from Lockwood Elementary which was selected as one of the regional winners of the 29^th annual ExploraVision program, the largest K-12 science competition designed to build problem-solving, critical thinking and collaboration skills. Second grade students Lillian Anderson, Alex Doyle and Rory Rundquist, who invented “The Toothbrush of the Future,” will advance to the national phase of the competition, where participants will have a chance to win $10,000 U.S. Series EE Savings Bonds (at maturity) and other great prizes. Members of the 23 winning teams have each received a Chrome book.

The team’s abstract described the project by saying, “Viruses can make people very sick and keep us home from school. You can spread viruses to your friends and family before you know you’re even sick! Our toothbrush will test your saliva every time you brush for viruses like COVID. Our toothbrush can also check for cavities, and our 3D printer can print braces. It can talk to your doctors and dentists about your health. Our toothbrush of the future has a computer and an AI program to make decisions about what it's sensors see. The toothbrush also includes speakers, a camera, and 3D printer. Just brush your teeth and put your toothbrush into our machine! You will get results in seconds.” 

This year’s regional winners include innovative ideas ranging from technology toothbrushes to a novel and more cost-effective approach to launch space rockets using reusable electromagnetic repulsion systems.

“This 29^th year of the ExploraVision program saw tremendous challenges for schools, teachers and students around the world. This year’s achievements in critical and creative thinking are made even more impressive by the challenges many have overcome in navigating education during COVID-19,” said Ayumi Wada, Chairwoman & CEO, Toshiba America, Inc. “We applaud our winners and all our entrants for their resilience as well as their ideas for new technologies and smart solutions that improve and enhance our lives and communities.”

ExploraVision participants were invited to consider the future and imagine a technology that might exist 20 years from now. Using real scientific research, students outlined methods to plan and test their ideas. In the next phase of competition, the winning regional teams will be asked to build webpages and short videos to communicate and exhibit their ideas to the public.    

“Since ExploraVision’s inception nearly 30 years ago, we’ve seen students tackle some of the biggest challenges facing their generation and this year is no exception,” said Elizabeth Allan, NSTA President. “These regional winners have demonstrated tenacity, entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and the principles of science to be forces for good. We congratulate all of the regional winning teams and their coaches, who exemplify the appetite for discovery engrained in the core of the ExploraVision program.”

In the next phase of competition, the Lockwood team, along with the other 22 regional winners, will advance to the national 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 nationally winning teams will each receive a $5,000 U.S. Series EE Savings Bond (at maturity). Canadian winners receive Canada bonds purchased for the equivalent issue price in Canadian dollars. The Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision virtual ceremony concludes with an awards virtual luncheon and ceremony, where winners will be formally recognized for their creativity and accomplishments.  

Since its inception in 1992, over 450,000 students from across the United States and Canada have participated in the ExploraVision program. For 29 consecutive years, the program has helped children to expand their imagination and have fun while developing an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education at an early age. Previous winners from over the last 29 years are also available for interview upon request. 

For more information, visit www.exploravision.org.