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Hillside New Tech High School was recently awarded a Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam to create a
residential green roofing system. Hillside New Tech is one of only 15 high
schools nationwide to be selected as an InvenTeam recipient this year, and the
first North Carolina school selected in the program’s eight-year history.
Hillside New Tech High School was recently awarded a Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam to create a
residential green roofing system. Hillside New Tech is one of only 15 high
schools nationwide to be selected as an InvenTeam recipient this year, and the
first North Carolina school selected in the program’s eight-year history.
InvenTeams are teams of high school students, teachers and
mentors that receive grants up to $10,000 each to invent technological
solutions to real-world problems. Hillside New Tech InvenTeam’s $7,000 project
will allow plants to grow on sloped roofs, reducing storm water runoff and
providing natural shade to homes.
Matthew Sears, Hillside New Tech math teacher, attended
training at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in June to help
prepare the final proposal. The panel of judges comprised educators and
researchers from MIT and Harvard University, along with industry representatives
and former Lemelson-MIT Award winners. “It is going to be wonderful to watch our
students design, build, test and implement their invention this year,” said Sears. “These are dedicated students who love
to solve difficult problems, and I am excited to see what they can
accomplish.”
“Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders,” said
Leigh Estabrooks, invention educator officer of the Lemelson-MIT Program, who manages
the initiative. “By encouraging a
sustainable culture of invention in schools and communities, we hope to empower
high school students to explore their interests in science, technology,
engineering, and math during high school, college, and beyond.”
The residential green roofing system will create a lattice
structure on roofs that can support the growth of climbing plants. A growing medium based in or near
traditional gutters will reduce storm water runoff from the roof. The structure will be designed to avoid
damage to the traditional roof underneath while adding an aesthetic, natural
look to the home’s roof.
The Hillside New Tech High School InvenTeam will also work
with Michael Barnes, manager and horticulturalist of Duke University Greenhouses,
Scott Saxson of the Durham TechShop, and other mentors from local companies and
government. These collaborators
will guide the students through the development of their invention.
Over the next nine months, the InvenTeam will develop its
residential green roofing system. In June the students will showcase a prototype of their invention at
EurekaFest at MIT in Cambridge, Mass. EurekaFest, presented by the Lemelson-MIT
Program, is a multi-day celebration designed to empower a legacy of inventors
through activities that inspire youth, honor role models, and encourage
creativity and problem solving.
The Lemelson-MIT
Program recognizes outstanding inventors, encourages sustainable new
solutions to real-world problems, and enables and inspires young people to
pursue creative lives and careers through invention. |
