Hundreds of coastal students compete in challenge to create solar, wind and wave devices

By CHERYL ROMANO/Lincoln Chronicle

NEWPORT — Since the power of the sun, wind and waves is virtually free and unlimited, how can we tap their energy to power our lives?

School children from Waldport to Warrenton explored that question last week when they showed off nature-powered small boats, cars and other devices during an annual contest for coastal schools.

Some 140 elementary and middle school students from nine schools competed Thursday for team honors in three categories — wind, wave and solar devices. They tested their creations at Hatfield Marine Science Center, host of the Oregon Coast Renewable Energy Challenge.

Each team had two tasks: Present a poster about their project to a volunteer judge with engineering expertise, and explaining how they developed their design, and then testing their entries in a wind tunnel, wave tank or water channel.

“It’s a lot of work, but I learned a lot,” said Jeni Souza, 11, of Jewell Middle School in the small Clatsop County community of Jewell, which won first place in the solar event for middle schools. “It involves science, and that’s one of my favorite subjects.”

Her sentiments were echoed Abigail Ramirez, 11, of East Elementary School in Tillamook.

“I learned a lot about how solar power is transferred into energy, without causing pollution in our environment,” she said.

The event was overseen by Oregon Sea Grant and coordinated by the Oregon Coast STEM Hub, under sponsorship by the Oregon Department of Energy. Oregon Sea Grant addresses marine and coastal issues through research and education. The science, technology, engineering and math hub serves teachers and students in 20 coastal school districts.

“Year after year, we watch students become genuinely excited about designing renewable energy devices and learning how renewable energy works,” said Oregon Coast STEM Hub director Kama Almasi of Yachats.

“The project begins in the classroom and engages students for weeks,” Almasi said, “building their skills in engineering, problem-solving, collaboration and communication while they explore real-world coastal energy challenges.”

The challenge is surging in popularity. While the actual competitors numbered 140, a total of 354 wanted to attend. That number includes many from Taft 7-12 in Lincoln City, and Newport Middle School. Because Oregon STEM caps participants at 25 per teacher, both those schools held runoffs to winnow down their representatives.

STEM Hub staffers were aided by 40 volunteers who helped carry out the challenge, and their work was appreciated by the students.

“Thank you for letting us go (to the challenge) for free and for giving us all supplys (sic) to make a LED lighthouse,” one wrote after the event.

Whether or not they took home honors, all the students received something even more valuable. Before the judging began, they assembled for a presentation on the importance of renewable energy — and potential careers in tapping the power of wind, waves and sun.

First and second place results of the energy challenge in each division, along with team names, are:

WIND

Elementary

1^st place – Blue Jays, Crestview Heights Elementary, Waldport;

2^nd place – Blowing Lightning, Sam Case Elementary, Newport;

Middle School

1^st place – The Winds, Taft 7-12, Lincoln City;

2^nd place – Renewable Rookies, Taft 7-12, Lincoln City;

SOLAR

Elementary

1^st place – Mega Marshmallows, Tillamook School District STEM Club, Tillamook;

2^nd place – Ultra Power, Tillamook School District STEM Club, Tillamook;

Middle School

1^st place – Jewell’s Joules, Jewell Middle School, Jewell;

2^nd place – Sunshines, Warrenton Middle School, Warrenton;

WAVE (no elementary participants)

Middle School

1^st Place – Wave Warriors, Warrenton Middle School, Warrenton; and

2^nd Place – Wave Team 2, Newport Middle School, Newport.

• Cheryl Romano is a Yachats freelance reporter who contributes regularly to Lincoln Chronicle. She can be reached at [email protected]