George Mason University hosted a crowd of more than 800 from nearly 50 K-12 schools at its Fairfax campus for the 4th annual School Environmental Action Showcase (SEAS) April 9. Each year, SEAS provides an opportunity for regional K-12 students to compete in events that showcase their talents using science and technology to solve environmental problems.
“This event is a fun and educational way to develop budding engineers and future scientists that could help solve our environmental problems,” said Dr. Cynthia Smith, George Mason organizer and K-12 Education Director for the Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center (PEREC).
Students from Alexandria City, Arlington, Falls Church City, and Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William County Public Schools competed in science and engineering competitions and engaged in inquiry-based STEM activities.
In the KidWind Challenge, 60 middle and high school students competed by testing the energy output and design of their wind turbines and demonstrating their knowledge of wind energy and engineering. The top three teams in each division qualify to compete in the KidWind Eastern Regional Finals at James Madison University on April 25, 2015. The teams include: Lanier Middle School, Kenmore Middle School, and Piney Branch Elementary School; and Massanutten Technical Center, Alleghany High School, and Fauquier High School.
Students also participated in Caring for Our Watersheds, an environmental, educational competition that encourages innovative ideas to help improve local watersheds. Top winners George Washington Middle School, Lanier Middle School, and Kenmore Middle School took home a combined $6,000 in cash prizes from the competition.
In addition, several schools participated in the environmental Showcase, presenting their projects to improve the sustainability of their community. The Fairfax County Federation of Teachers presented the “Dynamic Young Visionaries” award to two schools for demonstrating outstanding environmental stewardship with innovative and collaborative problem-solving strategies: Hollin Meadows Elementary School and Longfellow Middle School.
Two new events this year included a recycled mascot competition, which yielded creative and inspiring designs made completely of recycled materials, and a tour for high school students interested in the George Mason’s STEM offerings.
The 2015 SEAS was hosted jointly hosted by Mason’s Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center, NoVA Outside, and Earth Force and coordinated with the James Madison University Center for Wind Energy. A 4-VA Grant, which fosters collaboration among Virginia universities, supported outreach and community engagement for the event.
Partnering organizations included: City of Alexandria, Alexandria Renew Enterprises, Audubon Naturalist Society, BMW, Environmental Protection Agency, Fairfax Co. Dept. of Public Works and Environmental Services, Fairfax Co. Park Authority, GMU Honey Bee Initiative, GMU Upcycling Club, Gulf Branch Nature Center, iSchool for the Future, Manassas National Battlefield Park, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Park Service, Northern Virginia Conservation Trust, Operation Patriotic STEM, Project Learning Tree, Society of American Military Engineers, Sweet Virginia Foundation, The Nature Generation, Thompson Creek Window Company, and US Fish and Wildlife Service.
