WHAT:
The eighth-annual EnergyWhiz Olympics is day-long event showcasing student projects in alternative energy. Activities include the Junior Solar Sprint, Hydrogen Sprint, Energy Innovations and the Bright House Solar Energy Cook-off. The general public is invited to observe all activities.
- The Junior Solar Sprint is a competition that challenges middle school students to design, build and race model solar cars. Awards are given based on vehicle design, quality of craftsmanship, innovation and vehicle speed.
- The Hydrogen Sprint is a high school competition that provides opportunities for students to explore hydrogen fuel cell power with a hands-on design component and a presentation.
- The Energy Innovations program is a full-scale solar electric design and marketing challenge for middle and high school students. Each participating team designs and constructs a product or artistic work fully powered by photovoltaics (PV), also called solar electric cells. Teams also create marketing pieces – such as brochures, fliers, and posters – to accompany their products.
- The Bright House Solar Energy Cook-off challenges students, in grades 4th – 8th, to design and build solar cookers, and to also cook a recipe of their own creation using the power of the sun. In Top Chef-style, each dish will be judged by a panel of experts based on taste, ingredients and creativity.
WHY:
These hands-on renewable energy competitions – for elementary, middle and high school students – expose students to alternative energy fuel sources, and encourage scientific know-how, creative thinking, experimentation and teamwork.
WHO:
More than 650 elementary, middle, and high school Florida students – from Tallahassee to Miami and everywhere in between – will participate in the EnergyWhiz Olympics.
WHEN:
Saturday, May 1 starting at 9 a.m.
9:00 a.m. Welcome – Auditorium, Dr. James Fenton, Director, FSEC
9:30 a.m. Technical Judging Begins –
Junior Solar Sprint
Hydrogen Sprint
Hydrogen Sprint Presentations
Energy Innovations Displays Open to Public
Solar Energy Cook-Off – Design Judging
Solar Cookers – Displays Open to Public
10:30 a.m. Energy Innovations Judging
11:30 a.m. Junior Solar Sprint Race Begins (Track Area 1)
12 noon Hydrogen Sprint Race Begins (Track Area 2)
2:00 p.m. Solar Energy Cook-off – Recipe Judging (Auditorium)
3:30 p.m. Awards Ceremony (Auditorium)
WHERE:
Florida Solar Energy Center, 1679 Clearlake Road, Cocoa, FL 32922
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
For more information on these exciting educational events, visit
http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/education/k-12/events/ewhiz_olympics.htm or view a video about the EnergyWhiz Olympics at http://vimeo.com/982597.
CONTACT:
Susan Schleith, FSEC Education Coordinator, at 321-638-1017 or Susan@fsec.ucf.edu.
Energy Independence begins with Energy efficiency – It’s cheaper to save energy than to make energy (“Out of Oil, Here Comes the Sun”)
Why high oil prices haven’t cut demand.
As oil at $85 and over going to ?.
Bigger economic incentives needed to conserve energy
Driving habits little changed by gas prices
American motorists continue to fork over more money at the pump and are not changing their driving behavior despite rising fuel prices.
Despite higher fuel prices, demand hasn’t fallen as it did after the 1970s oil shocks. Energy researchers say it will take greater economic incentives to boost energy efficiency and cut consumption. Accelerate the implementation of renewable energy generation, Solar, Wind, etc..
P.S. I have a very deep belief in America’s capabilities. Within the next 10 years we can accomplish our energy independence, if we as a nation truly set our goals to accomplish this.
I happen to believe that we can do it. In another crisis–the one in 1942–President Franklin D. Roosevelt said this country would build 60,000 [50,000] military aircraft. By 1943, production in that program had reached 125,000 aircraft annually. They did it then. We can do it now.
“The way we produce and use energy must fundamentally change.”
The American people resilience and determination to retain the way of life is unconquerable and we as a nation will succeed in this endeavor of Energy Independence.
Energy Independence begins with Energy efficiency – It’s cheaper to save energy than to make energy (“Out of Oil, Here Comes the Sun”)
Why high oil prices haven’t cut demand.
As oil at $85 and over going to ?.
Bigger economic incentives needed to conserve energy
Driving habits little changed by gas prices
American motorists continue to fork over more money at the pump and are not changing their driving behavior despite rising fuel prices.
Despite higher fuel prices, demand hasn’t fallen as it did after the 1970s oil shocks. Energy researchers say it will take greater economic incentives to boost energy efficiency and cut consumption. Accelerate the implementation of renewable energy generation, Solar, Wind, etc..
P.S. I have a very deep belief in America’s capabilities. Within the next 10 years we can accomplish our energy independence, if we as a nation truly set our goals to accomplish this.
I happen to believe that we can do it. In another crisis–the one in 1942–President Franklin D. Roosevelt said this country would build 60,000 [50,000] military aircraft. By 1943, production in that program had reached 125,000 aircraft annually. They did it then. We can do it now.
“The way we produce and use energy must fundamentally change.”
The American people resilience and determination to retain the way of life is unconquerable and we as a nation will succeed in this endeavor of Energy Independence.