Budding inventors: Northeast High School students Vibhor Nayar, Cesar Hernandez, Kalie Hoke, Elizabeth Sanchez and Eric Irizarry, with instructor Randa Flinn during a fundraiser provided by Pompano Lincoln in which the dealership donated $20 for each person who took a test drive in the school parking lot. Emerging from the sunroof are Kevin Carter and Domenic Contrino, just before a test drive. The students were raising money to attend EurekaFest at MIT in Cambridge, Mass.
FT. LAUDERDALE, FL. -- In June, science students from Northeast High School in Oakland Park will be on their way to EurekaFest at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. There they will showcase their invention, a portable water purification system they designed to be used after natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods.
The 14-member Inven Team is building the device using a grant of more than $9,500 from the Lemelson Foundation, which sponsors the annual invention initiative. NEHS is one of just 16 schools nationwide to receive a grant this year, and the only one in Florida.
The water purification system was inspired by student Kalie Hoke, who traveled to Haiti after the 2010 earthquake and was dismayed by how difficult it was to get access to clean water. "I call her our Chief Inspiration Officer," says instructor Randa Flinn, the group's advisor.
The system employs a natural filtration system that uses layers of sand, gravel, cotton, coconut husks and palm bark, as well as electric and ozone generators. The goal was to create a system with a final production cost of around $400 that can provide up to 50 people with water for drinking and showering. "We've been working on it since last summer," said Inven Team member Daniel Ward. "It's been a continuous stream of ideas."
The group has also been busy raising funds to cover the cost of plane fare, food and lodging for the trip to MIT. "We want the whole team to be able to go," said student Cesar Hernandez. Other members of the NEHS Inven Team are Jahtsa Christophe, Washington Cusquillo, Kiona Elliot, Eric Irizarry, Payton Kaar, Gabriella Kriebel, William Leonard, Lise Clara Mabour, Santiago Mayorga and Elizabeth Sanchez.
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Budding inventors: Northeast High School students Vibhor Nayar, Cesar Hernandez, Kalie Hoke, Elizabeth Sanchez and Eric Irizarry, with instructor Randa Flinn during a fundraiser provided by Pompano Lincoln in which the dealership donated $20 for each person who took a test drive in the school parking lot. Emerging from the sunroof are Kevin Carter and Domenic Contrino, just before a test drive. The students were raising money to attend EurekaFest at MIT in Cambridge, Mass.
