Port Orange, FL - A Port Orange student was named a top-30 finalist in the 7th annual Broadcom MASTERS, the nation’s most prestigious middle school STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) competition, based on his research on using solar-powered Tesla coils to purify water.
Scott Tobin, former Creekside Middle student and current freshman at Spruce Creek High, will travel to Washington D.C. to participate in the Broadcom MASTERS next month where he will compete for numerous awards, including a top prize of $25,000. The competition is founded and produced by the Society for Science & the Public.
Tobin was chosen by a panel of distinguished scientists and engineers out of record-breaking 2,499 applicants in 37 states, Puerto Rico, and the Department of Defense overseas. He was in the top 10% of middle school competitors who participated at Society-affiliated regional and state science fairs, which includes the Tomoka Regional Science and Engineering Fair. He won first place in Environmental Engineering at the Tomoka Regional Science and Engineering Fair in January.
“The Tomoka Regional Science and Engineering Fair celebrated its 50th year of being the area’s oldest STEM competition,” Jeremy Blinn, secondary science specialist for Volusia County Schools says. “Now, we celebrate with Scott, his parents, and his teachers for this amazing accomplishment of being selected as a Broadcom MASTERS Finalist.”
Tobin's project, titled By Using A Solar-Powered Tesla Coil Can Water Be Made Potable Through Ozonification, came about because he wanted to find a new way to make water safe to drink. He found that nearly one billion people worldwide lack access to clean water, and he thought a Tesla coil may be able to help solve the problem and turn that water into clean drinking water.
According to Volusia County Schools, as a finalist, Tobin gets a $500 cash award and an all-expense paid trip to D.C. for the competition, where he will compete for the following awards:
Winners will be announced October 24 after finalists complete a rigorous competition that tests their abilities in STEM, critical thinking, communication, creativity and collaboration.
Broadcom MASTERS will recognize Tobin’s Creekside Middle science teacher, Marty Ingoldsby, with a one-year classroom subscription to Science News magazine, and Creekside Middle was already awarded $1,000 to use toward STEM activities.
Below are some quick facts about the 2017 Broadcom MASTERS competition, courtesy Volusia County Schools:
NOTE: In featured photo, Scott Tobin (right) accepts his first-place award in Environmental Engineering from Jeremy Blinn (left), secondary science specialist, at the Tomoka Regional Science and Engineering Fair in January.
Photo Courtesy Volusia County Schools
Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.