Students in Morrisburg, Ont. Win National Competition with Hydrogen-Powered Generator
Key Ideas
- A group of Grade 6 students from St. Mary-St. Cecilia Catholic School in Morrisburg, Ont., won a national competition with their compact hydrogen-powered generator project.
- The generator, designed to produce energy on demand, has the potential to power homes, schools, or greenhouses, especially in areas with lower sunlight for solar panels.
- The project, which took five months to complete, won the school $50,000 in prize money to support future learning and empower students to be innovators in solving real-world problems.
- The initiative, part of the Samsung Canada: Solve for Tomorrow contest, highlights the students' determination, creativity, and commitment to sustainable energy solutions.
A team of seven Grade 6 students from St. Mary-St. Cecilia Catholic School in Morrisburg, Ont., have emerged victorious in a national competition by developing a compact hydrogen-powered generator. The innovative device, aimed at producing energy on demand, has the potential to provide power to homes, schools, or greenhouses, especially in regions with limited sunlight for traditional solar panels. The generator operates by using water and an electrified metal plate to generate hydrogen gas, offering a clean energy solution that does not release fossil fuels into the environment.
This project, which took five months to complete, faced challenges such as material malfunctions but ultimately succeeded under the guidance of teachers Blair Fitzsimons and Laura Ferguson. The students' perseverance, creativity, and collaboration led them to win the Samsung Canada: Solve for Tomorrow contest, a nationwide STEM competition for students in grades 6 to 12. Their first-place finish earned the school $50,000 to support future learning and innovation.
The teachers involved highlighted the importance of empowering students to become innovators and problem-solvers, with plans already in motion to use some of the prize money to acquire a laser cutter for upcoming projects. Students like Liam Quesnel expressed pride in their achievement and emphasized the value of the experience for future students at the school, positioning the project as more than just a contest entry.
The Samsung Canada: Solve for Tomorrow competition aims to recognize bold ideas addressing environmental challenges and promote lasting community impact through innovation. This success story showcases the students' dedication to sustainable energy solutions and serves as an inspiration for youth in the field of STEM and innovation.