The following is a press release from the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District.
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) congratulates the Lincoln Middle School (LMS) nanovation team, known as Gallium-Aluminum Based Electricity (G.A.B.E.), for their outstanding achievement at the annual Nanovation Competition.
Among ten teams from various middle and high schools, the LMS team secured a well-deserved third-place position, showcasing their innovative prowess in creating cutting-edge design and technology business proposals. Nanovation refers to the innovative application of nanoscience principles and technologies in creating cutting-edge design and technology business proposals.
“I am so proud our nanovation team,” said Marianna O’Brein, LMS science teacher and nanovation team leader. “They worked consistently and persistently to develop their ideas and dedicated countless hours to research, planning and conducting tests to refine their proposal.”
Hosted by the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) at UCLA, the Nanovation Competition provided a platform for talented students to showcase their creativity and problem-solving skills developed through the Nanoscience Institute workshop series offered by CNSI. Each team, comprising four to five students, a teacher leader and a UCLA graduate student mentor, presented their business proposals based on the knowledge acquired during the workshops.
The G.A.B.E. team members representing LMS, including Eli Tobel, Caleb Altman, Evan Clicquennoi, and Jefferson Tinus, former eighth graders who will start high school in the fall, presented a groundbreaking concept that has the potential to revolutionize energy consumption.
Their proposal, G.A.B.E., is designed to help families reduce electricity costs, serve as a backup generator in emergencies, and provide better electrical stability to those in need. What sets G.A.B.E. apart is its innovative power source, as families can fuel the generators by utilizing aluminum trash from their homes that would otherwise end up in landfills, such as cans, foil and even gum wrappers.
““Nanoscience helps students understand the interdisciplinary nature of current science research,” O’Brein emphasized. “Through the Nanovation Competition, students learn the value of creativity, challenging the perception that scientists and problem-solvers are rigid and inflexible. They also gain essential teamwork skills, relying on one another consistent.”
Looking ahead, O’Brein will be hosting information sessions in early November for eighth graders interested in joining the nanovation team for the 2023-24 school year. These sessions will provide valuable insights into the team’s activities, goals and opportunities for young scientists and innovators.
In addition, SMMUSD celebrates the remarkable first-place win of the Santa Monica High School (Samohi) team, Nah-No Plastic, at the Nanovation Competition.”
