More information
We welcome 8th – 12th grade STEM teachers who want to engage their students in problem-based learning, doing STEM projects with the potential for real-world impact in mitigating climate change.
The I2M Challenges, structured to align with NGSS practices, can work in the following school contexts:
- As part or whole of your course elective
- As a final graduation or independent study project
- As a free-choice option in science club after school.
Read a brief article describing past student submissions or browse student videos.
Prizes
$4,000 1st Prize
$2,500 2nd Prize
$500 Critic Award
Conventional batteries rely on the electronic properties of various chemicals in order to store electrical energy, and release it when needed.
Use pennies to generate small amounts of power
This tutorial covers how to use batteries and a few other commonly available products to make a battery that can run small things like calculators or LEDs, and can be scaled up, depending on your needs.
Non-toxic, biodegradable batteries
This battery could be used to power medical devices within a patients body, or to power environmental monitoring equipment without endangering the environment.
Plant-based supercapacitor technology
Battery capacity and speed of charging are big limitations for electricity storage. Supercapacitors enable rapid charging, but are expensive to produce. This research team at Oregon State University is developing a way to make cheap supercapacitors out of plant cellulose.
