As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, we’re looking toward the future of innovation. And NASA’s newest stars are shining bright! Adobe Spark partnered with NASA for the 2019 NASA OPSPARC to inspire the next generation of scientists to solve current real-world problems with technology and creatively communicate their ideas with Spark.
Stellar students from U.S., Canada, and the United Kingdom brought their A-game to compete in three science-driven missions. Using Spark Post, Spark Video, and Spark Page, students showcased their understanding of NASA technology, solved societal problems with creative spinoffs of NASA technology, and created 3D models and marketing plans to bring their world-saving solutions to life. Winners were able to work with NASA researchers to finalize their 3D spinoff designs, and earn an all-expenses trip to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center for two days of behind the scenes workshops with astronauts and scientists! Check out scenes from the day:
These Projects Shot for the Moon with Spark, And Won!
Mission 1: Spinoff Scavenger Hunt
Can you spot NASA technology in your daily life? Students competing in this challenge identified clever “spinoffs” of NASA technology redesigned to improve day-to-day life for us all. After researching NASA technology, competitors embarked on a spinoff scavenger hunt in their homes, schools, and submitted Spark-made photo collages showcasing their findings. Congratulations to Kaitlin from Cerritos, California; Hailey from Rensselaer, Indiana; Justin from Fullerton, California; and Morgan from Saint Cloud, Minnesota and the yet-to-be-revealed May winner! For their victories in the Spinoff Scavenger Hunt, these students won a 30-minute virtual visit with a NASA innovator.
Mission 2: Create Your Own Spinoff
Future scientists shone in the Create Your Own Spinoff challenge. Students in this mission envisioned redesigns of NASA space technology to solve real-world problems. By using an engineering design process and Adobe Spark design tools to showcase their outcomes, students in grades 3-12 competed for a chance to visit NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Here are the solution-minded winners of each age division and their projects (selected by NASA judges) showcased in dazzling design with Adobe Spark Page and Spark Video:
Congratulations to Samuel Kyong (5th grade, Frank Lamping Elementary School, Henderson, NV)! Samuel conceptualized The Green Balance, a hydroponic filtration system to remove volatile organic compounds from the environment based on research from pioneering NASA researcher Dr. Bill Wolverton.
Linnea Mitchell, Molly Kernan, and Kailyn Kim (8th grade, Valley View Middle School, Snohomish, WA) took first place in the middle school division! Their innovative redesign idea reinvented the sunshield technology protecting NASA’s James Webb telescope. Using the heat-resistant materials, they’d create a roof covering to shield homes from excessive heat and cut down on the need for air conditioning. Too cool!
Mia Lorenzo (11th grade, Ed W. Clark High School, Las Vegas, NV), Jihee You (11th grade, Coronado High School, Henderson, NV), Sarah Kim (10th grade, West Career and Technical Academy, Las Vegas, NV), and Mirai Molde (10th grade, Las Vegas, NV) won the highschool age division. By repurposing particle contamination mitigation methods, they would invent self-cleaning dishware called Clean Dine Dishes, thereby ridding the world once and for all of the scourge of dirty dishes. A win for humanity!
Mission 3: InWorld Innovation
Drumroll, please! Standout students competed for top honors in this 2019 OPSPARC mission challenge. Twenty teams were chosen to develop virtual models and a marketing plan to realize their NASA technology spinoff vision. The winning designs showcase the ingenuity and scientific vision of our future innovators. Teams used Spark Page and Spark Video to present their cases to the NASA judges. The teams below won a discovery trip to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
Big thanks to Natalie Evans, Zoey Stein, Kenda Eder, and Alana Flores (8th grade, Valley View Middle School, Snohomish, WA) for helping us breathe easy. Their creative application of particle contamination mitigation methods (from NASA’s Langley Research Center) resulted in the invention of a lightweight air mask which filters out airborne pollution. Learn more about their S.T.E.P. project. Jomardee Perkind mentored this visionary quartet.
Bhoomika Kumar (12th grade) and Vishal Sivamani (10th grade) from Coppell High School in Coppell, TX are set to save lives. Their spinoff project will revolutionize the pharmaceutical drug discovery process by repurposing the NASA 3D printer test station technology to aid in the generation of biological tissues and prosthetics. Samantha Warner mentored this standout team.
Congratulations to all the 2019 NASA OPSPARC challenge winners. Thank you for Being the Spark!