Fifth Grader Wins Every Einstein Young Women

Fifth Grader Wins Every Einstein Young Women Inventors Contest
Posted on 03/16/2018
This is the image for the news article titled Fifth Grader Wins Every Einstein Young Women Inventors ContestOlivia Orzechowski was a first place winner among all fifth grade entrants in the United States in the Every Einstein Young Women Inventors Contest.

All Swallow fifth graders worked on ideas and innovations as part of their STEM and SOAR work and the projects for the girls were submitted to Every Einstein’s contest.

Olivia tied for first place in the fifth grade category with her idea for Sharkgearz, which the Director of Every Einstein commended as standing out “for the mix of science and simplicity.”

An avid swimmer, Olivia said she decided her project would look into what might help keep sharks away. In her research, she learned about the ampullae of Lorenzini, a special organ found in sharks that detect minute changes of electricity in the seawater. Magnets interact with salt water to produce a weak electrical field. When a shark comes close to that field, it seems to disrupt the sharks' special sixth sense, electroreception, and repels them away.

Olivia found that there were products on the market that used magnets in bracelets or anklets for this purpose, but she was worried about what would happen if a shark approached from behind while the swimmer had the bracelet on a wrist, or vice versa. She decided the answer was a swimsuit or life vest for children that would have multiple magnets in the lining, creating a sort of field all around the wearer.

As part of the award for Olivia’s win, Swallow School will receive $150 for science equipment.
Website by SchoolMessenger Presence. © 2024 SchoolMessenger Corporation. All rights reserved.