Have you ever dreamed of designing your own race car? Imagine the thrill of seeing your creation speed across the finish line. For middle school students with a passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), the Junior Solar Sprint (JSS) program offers an exciting opportunity to do just that, and it’s completely free!
Unleash Your Inner Engineer with Junior Solar Sprint
The Junior Solar Sprint program is a hands-on educational initiative designed to ignite students’ interest in STEM fields. Participants get to design, build, and race miniature solar-powered cars. It’s more than just a race; it’s a comprehensive learning experience where students apply engineering principles, scientific concepts, and mathematical skills to create their vehicles.
Through teamwork and problem-solving, students delve into the world of alternative fuels, aerodynamic design, and engineering. They learn to work collaboratively, think critically, and develop innovative solutions – all while building a race car from scratch. The program supports STEM education by making learning interactive, engaging, and fun.
Students participating in the Junior Solar Sprint race, showcasing their designed solar cars.
Picatinny Arsenal: A Hub for STEM Education and Racing Fun
Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey has proudly hosted the Junior Solar Sprint Invitational since 2014, in partnership with the U.S. Army’s Research Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) and the U.S. Army Education Outreach Program (AEOP). This collaboration provides a fantastic venue and expert mentorship for young engineers.
In a recent event, over 100 students and teachers from local middle schools gathered at Picatinny Arsenal to participate in the competition. The event, held at the Forge Fitness Center, saw students racing their creatively designed cars. Although held indoors, the spirit of solar power was maintained with cars running on AA batteries while retaining their solar panels, racing along a 20-meter track.
More Than Just Speed: Showcasing Engineering Excellence
The Junior Solar Sprint program emphasizes a holistic approach to learning. Beyond the speed of the cars, students are also judged on their engineering lab notebooks. These notebooks document their entire design and build process, from initial ideas and sketches to testing and modifications. Judges, comprised of science and engineering volunteers, evaluate the notebooks to assess the students’ understanding of the engineering design process and their ability to clearly communicate their work.
Awards are given not only for the fastest cars but also for the best engineering notebooks, recognizing the importance of thorough documentation and thoughtful design. This year, Thomas Exton and Angelo Tuminello from Roxbury’s Eisenhower Middle School, representing Team PA-40, won the racing competition and advanced to the National JSS Challenge in Dallas, Texas. Monihsa Nath and Vanessa DeBona of Team 14 from Mount Arlington received the award for the best engineering notebook, highlighting their exceptional documentation and design process.
Race to the Future with STEM Skills
The Junior Solar Sprint program, supported by RDECOM and AEOP, not only provides the kits for building these innovative race cars but also sponsors the winning team’s trip to the national competition. It’s a testament to the Army’s commitment to fostering STEM education and inspiring the next generation of engineers and scientists.
By participating in programs like Junior Solar Sprint, middle school students gain invaluable hands-on experience in design and engineering, develop critical problem-solving skills, and ignite a passion for STEM fields. It’s a free and fantastic opportunity to design, build, and race your own car, paving the way for future innovations and discoveries.
Related Links:
U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) homepage
U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) homepage
