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Kids, Computers, and Science Solutions
posted (November 22, 2019)
The PUC's annual Raspberry Pi Jam was held today at the Biltmore. The Jam is pretty much an innovation challenge where youth come up with technological solutions to problems affecting the country. I stopped by to see some of the creative solutions:

Computer science and programming aren't the first words that come to mind when you think of raspberry pi, but that is exactly what this PUC sponsored event is all about.

Sharolyn Dougal, PUC Rep.
"The Raspberry Pi Jam is an event that PUC initially started in 2015. It started as a mobile app workshop and it transitioned into the Raspberry Pi Jam in 2016. It has been held annually expect for last year. The program focuses on technology and giving the students the opportunity to be innovative and creative using the raspberry pi's, we supply them with the kits and the accessories, and they go ahead and create their project from the ground up."

"The pi is basically the center of a computer which is a small device and it is that device they are using to create these projects."

And the finished projects were on display today at the Biltmore. 11 high schools from all over the country were represented.

Ecumenical High School created a flood warning system that can alert authorities when river levels are dangerously high.

Thaddeos Pineda, Ecumenical High School, Dangriga
"So that devise would be elevated over the river in which when the river level is normal, the green light will blink and it will indicate to the villagers that the water level is fine and then the blue light will blink if the water level rises a little and then the red light will more likely indicate that the river is flooding and the bell above which you cant see will ring to indicate to the villagers to evacuate and seek higher ground."

Toledo Community College took a different approach to water levels by conducting a study to find a solution to flooding and coastal erosion.

Leeanne Palma, Toledo Community College
"We built the wave simulator for the purpose of a study so we can prevent coastal erosion and flooding in Belize because as we know Belize is below sea level especially so we are trying to find a solution on how we can stop this so what we did is we included 3 barriers, a vertical barrier, a re-curve barrier and a rock armor to find which is the best solution to stop coastal erosion and flooding so based on our study as you can see over there, the best solution is the recurve barrier because the water curves and hits back."

And Providence SDA High School in Toledo wants to help cut back on marine litter with their sea cleaner machine.

Oscar Chavez, Providence SDA High, Toledo
"We made a sea cleaner that is what we brought for our raspberry pi project, the purpose of the project is to help clean the sea to save a lot of money, instead of paying someone a whole lot of money to clean the sea we just have one project or boat to clean it."

And from those water-based projects to agriculture.

Jennifer Pop, Julian Cho High School, Toledo
"Our project is a plant measurement system, it measures plants that are ready to be transplanted this project has a height of 2ft so if the plant is too small, the ultra-sonic bouncer will not be activated by that so when it reach that height it will bounce back it will give you an indication that it is ready to be transplanted and once it is ready to be transplanted there will be a high possibility of it growing because when we do it manually with rulers, it does not give an accurate or precise height or possibility that it will grow."

Mopan Technical High School students also want their chicks to grow healthy by regulating the temperature in the coop, The ideal temperature for survival is 108 degrees F.

Randy Albeno, Mopan Technical High School, Benque
"Our project is automated chicken coup control system, what this is meant to do is control the temperature of the room so the chickens will not die and it will give us a greater profit because it is a large problem that industries and farmers are facing."

Sharolyn Dougal, PUC Rep.
"One of the PUC's main goal in having this jam is basically promoting technology. We are living in a technological world, so being able to assist the students to come about and be creative and innovative in getting their projects completed and also expanding their knowledge. That is our goal."

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