“Fall-prevention” slippers for grandparents, an app to book your canteen meal or an ecological filter for an exhaust pipe: young people have no shortage of ideas, as long as they are asked and given. gives them the tools. Since 2011, the Science Factor competition has distinguished innovations brought by middle and high school students, thus opening a door to the scientific world.
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This year, the awards ceremony takes place on Wednesday May 26th. And Maïssa, head of the “Wastefood” project, is already happy with the boundless support of her team and those close to her. Their idea? An app that warns when food is about to expire. ” Just scan the barcode of the item before putting it away and we receive a notification when the expiration date is approaching, describes the schoolgirl from Le Havre. The application also offers recipes for using the product, or contacting local associations if you prefer to give it away. With his three comrades, they even drew models of operation.
The opportunity to discover your own strengths
Same implication to improve the planet in Mayenne, where Noémie’s group imagined a filter containing pseudo-algae to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars. ” It was important for us to fight against global warming, especially at the automotive level, explains the high school student. We did some research to see what systems already existed, and we took inspiration from the columns developed by Suez and tested in Paris. »
Inside the cylinder, to be attached to the exhaust pipes, spirulina feeds on the CO2 coming out of the pot. The group met industry professionals and engineers to think about the most suitable design and materials. ” This competition was a great scientific opportunity! »Noémie rejoices.
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« I gained self-confidence and realized that I was comfortable speaking and speaking in public ”, recalls Luna, who won the edition in 2017 with her group. Their project, a luminous pedestrian crossing powered by solar panels, is in operation in front of its former college in Le Havre thanks to the involvement of Engie and the town hall.
“In winter, it gets dark early. With lighting and flashing signs for cars, the crossing is safer ”, she explains. Maïssa and Noémie also hope that their ideas will materialize, at least in the form of a working prototype.
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