Clean Tech Competition

Home of the Spellman High Voltage Electronics Clean Tech Competition

Follow The Competition On:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Stay Up To Date

Sign Up Here
  • Login/Register
    • Log In
    • Upload Your Paper
    • Register
    • Modify Registration
  • 2021: “Preserving Planet Earth”
    • Upload Your Paper
    • The Challenge
    • Timeline
    • Classroom Implementation
    • Prizes
    • Rules and Regulations
    • Paper Submission Rubric
    • Prototype Presentation
  • Be A Judge!
  • Past Competitions
    • 2020 “Reducing Individual Impacts”
    • 2019: “Toward A Greener Tomorrow”
    • 2018 “Solving Climate Change”
    • 2017: “Creating a Greener Future”
    • 2016: “Making an Impact”
    • 2015 Feed The World
    • 2014 “A Solution to Pollution”
    • 2013 “Clean Water for All”
    • 2012 “Solar Solutions”
  • FAQ
  • Sponsors & Partners
    • Title Sponsorship
    • STEM Discovery Campaign
  • Blog
  • Contact

I Love Science

02/24/2021 by Kevin Sanders

Science is just the coolest isn’t it! It pieces everything together, giving it reason and sense. It makes the confusing understandable and the mind-boggling logical. It answers everything while giving us more questions. Every solution means a further ten questions; like the hydra head of mythology. There is no limit to the curiosity it can provide unless you limit yourself. Every problem we have can be solved scientifically, there is truly no limit to its abilities! This past week THREE DIFFERENT MISSIONS MADE IT TO MARS. That is truly wild to me and I cannot wait to see what the future entails. 

There are a lot of issues on this planet, and almost every one can be solved with science in some form or another. That is why there is hope, because science provides it. 

Filed Under: Blog, CTC Blog Tagged With: clean air, clean tech, Clean Tech Competition, clean technology, clean water, climate change, conservation, renewable, research, science, science competition, sustainability, sustainable living

Turtles Brought Me Here

01/26/2021 by Kevin Sanders

A sustainable lifestyle is something I am constantly striving for personally, and have been (in varying degrees of dedication) doing for most of my life. Conservation and a healthy planet were important to me well before I could readily define either of those terms! I am sure that this is the case for most of those who have entered into the Spellman HV Clean Tech Competition as well; starting a sustainability project is not just a project but a mindset! But do you remember your first thought towards an environmentally conscious existence? I can! 

When I was probably around 7 or 8 years old (way too long ago..) I first learned how the plastic rings on a pack of cans could choke turtles in the ocean. It did not take me long to realize that this could also harm other animals as well. From that point on, I always cut those rings to ensure they were not able to throttle any animal, aquatic or otherwise!

From there, it has just always made sense to me that science and morality say we should treat other animals and the planet as we would our own family and home. What has never made sense to me is why people purposely choose to not live this way; it just sounds cruel and lazy. In summation, my thoughts are perfectly stated by this famous cartoon by Joel Pett. All sustainability does is create a better world. Why do people try to fight it so hard?

 

Filed Under: Blog, CTC Blog Tagged With: clean air, Clean Tech Competition, clean technology, clean water, climate change, conservation, joel pett, renewable, research, science, science competition, sustainability, sustainable living

Happy New Year!

01/04/2021 by Kevin Sanders

Well, I think I speak for everyone when I say that 2020 was a year we would rather move past! Not much seemed to go well and even when it did, it was painful. With a global pandemic a lot seemed to be put on hold, and unfortunately that includes sustainability. But with vaccines on the way, hopefully this year will allow the world to focus on a green future! 

A lot of people relished at news that our carbon footprint decreased dramatically this year; many even said this would help with our long term planetary health. This is sadly not the case. While clearer skies and waterways were a side effect, they were not a permanent result. Sustainable research is still needed! I have faith that most who understood the energy crisis were not confused by this short term positive news, and if you are reading this blog post then you are very likely one of those people!

As we begin the next annual chapter in human history, I hope that you continue to have faith in our future! Youth centered scientific research is a keystone of a healthy planet. Students looking into sustainable practices will be the defining factor in the long term health of our home. How are you helping us get there?

Filed Under: Blog, CTC Blog Tagged With: Clean Tech Competition, clean technology, research, science, science competition, sustainability, sustainable living

Cost vs Benefit of Responsible Climate Policies

11/23/2020 by Kevin Sanders

(Whenever you hear of responsible climate policies being proposed, you almost invariably hear the response of “it is too expensive, we cannot afford that.” It is very difficult to properly describe how much a statement like this frustrates me. I do not think that there is a cheap fix for our climate issues, that would be naïve. But I find it to be infantile to look at the cost of action and ignore the cost of inaction!

The cost for responsible action is purely monetary. And money is something that we can certainly make more of in a sustainable environment. The money is invested and will spur job growth, create opportunities, provide a healthy environment, improve current technology, fashion new technology at the cutting edge of science, etcetera etcetera etcetera. 

The cost for inaction? Rising sea levels that destroy coastal cities and island cultures. Increased droughts and famine that plague millions. Larger numbers of disease carrying insects. In short, a world much harsher than the one that gave birth to us; one that will kill millions more every year. 

And somehow governments, politicians and civilians alike look at the enormous (but relatively small) cost of acting now, and view it is “too much.” To be able to speak and act this way is one of privilege. The knowledge that the impending climate disaster will impact you on a far smaller scale than those in innumerable other places on earth. This too is short sighted and selfish. While maybe they and their children will be fine, their grandchildren will undoubtedly suffer too. 

Thankfully there are more who see than do not, and this gives me hope! If you are entering into the Clean Tech Competition then I am certain you have a reasonable view, and I hope you try to help others see the light!

Filed Under: Blog, CTC Blog Tagged With: Clean Tech Competition, clean technology, research, science, science competition, sustainability, sustainable living

Research In School

11/04/2020 by Kevin Sanders

In the course of administering the Clean Tech Competition, one thing that has struck me is the inconsistency in research programs amongst secondary schools. My own did not have any sort of research program and when I look even now they still do not. And it makes me wonder: why? Why is research not more of a thing in every nation, large or small, wealthy or poor? My initial thoughts are that it is the same reason that many students do not perform research on their own; they feel as though they need a big expensive lab to be able to accomplish anything because that is the image they have always had.

Surprise, you do not! While it certainly helps, a fancy lab does not cause you to innovate, it merely helps. And if anything, the perception of a lab being necessary stymies growth on its own. Several of the best projects from the Competition have been done in an informal setting. 

If this sort of thinking, that science can be done anywhere, was more prevalent, how much farther along could we be as a world? If everyone looked around and saw something they could improve on their own and did not feel a major obstacle, what would that accomplish? In younger kids especially, a whole lot. Children are curious as a rule. Encouraging them to apply their curiosity at a young age would inspire legions more to pursue a scientific career. At least, that is how I see it!

Filed Under: Blog, CTC Blog Tagged With: Clean Tech Competition, clean technology, research, science, science competition, sustainability, sustainable living

Shift in Research Location

10/19/2020 by Kevin Sanders

Today I (your administrator) received an email from an inspired student who was interested in entering the Competition. They were very excited about performing research to enter into the High Tech category, but one of the worries he had was that he would not be able to perform research at the appropriate level since he did not have access to his school’s lab as he would have in the past. As I was typing my reply I realized this would apply to many more young students as well! 

The truth is that while for many of our entrants, access to a school research lab is something they have grown accustomed to and take for granted as a way that they are able to perform research. But the opposite is also true for many of our entrants and budding scientists around the world: access to a laboratory is something they have never had the opportunity to indulge in. 

This difference in opportunity is one of the reasons we decided to make this years categories High Tech and Low Cost. Whether you have access to a million dollar research center or spare parts around your bedroom your ability to enter this Competition remains focused on one thing: your ability to think outside of the box given your current circumstances.

Some of the top projects in the last couple years have been from Teams that have used commonly available items. If you feel like you are unable to perform research to the standards of the Competition, then look no further for inspiration than these intrepid Teams who have made the most with what they have and succeeded! 

Please feel free to reach out to myself at cleantech@cstl.org or by phone at 516-764-0045 (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm EST) if you wish for help in clarifying any of our requirements!

Filed Under: Blog, CTC Blog Tagged With: clean technology, research, science, science competition, sustainability, sustainable living

Copyright © 2021 · Clean Tech Competition • 1-516-764-0045 • cleantech@cstl.org • All Rights Reserved