Three local middle-schoolers are finalists for science ingenuity - solar air purifier

14-year-old Catherine Wu and her family travel to Florida every year, they usually go to the amusement park, and her favorite Park is the magical world of Harry Potter.
At least 14-
Drive an hour from their home in Montgomery County.
Catherine noticed that in those late nights, her mother had to check in regularly with her father
Driving on the night highway, expecting a consistent response, making sure he is still awake and keeping enough vigilance to move on.
Such moments set off her idea of "the driver's companion", a small device that monitors the driver's brainwaves and can proactively determine drowsiness if the driver starts to drift, remind them with audio and light signals.
The budding scientist and the rising ninth
First year student at Montgomery Blair High School, Silver Spring, Maryland
Catherine made her device prototype, submitted a video explaining the research behind it, and got a place as one of the 10 finalists of the 2014 Discovery Education 3 m Young Scientist Challenge.
Students from grade 5 to grade 8 across the country submitted videos about their scientific solutions to everyday problems, with finalists paired with 3 m scientist mentors to help them fine-tune their prototypes.
Students work with their mentors to learn more about the scientific process.
Catherine is one of three Washington people.
Regional Finalists, two others from Virginia: Anna Humphrey, 13, Alexander, whose project focuses on preventing disease transmission, and Jai Kumar, 12, from Louden County, he developed a unique air.
Purification system.
Catherine says her project is the beginning of her career in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
She hopes to use such work to change the status quo.
"I really like how you learn something and use it to help the society," she said . ".
For her project on active drowsiness detection, Catherine assembled a prototype with headphones and credit devicescard-
Computer motherboard size called Raspberry Pi.
She then wrote an algorithm to read the driver's brain waves and determine the degree of drowsiness.
Her father, Wu Haibin, said Catherine took an introductory online course in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT to help her complete the project.
Catherine has been working with mentor Jesse Miller to develop this device.
Miller, a product developer at the 3 m food safety department, said that while other known devices used to detect driver drowsiness depend on blinking, he said, he believes that Catherine's consideration of brain waves makes her project stand out.
"This has a huge advantage in what's out there," Miller said . " He added that he believes Wu should consider developing her prototype into a marketable match that really benefits the driver
"This is a very neat idea.
Saving lives is also a big motivation for Anna Humphrey.
To prevent the outbreak of cholera, the eighth rising Anna
Grade students at Alexander George Washington Middle School have developed a calculator that allows her to measure how many wetlands must be planted in an area to reduce bacteria to a safe level.
The science competition involves two things that Anna loves: making video and science and engineering.
When she received a call saying she was a finalist, she screamed happily and had to put the call aside.
"I tried to suppress it, but I'm not sure how well I did it," Anna said . ".
Anna has been doing more research this summer and keeping in touch with her mentor, Raha Been, a 3 m senior research scientist responsible for overseeing wound development
Nursing Technology.
It is a challenge to solve problems.
"She makes all the innovations herself," someone said . ".
"I won't give her an answer.
It has been said that Ana's calculator can serve areas affected by hurricanes and can help developing countries at risk of contaminated water.
Jai Kumar's project has also been inspired by global issues.
Jai's grandparents live in India, where the air is so polluted that they often cannot open the windows of their homes.
This prompted Jai, seventh. grader at J.
Michael Lenford middle school, doing solar energy-
Electric air purifier, which ionizes the air and collects dust in the grid before entering the home.
His experience in repairing electrical appliances began when he was about 5 years old when his parents bought him an electronic kit.
He will wake up early just to make a mess of it.
"I have a strong passion for science, mathematics, technology and engineering," Jai said . ".
"It would be very interesting if I could make money for it.
Jai, who has been working with Kris Thunhorst, a senior research expert in the 3 m industrial adhesive and tape department, said he thanked her for her expertise.
Finalists will present their project at St's 3 m innovation center. Paul, Minn. , in October.
A grand prize winner will receive $25,000 and a student trip.