May 19, 2010

2010 KidWind Challenge Readies Next Generation of Wind Engineers

NYSERDA-sponsored event at Niagara Community College will bring students together to compete for best wind turbine design

The 2010 KidWind Challenge, a competition for middle and high school students to design and build working wind turbines, will be held on Thursday, May 20, 2010 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm at Niagara Community College.

Launched in New York State in 2008 with $25,000 in financial assistance from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the competition will be held outside of New York for the first time this year at the WindPower 2010 Conference being held in Dallas, Texas from May 23-26.

“The KidWind Challenge is an exciting opportunity for middle and high school students to have fun in designing what could be the next generation of wind turbine models,” said Francis J. Murray Jr., President and CEO of NYSERA. “Last year’s competition brought out a wide variety of innovative and exciting turbine designs and we expect this year’s Challenge will be just as competitive. On behalf of NYSERDA, I wish each team the best of luck in the competition.”

All New York State middle and high school students are eligible to enter regional competitions and the top three teams at each event will receive monetary and other prizes donated by local businesses. The KidWind Project, a Minnesota-based company that operates the competition, provides teams with a basic generator, measurement equipment, and competition guidelines. Competitors’ turbines are tested for their performance at KidWind’s portable wind tunnel at regional competitions. Projects are judged on performance, innovation, and quality of construction by a panel of judges comprised of teachers and wind engineers.

“We are excited about the second year of the challenge as we seek to increase the number of teams and communities that can participate,” said Michael Arquin, Director of the KidWind Project. “If we are to fundamentally change the way we produce and consume energy, we need to start challenging the next generation of innovator and engineers.”

Since 2005, NYSERDA has worked with KidWind to sponsor 22 full-day teacher workshops attended by more than 750 teachers. These popular workshops feature lessons and hands-on classroom activities to educate middle and high school students about wind energy and the benefits to consumers and the environment of developing a clean energy resource. In the summer of 2008 eight teachers were intensively trained and, with their KidWind Trainers, held two regional events attended by 200 teachers. Ten events were held in 2009 and seven are planned for spring and summer 2010.

This is the third regional KidWind Challenge competition held in New York State this year. The next KidWind Challenge event is scheduled for May 22 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm at Somers Middle School in Westchester County.

For more information, visit the KidWind Project   or NYSERDA's School Power Naturally.

Contact:
Jeffrey Gordon, NYSERDA
518-862-1090 ext. 3544
jrg@nyserda.ny.gov