Our Navigators Team Story
In November 2018 we formed a team to compete in the National Geographic GeoChallenge – Tackling Plastics. Our team includes Victor, Natanel, Alex, and Jeremiah. We came up with a solution to build a model boat to clean the plastic pollution in the Hudson River. In our first meeting, we formed our team name, the Navigators. We also decided to focus on the Hudson River Park waterway instead of the whole ocean. Everyone was given a task. Natanel compiled the research, Alex created the map, Victor developed the system, and Jeremiah built the prototype.
After winter break, we received the news that we were chosen to compete at the Regionals, along with 16 other teams representing the Northeast region. We started preparing and along the way, we decided to create awareness of the plastic pollution at our waterway in our school science fair. We also asked questions and collected data from many parents. About 80 people came to learn about our solution. On March 29, 2019 we competed at the Regional competition in Chicopee, Massachusetts. During our final preparations, we learned that one of our team members became ill. Last minute, the presentation had to be adjusted to only three team members.
After some tough competition we were elated to hear our team name called as first place winners at the Regionals. Overall, this was a great learning experience and our team definitely learned that each person can make a difference in tackling the plastic pollution in our environment.
We are now preparing for National competition which is coming up in May.
For the finals competition, 16 Regional competition champion teams met together in Washington DC for the National Geo Challenge competition. In the morning of May 21st, each of the 16 finalist team presented their projects to a panel of National Geographic judges. Each presentation took place in a designated presentation room. The presentation went well and the judges seemed to be pleased. In the afternoon of that day, the top three teams from the morning competition were announced. Those top 3 teams will then advance and compete on the following day for the final championship round. To our delight, our Team Navigator’s name, was called as one of the 3 finalist teams to make it and advance to finals round. Hooray !!!
On May 22nd, the final round was to take place. The presentation in this round had to be presented on stage in the National Geographic auditorium, to be televised and broadcasted on YouTube in real time. The 3 finalist teams gave their best on stage in front of the National Geographic judges and the audience. The Navigator’s team presentation on stage once again went well and each team member was able to focus on their part of the project presentation. It was now time to await the judges decision while the National Geo Bee competition took place on stage. When the winners of the Geo Challenge competition were announced, it was beyond belief to hear the Team Navigator’s name as the winners of the first ever National Geographic Geo Challenge competition Championship.
We are now working on implementing our project as a real life model with the help of National Geographic. Stay tuned …
