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News  |  Feb 03, 2016  |  Arora

Students at the 2016 Future City Philadelphia Competition Tackle Waste Management

  • Students Tackle Waste Management

 

Arora was pleased to be a Silver Sponsor of the DiscoverE Future City Philadelphia Region Competition held on January 30, 2016. Future City is a national STEM based learning competition that allows teams of students in grades 6, 7, and 8 to envision, design, build, and present a city that exists at least 100 years into the future.

Each year the students are given a theme that they must incorporate into their city. This year’s theme was “Waste Not, Want Not,” meaning that each team was challenged to design an innovative solid waste management system to incorporate into their cities.

The competition entails several phases including: the design of a virtual city using SimCity software; a city description narrative that describes the unique aspects of the city; a city model that students build to scale from recycled materials and has at least one moving part that demonstrates their future city; and a 7-minute presentation that allows each team to highlight what makes their city special.

Arora had several employees volunteer their time for different parts of the competition. Allan Stock, Senior Projects Manager, was a Preliminary Judge and Bob Murray, Vice President and Director of Operations, acted as a Scorekeeper on the day of the event. Christy Batchelor, Sr. Marketing Coordinator, was a City Description Judge whose responsibility was to read and grade the essays prior to the event.

Allan Stock was excited to participate in the competition, noting, “Our Judging Team had the pleasure to assess the models and presentations of six of the thirty-nine Philadelphia regional teams. This year’s city planning assignment was visionary solutions for solid waste disposal and recycling. We found their solutions based upon known science overlaid with a healthy dose of anticipated future discoveries pointing to a more environmentally responsible future. My experience with the competition was nothing less than exhilarating.”

Lionville Middle School from Exton, PA were this year’s competition winner with their city Renascentia, which in Latin means “The City of Rebirth.” Renascentia, located in northeast Pennsylvania along the Susquehanna River, has many unique features including self-sustaining skyscrapers, hydroponic food gardens, electromagnetic trains, and of course an innovative waste management system that involves a three prong solution that reduces waste and promotes reuse. Arora sends our congratulations to Lionville and all the participants in this year’s competition.

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