Contact Lens Need Night Vision

Whether solving complex medical issues or exploring new applications for existing products, students involved in one of the world's largest science-based youth competitions look into the future in their own ways. Two local students took the challenge of predicting what technology might be like 20 years from now, and this month were recognized for their innovation.

Caroline Goldsby and Rebecca Newton, sixth-grade students at l in , were named regional winners in the 2012 Toshiba/NSTA (National Science Teachers Association) ExploraVision competition. Selected from thousands of entries, the students’ project is among the six chosen as regional winners for their age category. Their project proposal, contact lens with night vision, provides a solution to help people who have difficulty seeing while driving at night.

Since the contest's inception in 1992, more than 287,000 students from across the United States and Canada have participated in the ExploraVision program. This year is the program's 20th anniversary.

LaSalle Springs Middle teacher Cindy Hefling stated in a release the two students conducted thorough research on past and present technology as part of the project planning process. “Caroline and Rebecca are bright young thinkers who have the depth of knowledge and determination to solve this problem. They are impressive students, and I look forward to seeing what they come up as they compete in the next round of this competition.”

As regional winners, Goldsby, Newton and Hefling will receive a Toshiba HD camcorder to help them compete in the national round, as well as a laptop for classroom use. This next round requires students to create a website that conveys the vision of their technology, and includes both a graphical representation of a prototype of their technology and a short video. 

Regional winning team members that place first or second place in the national judging round of the competition will receive a U.S. Savings Bond and an expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C.

ExploraVision is designed for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The competition is open to those enrolled in public, private or home school in the United States and Canada.