What happens to all of the reeds that musicians use with their woodwind instruments when they get discarded? Can they be collected, recycled, and made into mulch?
That is the question that Renew Reeds, the Smith Middle School team comprised of Ayan Chung, Alisha Jagmohan, Arlette Ngabo, and Valerie Wang, posed and solved for their NJSBA STEAM Tank Challenge. They are now headed to state-level round!
The NJSBA STEAM Tank Challenge is a competition by the New Jersey School Boards Association that mimics Shark Tank. It encourages K-12 students to use STEAM fields to tackle real-world issues.
Why it matters: Out of nearly 150 middle school groups, only 21 moved on to this stage, highlighting the competitive nature of the event.
On Monday, the group presented their project to a group of judges from around the state.
The judges then asked questions and offered feedback for the group to apply prior to the next round.
What they’re saying:
“I didn’t even realize reeds were compostable until today!” - Dr. Derek Shendell, Rutgers Professor and STEAM Tank Challenge Judge
What’s next: Renew Reeds will now prepare for the state-level competition, where they’ll face the best from other regions. Congrats to our innovative, creative, and thoughtful students!