Regional Winners of 31st Annual ExploraVision Competition Announced by Toshiba, National Science Teaching Association

Toshiba and the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) announced today the regional winners of the 31^st annual ExploraVision program, the largest K-12 science competition designed to build problem-solving, critical thinking and collaboration skills that are central to the Next Generation Science Standards.

This year's regional winners' projects include innovative ideas ranging from technology drones that help reduce the carbon footprint to technologies that ensure safety in emergency situations. The 24 winning teams will advance to the national phase of the competition, where participants will have a chance to win $10,000 U.S. Series EE Savings Bonds (at maturity) and other prizes. The winning teams will also receive Chromebooks to support the creation of virtual posters, team websites, and short videos showcasing the team's technology for the national phase of the competition.

"The 31^st year of the ExploraVision program saw tremendous progression across schools, driving innovation among teachers and students around the world. This year's achievements in critical and creative thinking are made even more impressive by the ongoing challenges many winners' projects adequately address," said Ryuji Maruyama, Chairman and CEO, Toshiba America, Inc. "We applaud our winners and all our entrants for their resilience as well as their ideas for new technologies and smart solutions that improve and enhance our lives and communities."

ExploraVision participants were challenged to come up with potential solutions to solve problems that may exist in ten years or more. Using real scientific research, students outlined methods to plan and test their ideas. In the next phase of the competition, the winning regional teams will be asked to build webpages and short videos to communicate and exhibit their ideas to the public.

"The level of ingenuity and commitment brought by all these students to this competition is truly awe-inspiring. Their outstanding projects are shining examples of how we can all find ways to improve the world around us by observing our surroundings," said NSTA President Elizabeth Mulkerrin, Ed.D. "The importance of STEM to our nation's future cannot be overstated, and these regional winners have limitless potential to make a meaningful impact on the world. Congratulations to all the winners, their families, and the outstanding schools and educators that are supporting them."

Some of the winning solutions included:

• Medical Technology Innovations: Several winning regional projects were focused on innovations to promote advancements in medical technologies, such as a gaining relief from stress the through De-stress Teddy Bear, the Allergic Asthma Monitor-n-Patch, diagnostic tools for medical diseases such as cancer and more.
• Environmental Technology Innovations: The "Monarch Safety Drone" was developed by elementary students to provide a safe and nurturing habitat for monarch butterflies to lay their eggs. Another team sought out to innovate agriculture on Mars via the presence of fungal mycelium to further aid in soil permeation.
• Energy and Power Technology Innovation: A high school team sought to investigate the artificial photosynthesis use in aiding energy infrastructures. This technology could advance the energy field and create eco-friendly packaging products.
• In the next phase of the competition, the 24 regional winners will advance to the national level. Members of first-place national winning teams each receive a $10,000 U.S. Series EE Savings Bond (at maturity). Members of second-place national winning teams will each receive a $5,000 U.S. Series EE Savings Bond (at maturity). All first- and second-place national winners will be formally recognized for their creativity and accomplishments at an ExploraVision awards ceremony in early June.

Since its inception in 1992, close to 450,000 students from across the United States and Canada have participated in the ExploraVision program. For 31 consecutive years, the program has helped children to expand their imagination and have fun while developing an interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education at an early age. To learn more, visit https://www.exploravision.org/.

For more information, visit www.exploravision.org or email [email protected]. Follow ExploraVision on Twitter handle at @ToshibaAmerica or join the ExploraVision Facebook Fan Page at www.Facebook.com/ToshibaAmerica.

About Toshiba
Toshiba Corporation leads a global group of companies that combines knowledge and capabilities from over 145 years of experience in a wide range of businesses?from energy and social infrastructure to electronic devices?with world-class capabilities in information processing, digital and AI technologies. These distinctive strengths support Toshiba's continued evolution toward becoming an Infrastructure Services Company that promotes data utilization and digitization, and one of the world's leading cyber-physical-systems technology companies. Guided by the Basic Commitment of the Toshiba Group, "Committed to People, Committed to the Future," Toshiba contributes to society's positive development with services and solutions that lead to a better world. The Group and its 120,000 employees worldwide secured annual sales of 3.3 trillion yen (US$27.4 billion) in fiscal year 2021.

About Toshiba America, Inc.
Founded in 1965, Toshiba America, Inc. (TAI) is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Toshiba Corporation and the holding company of four Toshiba operating companies that offer a broad range of products and solutions for the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. The three companies, which along with TAI are known collectively as Toshiba America Group, are Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (Semiconductor solutions), Toshiba America Energy Systems, Corp. (Power generation solutions), and Toshiba International Corporation (Industrial, power electronics & transmission & distribution solutions).

About NSTA
The National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) is a vibrant community of 40,000 science educators and professionals committed to best practices in teaching science and its impact on student learning. NSTA offers high quality science resources and continuous learning so that science educators grow professionally and excel in their career. For new and experienced teachers alike, the NSTA community offers the opportunity to network with like-minded peers at the national level, connect with mentors and leading researchers, and learn from the best in the field. For more information, visit www.nsta.org, or following NSTA on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.