Destination Imagination Team to Visit UMaine Laboratory Thursday
The Kandy Kids, a team of seven Brewer fifth graders, will visit with researchers at UMaine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center, Thursday, April 28, from 3:45 – 4:30. They will work with UMaine engineers to testing a structure they built on the way to winning the State of Maine Destination Imagination Challenge.
Destination Imagination is a national educational program in which student teams solve open-ended challenges and present their solutions at tournaments. Teams are tested to think on their feet, work together and devise original solutions that satisfy the requirements of the challenges. The Kandy Kids progressed to the Maine state championships, where they won first prize. Now they are advancing to the global Destination Imagination competition to be held in Knoxville, Tenn., May 25-28.
The team’s structure is made only from foil, wood and glue. It weighs 20.4 grams (.04 pounds) and supported 605 pounds. In anticipation of the global competition, the Kandy Kids will be using testing equipment at the Advanced Structures and Composites Center to assess the structure’s strength. This is the same testing equipment that is used by university researchers to test components for bridges, wind blades and other large structures. R & D Program Manager Jake Marquis will assist the team. Team managers are parent volunteers Deb Demaso and Kay Duplissie, both of Brewer.
Contact: Roberta Laverty, Advanced Structures and Composites Center
207-581-2110
roberta.laverty@umit.maine.edu