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Heads In The Clouds

Tribune photo by JAMIE PILARCZYK

In addition to researching and creating solutions for climate-related problems, students such as Alex Pillai built a robot and programmed it for a Dec. 13 competition at Young Middle School.

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By JAMIE PILARCZYK

jpilarczyk@tampatrib.com

Published: December 24, 2008

EAST TAMPA - Measuring a puff of white batting, Resham Patel, 9, decided the cloud looked a little big for the display board. She was attempting to assemble the board detailing the school's chosen innovative idea: cloud seeding.

"We found there are 15,000 commercial airlines in the sky. We also found out that in cloud seeding, they only use one particular kind of plane," Resham explained of the process of encouraging clouds to rain. "We thought when commercial airlines are flying, they could also do it. In drought areas, they could spray out the silver iodide aerosols and dry ice."

Wow, that's a mouthful. Resham rattles off her findings with intensity and with the ease of a learned scientist. She is one of the fourth- and fifth-graders on Lomax Elementary's robotics competition team called the Robopanthers.

More than 70 students at the magnet school try out for the 10 spots on the team, participating in at least two of the FIRST LEGO League's robotics competitions.

An international program to excite children about science and technology, the FIRST LEGO League uses theme-based challenges to promote teamwork, problem solving and good sportsmanship. This year's theme is Climate Connections, which explains Resham's search for the perfect cloud formation.

"I get bored after school. This is fun for me, and I've made so many new friends," said Resham, a fourth-grader.

In addition to researching and creating solutions for climate-related problems, the students built a robot and programmed it for a Dec. 13 competition at Young Middle School. They placed 10th out of 27 teams for their robot runs.

They won an award for presentation of their research and also for their service project. The Robopanthers hosted a Water Conservation Awareness week Dec. 8 to 12 at the school, gave water-saving tips on the school's morning show and produced a PowerPoint presentation for an information table in the school's hallway.

"For some of these kids, I feel it might be one of the few chances they get to participate in something like this," said coach Greg Verrill, the school's technology specialist. "They learn respect for other people, that 'gracious professionalism,' and it is a real confidence builder."

The next competition will be Jan. 3 at Camp Dorothy Thomas in Riverview.

"It's loud, and everyone is cheering you on," Hunter Dennis, 11, said of competition time. "It's stressful because you have to learn to work with people very well. Sometimes it can get frustrating, but usually we work really well. It's nervous fun."

Reporter Jamie Pilarczyk can be reached at (813) 259-7661.

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