by Dan McWilliam

STEM Innovation Academy junior high was fortunate to receive an A+ for Energy grant for the 2023-24 school year to create an energy fountain powered by wind and solar, as well as an interactive opportunity for students to explore their carbon footprint and connect the learning to the Alberta Program of Studies.

A student club has started in the MakerSpace on Wednesdays for Skills Canada. After the December 5 Skills challenge, this group of students from grades 7-9 will take on the Energy Fountain Project. The first task will be to assemble the smaller fountain and power it with solar panels. We also hope to demonstrate how the fountain can be used to generate electricity itself by creating dams and turbines to power some LEDs.

A wind turbine and solar panels have been ordered and we hope to have them up and running in the new year with our larger more permanent fountain. Our hope is that the fountain will not only showcase solar and wind energy, but can perhaps also showcase hydroelectric generation, as well as hydroponic and aquaponic growing systems for the grade 7 Plants for Food and Fibre unit in science.