Future energy ideas: zombie bacteria, algae, shoe power
‘Zombie’ bacteria, algae biofuel and interstellar solar power are among ideas floated for the future of energy generation by young Taranaki scientists.
The seventh Energy Skills Science Fair took place at the Devon Hotel on Friday, with about 160 year 4-6 students from around Taranaki putting together models and presentations on how energy could be created in the future.
Their premise was to explore the ‘super future of energy’ and demonstrate how they would produce efficient, safe energy sources for the future population in 10, 100 or 1000 years.
The´o Kraayenhof, 10, from Moturoa School, had an idea for ‘plants and zombies’, using ‘zombie’ bacteria from plants as energy.
‘‘The plant does photosynthesis and turns oxygen into carbon diox- ide,’’ he said. ‘‘The organic matter goes down through the plants and out through the roots.
‘‘Bacteria find it and eat it. When they eat it they release electrons that gets taken by the cathode rod.’’
He thinks it could work as a power source in the future.
Kyran Old and Blair Jensen from St John Bosco School had an idea for using the acidity in salt water for power, and Mitchell Fraser from Omata School had a ‘micro shoe’ with energy disks in the sole, that produced power when stepped on.
Cameron Madgwick, chairperson of Energy Skills NZ, said the science fair aimed to encourage inquisitive minds around the use of energy.
‘‘The generation of children who are now at primary school are the ones who will be those sources of energy whatever they may be into the future.’’
‘‘There are some amazing children out there with absolutely incredible minds thinking through this stuff.’’
Central School New Plymouth won the overall trophy, followed by St Joseph’s Stratford, Mimi School and Welbourn School.