OPTIMUS PRIME Spinoff Promotion and Research Challenge (OPSPARC) 2014-2015

The James Webb Space Telescope has been a foundational partner with the Real-World/In-World Engingeering Design challenge since the challenge's start in 2010. This year, RWIW merges with the NASA OPTIMUS PRIME Spinoff Challenge to add an InWorld component to this video challenge. JWST is an important part of BOTH challenges and continues to partner and directly support the InWorld Challenge.

This Year's Top InWorld Teams:

The three top teams presented their projects to a panel of evaluators - and Team 2 was ultimately chosen the winner. Below you can watch the students present their projects.

Winning Team: Team 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrDTiwYesu8&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgltLBO9Qpo&feature=youtu.be

Team 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a78UGoFGXAE&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFivqoGSYhI&feature=youtu.be

Team 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlxM-6ASk8s

More Resources:

Video Q&A's InWorld with:

• Paul Geithner, Deputy Project Manager (Technical), James Webb Space Telescope, NASA
• Dr. Joseph Holmes, CEO, Acuity Edge and Professor of Innovation, Duke University

NASA Feature on this year's challenge.

About This Year's Challenge:

The video challenge was open to students in grades 3 through 12, whom are requested to create and submit a video describing their favorite NASA Goddard spinoff and to create their own spinoff use for that technology. Spinoffs are technologies originally created for space and modified into everyday products used on Earth like aircraft anti-icing systems, and water filters.

Grades 3, 4, 5 participate in the video segment of the contest only.

Videos submitted by students in grades 6 through 12 were be judged for inclusion in the InWorld Challenge. In that challenge, students created 3D computer models of the spinoffs and their own spinoff ideas in a multi-user, virtual environment. These student teams were paired with college science or engineering students who mentor them through the design of these innovations and models.

Students who choose to participate in the InWorld Challenge selected from one of these Webb telescope spinoffs:

• Telescope Innovations Improve Speed
• Accuracy of Eye Surgery (Health and Medicine)
• Interferometers Sharpen Measurements for Better Telescopes (Industrial Productivity).
  

One of the two high school winners of the 2014-2015 contest, Kelly DeRees, described her experience at the workshop as, “…a wonderful experience that I'll never forget, and I really appreciate the time you took to make it all work.”

High school category winners of the 2014-2015 NASA OPTIMUS PRIME Spinoff Challenge share a moment with actor Peter Cullen in-between takes while filming their PSA video at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.

The National Institute of Aerospace's Center for Integrative STEM Education manages the OPTIMUS PRIME InWorld Challenge in partnership with JWST and the Innovative Technology Partnerships Office (ITPO).