www.FuelOurFutureNow.com was formally introduced to more than 12,000 teachers, science coordinators, curriculum planners, administrators, principals, teacher educators, industry representatives, and students from all over the country at the 57th Annual NSTA (National Science Teachers Association) National Conference on Science in Education in New Orleans at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on March 12-22, 2009.
Exterior of Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
www.FuelOurFutureNow.com is a new, dynamic, online knowledge center inspired by the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE and created in collaboration with Discovery Education, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the X PRIZE Foundation.
Brad Fountain at the Discovery Education Booth
In an interactive workshop on www.FuelOurFutureNow.com led by Brad Fountain, Manager of New Products, Discovery Education Network, participants learned how to fuel K-12 student curiosity about alternative energy sources, advanced vehicle design, climate change, and the future of transportation with engaging classroom resources connected to the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE Education Program. For example, the participants built and modified balloon-powered cars as part of a hands-on activity from Lesson 4 of the grades 6-8 curriculum, where students demonstrate the relationship between weight and fuel efficiency by constructing a model vehicle and conducting an experiment.
Joel Treadwell photo of a completed balloon-powered car
Members from the Louisiana-based Progressive Automotive X PRIZE Registered Team Global-E were also present as Team Leader Carl Guichard discussed the reasons why they have entered three newly-designed Mainstream class vehicles in the competition, as well as their efforts to engage the greater New Orleans education community and to promote interest in science, technology, engineering, and math career development.
Joel Treadwell photo of Carl Guichard addressing participants
In the days following the NSTA Conference there have been many articles and reviews of www.FuelOurFutureNow.com. Two of note include those appearing in the T.H.E. Journal and District Administration.
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