On March 26-31, 2022, Alaska students participated in the fourth annual Clean Energy Olympics competition. The Clean Energy Olympics is an engineering design challenge for Alaskan 4th-12th grade traditional and homeschool students. This year’s event was hybrid, with 10 teams with 36 students participating in person at Begich Middle School and 18 teams with 35 students participating virtually.

All of the participating teams designed and built model wind turbines which were measured for their power output – either in a wind tunnel at the in-person competition or in their classroom using a box fan. Each team also completed a knowledge test and presented their design to a panel of judges who evaluated their project based on innovation, use of materials, data collection, and design knowledge. The combined score from these components determined the winner in each age category. The in-person competition had an additional instant challenge where students had 30 minutes to build a tower for a small turbine using popsicle sticks, modeling clay, and pipe cleaners.

“A value I saw from this process was students getting hands-on experience with the, sometimes messy, scientific process. I saw in my students an understanding that the job was never done, so to speak. As they designed their projects, there was always an element that could be rethought, a variable that could always be re-tested. Frequently what helped students were sharing with their peers, and learning in a community about the ideas that were working, and what ideas were yet unexplored. We could have discussed this idea about collaboration in a scientific community, but experiencing it in this way was far more impactful.”
– Seth Bader, Science Teacher, Mt. Edgecumbe High School

Results:

Top state 4th-8th grade teams: 

  1. Bobs the Builders (Klawock, virtual competitors)
  2. Inkblot (Wasilla American Charter Academy, in person competitors)
  3. AMC Air (Wasilla American Charter Academy, in person competitors)

Top state 9th-12th grade teams; 

  1. Yaquleq (Mount Edgecumbe High School, from Quinaghak, virtual competitor)
  2. Katlula (Mount Edgecumbe High School, from Buckland, virtual competitor)
  3. Project Wind (Mount Edgecumbe High School, from Old Harbor, virtual competitor)

Special awards: 

  • Flower Power – Instant Challenge winner, in person competition
  • Girdwood Grizzlies – Best communication and presentation
  • Science Barbies (Northern Lights Charter Academy) – Best team name

The top two teams for each grade range have been invited to participate in the National KidWind competition May 16-19 in San Antonio, Texas. In last year’s National KidWind competition, Alaska middle school teams placed 2nd and 5th.

The Clean Energy Olympics was featured in an Alaska Business Monthly article here.

The Clean Energy Olympics was sponsored by Matanuska Electric Association, Cook Inlet Regional Incorporation, and Alaska Electric Light and Power, with additional funding from the Office of Naval Research.

Thank you to our volunteers from Matanuska Electric Association, Cook Inlet Regional Incorporation, and Chugach Electric Association for helping judge the event!

We asked students what they’re most looking forward to when they compete at nationals. Here’s what they said:

We are looking forward to traveling to Texas, meeting teams from other states, and competing in the challenges.

Team Inkblots, American Charter Academy

What I am most looking forward to by competing in nationals is meeting new people, having fun, and just being able to compete.

Marilyn – Student, Mt. Edgecumbe High School

I’m most excited to just be able to compete and travel out of state, perhaps meet new people and most definitely go new places. Overall, just a great opportunity.

Katlula – Student, Mt. Edgecumbe High School

We are looking forward the most for the offshore wind turbine instant challenge.

Team On Top of the World, American Charter Academy

Related Resources

By Colleen FiskApril 13th, 2022