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Berlin High students present patent‑pending bat conservation system to state board
Summary
A Berlin High School student team that received a Lemelson‑MIT grant presented a three‑part system to mitigate white‑nose syndrome in bats, said they are 'patent pending' and outlined plans for field testing and peer review.
A team of students from Berlin High School presented a Lemelson‑MIT Invent grant project to the State Board of Education on April 1, describing a three‑part bat conservation system designed to mitigate the effects of white‑nose syndrome.
The student presenters, who said their group was one of eight national high school teams selected for a $7,500 Lemelson‑MIT grant, explained the system: an insect‑attracting UV light and scent disperser to increase bats' pre‑hibernation fat reserves; a modified bat house ("Noctaven") with a 222 nm light and probiotic diffuser intended to reduce fungal load; and a robotic surrogate bat used for testing. The team said they had filed a provisional patent application on Jan. 30, 2026 and plan a full utility filing by January 2027.
Student presenters noted they have reviewed more than 20 peer‑reviewed studies and are cooperating with experts, including a Lemelson‑MIT mentor and representatives from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They said field trials and data collection are planned for spring and fall testing windows, with a goal to share results at the North American Society for Bat Research in October.
Commissioner Charlene Russell Tucker and board members praised the students' work and encouraged the team to continue connecting with university and agency partners for research protocols and permitting. The students also requested community support for travel and conference participation through a GoFundMe posted by a parent.
The board received the presentation; no formal action was required.
