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Berkeley Heights QUEST team advances to NJ Steam Tank finals with 'EcoWave' prototype
Summary
Fourth‑ and fifth‑grade QUEST students from Thomas P. Hughes Elementary showcased EcoWave, a solar‑assisted water‑compression boat motor that the team says reduces pollution; the team will present a working prototype in the final round of the New Jersey Steam Tank Challenge.
A Thomas P. Hughes Elementary QUEST team previewed its EcoWave prototype before the Berkeley Heights Board of Education, telling trustees the project advanced the students to the final round of the New Jersey Steam Tank Challenge.
"We are here today to present our invention of the century," said the students, identifying themselves as Cameron, Theo, Cooper and Dhruv. They described EcoWave as a fully naturally powered boat engine that uses recycled materials, a mesh filter to remove debris and a solar panel‑charged vacuum pump to compress and expel water for propulsion. The students estimated an eventual retail cost around $21,400 and named in‑state suppliers for polyethylene, aluminum, steel and copper during their presentation.
Pam Wilcinski, the district's elementary STEAM and QUEST teacher, told the board the Steam Tank Challenge is open to K–12 teams across the state and that this year 620 teams submitted pitch videos, 335 advanced to regional rounds, and 131 elementary teams vied for 20 spots in the finals. "For the first time," Wilcinski said, a Berkeley Heights elementary team reached the final round.
Board members praised the students' research and model and asked technical questions about testing and fish safety. "Is that going to grab any floating material or a fish?" one board member asked; a student answered that they would test the prototype in a sink and incorporate design changes to prevent entrapment. Another board member suggested the students consider patent protection.
Superintendent praised the students and wished them luck in the final round, which Wilcinski said will take place virtually on May 20. If the team places in the top three, they will present at the New Jersey School Boards Association conference in Atlantic City in October.
The presentation included local sourcing and engineering input: the students said they consulted an engineer, Mr. Healy of Versa Valves, about preventing fish entanglement and using jet ski mechanics as a feasibility benchmark.
The board did not take any formal action during the students' presentation; members and attendees were invited to view the working model and offer feedback to the team as they prepare for the finals.
