Regional Winners of 33rd Annual ExploraVision Competition Announced by Toshiba, National Science Teaching Association

Twenty-Four Winning Teams Recognized for Innovative Solutions to the World’s Challenges

MCLEAN, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Toshiba and the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) announced today the regional winners of the 33rd annual ExploraVision program, the largest K-12 science competition designed to build problem-solving, critical thinking and collaboration skills that are central to the Next Generation Science Standards.

This year’s regional winners’ projects include innovative ideas ranging from specialized glasses that convert sign language into speech to a portable device to help people with nut allergies detect nuts in the food they eat. The 24 winning teams will advance to the national phase of the competition, where participants will have a chance to win $10,000 U.S. Series EE Savings Bonds (at maturity) and other prizes. The winning teams will also receive Chromebooks to support the creation of virtual posters, team websites, and short videos showcasing the team’s technology for the national phase of the competition.

“For the last 150 years, Toshiba’s goal has been – and continues to be – envisioning, enabling and inspiring a more resilient, sustainable future,” said Tomoaki Kumagai, Chairman & CEO, Toshiba America, Inc. “ExploraVision is one way we support that vision. Each year we’re thrilled with the unique ideas produced by the next generation of STEM leaders and look forward to continuing to foster a love for STEM in K-12 students in partnership with NSTA.”

ExploraVision participants are challenged to come up with potential solutions to solve problems that may exist in ten years or more. Using real scientific research, students outlined methods to plan and test their ideas. In the next phase of the competition, the winning regional teams will be asked to build webpages and short videos to communicate and exhibit their ideas to the public.

"The next generation of scientists and innovators is already shaping the future, and ExploraVision highlights their extraordinary potential," said NSTA President Alicia Conerly, Ed.D. "These students aren’t just envisioning the world of tomorrow – they’re actively designing it. To create a future that benefits everyone, diverse representation at every level, from the classroom to the laboratory, is essential. Their ideas, driven by curiosity and nurtured by dedicated science educators, remind us that the breakthroughs of tomorrow begin in the classrooms of today."

Some of the winning solutions included:

• Medical Technology Innovations: Several winning regional projects focused on innovations to improve the life of individuals which include a nasal spray to stop brain-eating amoeba from entering the brain, an artificial eye that mimics eye function, different devices to alert individuals to asthma and treat immediately, and a wearable device to predict seizures before they occur.
• Transportation Technology Innovations: A middle school team used biomimicry to design a pattern to stamp into concrete to prevent ice buildup on concrete surfaces such as roads to help prevent car accidents.
• Agriculture and Related Biology Innovations: An upper elementary team designed a special drone to mimic the functions of bees while a K-3 team designed a mist tower and climate checker to help with the growth of bamboo for pandas to eat.

In the next phase of the competition, the 24 regional winners will advance to the national level. Members of first-place national winning teams each receive a $10,000 U.S. Series EE Savings Bond (at maturity). Members of second-place national winning teams will each receive a $5,000 U.S. Series EE Savings Bond (at maturity). All first- and second-place national winners will be formally recognized for their creativity and accomplishments at an ExploraVision awards ceremony in mid-June.

Since its inception in 1992, close to 450,000 students from across the United States and Canada have participated in the ExploraVision program. For 33 consecutive years, the program has helped children expand their imagination and have fun while developing an interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education at an early age. To learn more, visit https://www.exploravision.org/.

For more information, visit www.exploravision.org or email [e-mail]. Follow ExploraVision on Twitter handle at @ToshibaAmerica or join the ExploraVision Facebook Fan Page at www.Facebook.com/ToshibaAmerica.

About Toshiba
As Toshiba Group celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2025, it is enhancing its management structure, streamlining operations, and investing in forward-looking businesses to build foundations for new growth. This will allow it to continue to support advances toward a sustainable future with products and services developed by its wide range of businesses in the energy, infrastructure, and electronic devices domains. Guided by its corporate philosophy, “Committed to People, Committed to the Future.,” Toshiba brings industry-leading capabilities in green transformation (GX) and digital transformation (DX) to solutions for companies addressing the many challenges faced by modern society. By leveraging the power of data derived from its constantly evolving products and solutions, the Group is determined to help to achieve carbon neutrality and a circular economy. In fiscal year 2023, Toshiba Group generated annual sales of 3.3 trillion yen, and had 105,000 employees around the world. For more information, visit https://www.global.toshiba/ww/top.html or follow Toshiba Corporation on LinkedIn.

About Toshiba America, Inc.
Founded in 1965, Toshiba America, Inc. (TAI) is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Toshiba Corporation and the holding company of three Toshiba operating companies that offer a broad range of products and solutions for the commercial, energy and industrial sectors. The three companies, which along with TAI are known collectively as Toshiba America Group, are Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (Semiconductor & data storage solutions), Toshiba America Energy Systems, Corp. (Power generation solutions), Toshiba International Corporation (Industrial, power electronics & transmission & distribution solutions), and a Toshiba America Company, Toshiba America Business Solutions (Multifunction printers, label and receipt printers, digital signage, managed print services, and cloud solutions).

About NSTA
The National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) is a vibrant community of 35,000 science educators and professionals committed to best practices in teaching science and its impact on student learning. NSTA offers high quality science resources and continuous learning so that science educators grow professionally and excel in their career. For new and experienced teachers alike, the NSTA community offers the opportunity to network with like-minded peers at the national level, connect with mentors and leading researchers, and learn from the best in the field. For more information, visit www.nsta.org, or follow NSTA on X, formerly known as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or LinkedIn.