L.D. Batchelder Students Take First In Nationals

First they proved their idea was the best in the region. Now they've shown the entire country.

Four third-graders from the L.D. Batchelder School have been named First Place national winners as part of the 26th annual Toshiba and National Science Teachers Association ExploraVision program. The event is billed as the world's largest K-12 science competition. The reward for Alberto Russo, Liam McGaffigan, Patrick McGaffigan, and Damian Andrusyshyn is a trip to Washington, D.C. where they will be honored June 7-10.

For 26 years, ExploraVision has been inspiring students and teachers to develop a lifelong passion for science, technology, and innovation. Since its inception in 1992, more than 400,000 students from across the United States and Canada have participated in the Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision program. The Batchelder students were one of 24 regional winning teams and they were one of eight teams to be selected from a group of 24 regional winning teams.

Their project was called Integrated Smart Wireless Agriculture Remote Management (iSWARM). The idea is a smart farming wireless sensor system that works as the farmer's "eyes and ears" to automatically monitor the conditions of the soil and crops. It provides real-time conditions and alerts farmers to the first signs of problems. The system will be low cost and scalable so that farms of all sizes can benefit from the technology.

Photo courtesy Batchelder School following regional title.

Left to right: Jon Bernard, superintendent of North Reading public schools; Suzanne Callanen, Coach; Dan McGaffigan, parent leader; Patrick McGaffigan, Student; Liam McGaffigan, student; Damian Andrusyshyn, student; Alberto Russo, student; Al Russo, parent leader.