UCS students partner with the Detroit Zoo to show some love for Lemurs

If the Lemurs at the Detroit Zoo are looking a little bit better fed lately, you can thank a group of Wiley Elementary students.

The students formed a partnership with the Detroit Zoo this year to create a special feeder for the Lemur as part of Project Invent program. In just their first year, the student project earned the team one of two top awards by judges at a county competition.

“It was an amazing project and a lot of fun,” said Wiley sixth-grader Dominic Damron. “We had to think about what a Lemur was going to enjoy because, if they don’t like what we built, they would not use it.”

The “it” was a log shaped feeder that the students created using special design software and a 3D printer. Working with Wiley media specialist Julie Bowyer, the students carefully researched and created several prototypes of a possible feeder.

For instance, considering that the average lemer is seven to 16 inches with hands of about four inches, the students had to design something that the animal could get into for its food. Students said Lemurs typically eat berries and oranges.

“We made it so that the Lemurs could grab the food, and if they are smart enough, flip it open so that they could all of the food,” said sixth-grader Zachary Khalil.

The final product was created after students tested, retested and then tested once again several models until they found one that worked. They also had to work closely with zoo biologist Thomas Benson to gather feedback to improve their prototype.

The constant testing was an important part of what students took away from the project, according to Bowyer.
“Anytime you are doing any type of engineering, there's often more failure than there is success,” she said. “They had to gather feedback and test different designs before they could deliver it to the zoo. It is such an essential part of the project.”

In addition to creating the prototype, the students researched and made a presentation to judges at the county Project Invent competition.

The competition was similar to a “shark tank” scenario, where students had to argue the benefits of their project and their research to business professionals.

In the end, the students earned the Moonshot Award – one of two offered at the event.

In addition, the students were able to deliver their new feeders to the zoo where it will undergo further tests before actually being used to feed the Lemurs.

A connection to a community parter was also an essential part of the program, she said.

“The goal is to create compassionate inventors,” she said. “The project aligns us with a community partner and students solve real world problems by designing with their partner in mind.”

It was a message clearly received by the students.

“I think it's important to just be thinking of this for the next generations,” Damron said. Because if we don't, then the world's just to slack off.”

Source: Utica Community Schools

Superintendent Robert S. Monroe

Http://www.uticak12.org