The Rensselaer Union McNeil Room hosted a middle school pollution control competition this past Saturday. Hundreds of seventh- and eighth-grade students from twenty-one area schools took part in the second “Future City” competition, in which they were challenged to design a city that reduces pollution using biotechnology.
The students’ projects began last fall as simulations using the popular computer program SimCity, and progressed to a model constructed out of various recycled materials that included cardboard, aluminum cans, and computer parts.
The competition was aimed at fostering interest in math, science, and engineering while educating students on the promises and limitations of biotechnology. Participation in this event has nearly tripled from last year.
