What if a sensor could tell you when an animal is about to cross the road via a digital sign or convenient app? 

This is what a group of Powell High School students asked themselves when they entered the Samsung Solve For Tomorrow STEM competition. The competition challenges middle and high school students to find a solution to a problem in their community using science, technology, engineering and math. As finalists on the state level they are now working on refining their idea with the help of  $2,500 in tech and classroom supplies that are provided to all 300 state finalists, the Solve For Tomorrow website notes.

Currently a team of approximately 12 students is working on the project. Hannah Sears, Allison Morrison, Steven Stambaugh, Lila Neves, Owen Fink, Simon Shoopman and Gracie Trotter are trying to work out how to integrate renewable energy into the sensors as well as incorporate app functionality into the project.

“Last year what we learned from participating in this contest was the board or the people who are looking at our projects. They liked the app idea a little bit better,” Morrison said. 

Owen Fink, Hannah Sears and Simon Shoopman are credited by their teammates for coming up with the idea.

“They’re kind of the brains behind it, they came up with a lot of the ideas,” Morrison said. “I know Owen he was talking about partnering with [the Wyoming Department of Transportation app] and that’s how we would notify drivers.”

Other considerations are whether or not the sensors will be affected by wind or brush and how the project can be applicable outside of Powell. Stambaugh said thermal cameras or heat sensors are being considered in order to differentiate between animals and non-living things.

If Powell wins the state level competition and continues to progress, other monetary awards ensue before finally culminating in a $100,000 prize package. 

Morrison added that currently the team only has the idea. Without the $100,000 worth of equipment they will most likely lack the funds for prototypes and ability to help their community as well as others. 

“It would make a big impact on our community too because we did a lot of research on animal hits and vehicle accidents,” Stambaugh said. “There’s been a lot and the amount of wildlife that’s killed every year is pretty big … So it would definitely cut back on that too.”