Four Lynnfield High School students recently won the Massachusetts Destination Imagination competition in the regional level, and they will be moving on to compete in the globals in late May.
Destination Imagination is a global non-profit organization that hosts challenges all related to STEAM-based subjects. Students would have to creatively find solutions to the challenge by combining science, performance, technical expertise, and creative storytelling. The organization advocates the use of a non-linear process that involves recognition of the problem, imagination, and collaboration. Each year, teams can choose challenges from seven different categories: Technical, Engineering, Scientific, Fine Arts, Improvisational, Service Learning and Early Learning.
The high school’s team is called The Pixelators, which consisted of sophomores April Sun, Charlotte Beccia, Grace Peña, and Nandana Nishanth. They chose the scientific challenge of telling the story of the 2010 discovery of an Aguada, a seven-foot-deep, soccer field-sized ancient Mayan water reservoir found in Uxul, Mexico. In their performance, they had to use their knowledge of chemistry to test the water’s pH levels and the wall paint using chromatography, later on discovering that the water is neutral and drinkable, and the walls are lined with clay to better store the water, concluding that the ancient Mayans had created the perfect water storage system. A “villain” intent on destroying the water storage system was also presented as an extra challenge.
“They were preparing for that for months and then performing it and showing how they solved the problem in front of judges,” Team Manager Radhika Nishanth said, adding that there’s also an “instant challenge” round where the team has to solve problems without preparation.
The students also won the Renaissance award, recognizing “outstanding design, engineering, education, and performance.” The Pixelators next be in the globals where they will compete against all states and other countries, to be held in Kansas City, Missouri from May 22 to May 25.
