HARRIMAN, Utah (ABC 4 News) - When you think of inventors, does a group of kids under the age of 13 come to mind? After hearing about what one Herriman youth robotics team is accomplishing, maybe you will.
A FIRST LEGO League team from Salt Lake City has entered an invention into a global competition and has cracked the top 20 via online voting— but with your help, they could continue climbing the charts and even win $250,000.
Lego Bistro is an amateur team made up of 10 kids, ages 9-13 from Salt Lake County. They won the Innovation Solution Award at this year's Utah State FLL competition. Their idea is a method of cleaning fresh produce to avoid Listeria outbreaks and costly recalls.
The solution is a FDA approved simple in-line spray that kills surface bacteria on produce and evaporates over a short time leaving no residual odor or taste. It also helps the produce last longer when compared to produce sprayed with purified water alone.
Lego Bistro is now competing with 61 countries for the Edison Global Innovation Award: an award that includes a grant of $250,000 to develop and market their solution.
This is where your help is needed. The team is currently ranked 13th worldwide, but if they break the top 10 they will be considered by the finalist judges.
Follow
this link to cast your vote now.
The team has been averaging 50 man-hours per week since September. Some of their work includes seeking mentors to teach them how to make it a reality and meeting with grocery stores in the community. The kids have already met with a Stouffer’s Foods manager, a water treatment specialist from Los Angeles, several produce managers, and even an investment capitol attorney and a patent attorney.
Lego Bistro is a 4H sponsored robotics group from five different schools in the Herriman and Riverton areas. These 10 kids from Utah are learning what it means to make and achieve big goals, and leave their mark on the world.
Information from: http://legobistro.blogspot.com/.
