The Darien High School Fuel Cell Team exhibit was named among the top five this month at the 2016 World Maker Faire.
The team was among thousands of spectators, engineers, teachers, students, and exhibitors at the New York Hall of Science this October. The student team shared their fuel cell car, gave a presentation about advancements in alternative energy, and noted their success at the Shell Eco-Marathon.
Photo from Darien Public Schools newsletter
The car which has a carbon fiber shell and aluminum framing, has one seat for a driver. For maximum efficiency, the car runs between 20 to 30 miles per hour and can travel for a distance of approximately 60 miles. The Darien Technology Foundation purchased a new $8,000 fuel cell for the car that converts hydrogen into electricity.
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— This article is from the Darien Public Schools newsletter.
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DHS has been developing and modifying a version of the fuel cell car over the past decade. The students who presented at the Maker Faire are part of the Principles in Engineering class run by teacher Rich Reynolds. The presenters included David Kristof, Alberto Calderon, Thomas Tousignant, Samuel Pfrommer, Maguire Shea, Andrew Tomasello, and Slater Lovegrove.
Jeromy Nelson, coordinator for STEM and Technology Education, said the experience was important.
“Our kids interacted with CEOs of businesses and real-world executives. They were able to engage them in conversation and interact on their level,” he said.