Young Lamorinda Teen Finalist In National STEM Competition

LAMORINDA, CA — Lucas Katz has an analytical mind that he's channeled into an engineering project. He has designed a spherical omnidirectional motor for electric vehicles.

The 13-year-old Moraga boy is interested in making a motorized skateboard, but his design could also work on other vehicles.

The design caught the attention of judges for the 10th annual Broadcom MASTERS competition, put on by the Broadcom Foundation and Society for Science & the Public, which named him a finalist in its annual search for the most promising middle school STEM students in the country. On the line is a total of $100,000 in prize money with a top award of $25,000.

There are just 30 finalists nationwide, whittled down from almost 3,500 applicants.

Lucas is a student at Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School, which also benefits because of his accomplishment. Science teachers will receive a one-year classroom subscription to Science News magazine and the school will get $1,000 to use toward STEM activities.

Back in 2017, Goodyear Tire & Rubber announced a new concept for an automobile tire that’s shaped like a sphere, instead of a donut, allowing it move in all directions. That's exactly what Lucas needed for his skateboard, so he contacted Goodyear.

It turns out that the tire was only a concept, and “Goodyear is trying to inspire others to build the motor” that would work it, Lucas explains.

He had also seen a YouTube video about a ballpoint pen with a weight-transfer bearing. So Lucas used the inspiration to design a motor that could work for Goodyear’s concept tire or his own idea for a skateboard.

All 30 finalists will compete in a Virtual Broadcom MASTERS competition from October 16 - 21. The competition involves leveraging Project-based Learning to test and demonstrate their mastery of 21st Century skills of critical thinking, communication, creativity and collaboration in each of the STEM areas.

The finalists will be judged on team challenges in addition to their science research project. Here's what's on the line:

• $25,000 Samueli Foundation Prize, a gift of Susan and Henry Samueli, Chairman of the Board, Broadcom Inc., & Chair, Broadcom Foundation, for the student who demonstrates mastery of all STEM fields, and exemplifies how research, innovation and teamwork come together to impact our everyday lives
• $10,000 DoD STEM Talent Award, which will be awarded to a finalist who demonstrates excellence in science, technology, engineering or math, along with the leadership and technical skills necessary to excel in the 21st century STEM workforce
• $10,000 Lemelson Award for Invention, awarded by The Lemelson Foundation to a young inventor creating promising solutions to real-world problems.
• $10,000 Marconi/Samueli Award for Innovation, awarded to a student who demonstrates both vision and promise as an innovator.
• $10,000 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award for Health Advancement, which recognizes the student whose work and performance show the most promise in health-related fields and demonstrates an understanding of the many social factors that affect the health of communities.
• First and Second Place Awards issued in each category of STEM of $3,500 or $2,500, respectively, to be used toward a STEM summer camp experience, with top awards in math from Robert John Floe, President Floe Financial Partners
• Two Rising Stars in sixth or seventh grade will be named as delegates to represent the U.S. at the 2021 Broadcom MASTERS International next spring. Delegates will participate in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, the world’s largest international high school science fair
• All finalists receive a $500 cash award