Riverwood Student Participates In International Science Fair

From Riverwood ICS: Riverwood International Charter School student, Max Seidel, recently participated in the 2017 International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles, CA. His participation in this international competition extended the number of science fairs the rising junior either won or was a participant. Seidel won the 2017 Fulton County Science Fair and earned an automatic advancement to both the Georgia Science and Engineering Fair and the International Science and Engineering Fair. Seidel went on to win the Georgia science fair before presenting at the international competition in California. Seidel is the first Riverwood student to ever win at the county and state levels and earn an automatic advancement to the international competition.

The purpose of Seidel’s winning experiment, “3D Printed Myoelectric Prosthesis Without TMR Surgery,” was to examine a more accessible and less invasive solution to today’s current prostheses procedures. The cost of a prosthetic arm can range anywhere from $15,000 to $50,000. The prosthetic developed in this experiment cost an average of $300 to $500 with the help of additive manufacturing techniques, otherwise known as 3D printing technology. Seidel’s project not only created a prosthetic arm but also refined the 3-D printer which produced the arm itself. “Max’s award-winning project is unique because he produced a prosthetic arm and perfected the technology to make it. He is a talented and committed science student. It is exciting to have a Riverwood student win at the local and state science fair level and then compete with others from all over the world” said Riverwood Science teacher Patti Lawrimore.

Photo courtesy of RICS (Riverwood International Charter School junior, Max Seidel, with his award winning science fair project)