Innovators Welcome: Toshiba and NSTA Now Accepting Entries for 27Th Annual ExploraVision Competition

ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Toshiba and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) are kicking off the 27^th annual Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision competition, officially opening registration for entries. The ExploraVision program, sponsored by Toshiba and administered by NSTA, tasks students to use problem-solving, critical-thinking, and teamwork to imagine solutions to real-life issues. Participants will have a chance to win a number of prizes, including $10,000 U.S. Series EE Savings Bonds (at maturity). Registration is now open until Feb. 8, 2019 at ExploraVision.org.

In the ExploraVision competition, teams of two-to-four students research scientific principles and current technologies to design innovations that could potentially come to life 20 years from now in response to a problem facing our world. Teams are aided by a teacher and an optional mentor, as they simulate real scientific research and propose how they might execute their ideas. Semi-finalist teams then create mock websites and prototypes to bring their concepts to life. Last year’s winning ideas ranged from projects on innovative disease prevention to innovations that provided artificial intelligence support for farmers.

Since the program launched in 1992, ExploraVision has helped nearly 400,000 students across the United States and Canada to cultivate a life-long passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The competition is also used by teachers to engage and excite students about the science and engineering practices found in the Next Generation Science Standards. By participating in ExploraVision, students must ask questions, plan and carry out investigations, and analyze and interpret data.

“Toshiba is proud to sponsor ExploraVision and to partner with NSTA to bring STEM education to students throughout North America,” said Noriaki Hashimoto, Chairman & CEO, Toshiba America, Inc. “In its 27th year, we know that ExploraVision will continue to inspire creativity in its participants. We are thrilled to again provide the world’s young STEM visionaries the opportunity to push themselves and develop the skills necessary to make their ideas a reality.”

“Every year, the students who participate in the ExploraVision competition bring enthusiasm and inspiration to their schools and communities,” said Dr. David Evans, Executive Director, NSTA. “Students not only explore the issues that affect our world, but are given a platform to develop solutions to tackle these issues. We have been impressed by the scope and impact of the projects completed over the past 27 years and the number of projects that presaged actual innovations. We are looking forward to seeing what the next year of submissions will bring.”

Competition Opportunities & Prizes for Students
Student teams compete in groups based on their grade levels: primary (K-3), upper elementary (4-6), middle level (7-9) and high school (10-12). There are two winner phases to the competition – regional and national. In the regional phase, the 24 winning teams from six regions across the United States and Canada will receive a Toshiba laptop for their school, and each member of the team will receive additional science and technology-related gifts.

For the national phase, members of first-place nationally winning teams each receive a $10,000 U.S. Series EE Savings Bond (at maturity). Members of second place nationally winning teams will each receive a $5,000 U.S. Series EE Savings Bond (at maturity). Canadian winners receive Canada bonds purchased for the equivalent issue price in Canadian dollars. All first- and second-place national winners will receive an expense-paid trip for themselves, their parents/guardians, teachers and mentors to Washington, D.C. for a gala awards weekend in June 2019. Activities will include a visit to Capitol Hill to meet with members of Congress and a Science Showcase during which the students will display and demonstrate their winning ideas, while also being formally recognized for their creativity and accomplishments.

Teachers looking to add project-based learning to the classrooms can visit https://www.exploravision.org/lesson-plans-for-teachers to receive free downloadable STEM lesson plans.

To register for the 2018/2019 competition, visit www.exploravision.org. Follow ExploraVision on Twitter at @ToshibaInnovate and Facebook www.Facebook.com/ToshibaInnovation for updates on the program.

About Toshiba
In over 140 years, Tokyo-based Toshiba Corporation has built a global network of almost 400 companies that channels reliable technologies into “Social Infrastructure”, “Energy”, “Electronic Devices” and “Digital Solutions”—the basic infrastructure that sustains modern life and society. Guided by The Basic Commitment of the Toshiba Group, “Committed to People, Committed to the Future”, Toshiba promotes value creation that helps to realize a world where generations to come can live better lives. In fiscal year 2017, the Group and its 141,000 employees worldwide secured annual sales surpassing 3.9 trillion yen (US$ 37.2 billion).
Find out more about Toshiba at www.toshiba.co.jp/worldwide/about/index.html

About Toshiba America, Inc.
Founded in 1965, Toshiba America, Inc. (TAI) is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Toshiba Corporation and the holding company of seven Toshiba operating companies that offer a broad range of products and solutions for the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. The seven companies, which along with TAI are known collectively as Toshiba America Group, are Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (Semiconductor solutions), Toshiba America Energy Systems, Corp. (Power generation solutions), Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. (Digital products), Toshiba America LNG Corporation (Liquefied Natural Gas), Toshiba America Nuclear Energy Inc. (Nuclear power solutions), Toshiba International Corporation (Industrial, power electronics & transmission & distribution solutions),and Toshiba America Research, Inc.(R&D).

About NSTA
The Arlington, Va.-based National Science Teachers Association is the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence in science teaching and learning, preschool through college. NSTA’s membership includes approximately 50,000 science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business representatives and others involved in science education.

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