In early 2022, the Utah FORGE team launched a pilot competition for middle school students in Mr. Zac Taylor’s science classes in Milford High School. This competition introduced students to the basics of geothermal energy in an engaging and fun way. Thanks to a generous contribution from Enel, the winning team received iPads and the runner up a gift certificate.
Tanumafili Aaitui, Maddox Smith, Carson Cheney, Christian Kelley
Nathan Costello
Prizes were awarded at the Milford City Council Meeting on April 19.
To prepare for the competition, Mr. Taylor was provided with lesson plans that include information on geothermal energy. These lesson plans meet the Utah State Science with Engineering Education Standards and are in line with the standards set forth in the Next Generation Science Standards. He also received other background information such as videos, podcasts, and fact sheets.
Working in teams, his students submitted short music videos, replacing the lyrics of popular songs with their own lyrics incorporating geothermal terms. A classroom visit from Enel engineers provided real-world application and insight into the general concepts taught in class and into geothermal energy specifically. Enel also hosted a guided field trip to the Cove Fort geothermal plant to provide students with an up-close look at how electricity is produced from geothermal energy.
Meet the winners and runners-up of the Statewide Poster Contest, a new initiative to teach students about geothermal energy
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Spanning more than 45 square miles, The Geysers in northern California is the largest geothermal power plant complex in the world. For over a century, its steam has powered innovation, clean energy, and communities across the region.
