Connect with us

Technology

EXPLR ANNOUNCES TOP STUDENT INNOVATORS NAMED NATIONAL STEM CHAMPIONS

Published

on

106 students will receive expense-paid trips to the National STEM Festival in Washington, D.C.
EXPLR is founded by Jenny Buccos and co-founded by Kari Byron (former Discovery Channel Mythbuster) and Andrew Zimmern (Bizarre Foods)

NEW YORK, Dec. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — EXPLR announces the 106 students whose outstanding projects have earned them the title of National STEM Champions. These students will be recognized at the National STEM Festival in Washington, D.C., March 19-22, 2025.

Each student and a guardian will receive an expense-paid trip, including lodging and travel, to attend the Festival and showcase their projects to the public and business and government leaders. In addition, each National STEM Champion will receive free access to EXPLR’s educational streaming video and curriculum platform for the teacher of their choice.

EXPLR invited students in grades 7-12 from across the U.S. and its territories to conceive and submit STEM innovations, inventions, and research across six categories: Aerospace Innovation, Environmental Stewardship, Future Food, Health and Medicine, Powering the Planet, and Tech for Good.

“Congratulations to all the students selected as National STEM Champions! EXPLR created the National STEM Festival to spotlight the next generation of innovators—students who are bold thinkers, dynamic leaders, and creators with the power to make a real impact. I’m incredibly excited to welcome our STEM Champions to the Festival this spring, where their ideas will inspire us all,” said Jenny Buccos, Founder & CEO of EXPLR and Co-Director of the National STEM Festival.

In addition to being selected as National STEM Champions, select students were also recognized for the following special awards:

The AISES Indigenous Ingenuity Award recognizes the creativity, ingenuity, and technical prowess of the first scientists by honoring Indigenous students from North American tribes or the Pacific Islands who have developed research projects that answer burning questions or address real-world challenges from their communities.The Congressional Innovation Award recognizes the creativity, ingenuity, and technical prowess of students who have developed outstanding mobile and web applications that address real-world challenges.EXPLR Catalyst Award recognizes an outstanding entrant who demonstrates exceptional ingenuity and a commitment to solving real-world problems through innovative solutions. This award honors an individual whose project relentlessly pursues practical applications to address significant societal challenges with creativity and innovation.The Autodesk Design & Make Champion Award honors one 2025 National STEM Champion for exceptional creativity and innovation in completing a project that demonstrates outstanding skills throughout the entire design and make process.

The following students were named National STEM Champions:

ALABAMA
Aanchal Behara (Birmingham), Ashu Anand (Birmingham)

ALASKA
Sara DeVolld (Soldotna)

AMERICAN SAMOA
Amelie Chen (Pago Pago)

ARIZONA
Humberto Gil Villalobos (Yuma), Akshay Karthik (Chandler), Carmen Martinez (Yuma)

ARKANSAS
Harshith Guduru (Bentonville), Bennet Chen (Little Rock)

CALIFORNIA
David He (San Diego), Shriya Nedumaran (San Jose), Joanna Deng* (Orinda)
*Joanna Deng is also a recipient of the Congressional Innovation Award

COLORADO
Alexander Zhang (Boulder), Anirudh Rao (Highlands Ranch)

CONNECTICUT
Snigtha Mohanraj (New Haven), Tyler Malkin* (Greenwich)
*Tyler Malkin is also the recipient of the Alumni Award

DELAWARE
Cailyn Pan (Wilmington), Riddik Sri Satya Neetipalli (Wilmington)

FLORIDA
Carson Granese (St. Petersburg), Gabriella Weiner (Melbourne), Rudra Patel (Tampa)

GEORGIA
Daniel Li (Suwanee), Hannah Coley (Conyers)
From the NASEF Farmcraft team from Brookwood High School in Snellville: Nakariana Jones, Evie Moore, Sydney King, Indus Lewis, Layla Young, Wren Hall, Ella Foghis Myers

GUAM
Mitekshi Ghosh (Chalan Pago)

HAWAII
Liam Chattergy* (Honolulu), Jinghao Li (Kapolei)
*Liam Chattergy is also a recipient of the Congressional Innovation Award

ILLINOIS
Manaal Siddiqui (Naperville), Sammit Chidambaram (Dunlap)

INDIANA
Sophia Fu (Carmel), Rohan Bhosale (Carmel), Tara Kim (West Lafayette)

IOWA
Amal Eltayib (Iowa City), Ritvik Gupta (Johnston)

KANSAS
Elizabeth Barnes (Overland Park), Mahi Kohli (Olathe)

KENTUCKY
Lucy Teng (Louisville),  Vallabh Ramesh (Louisville)

LOUISIANA
Abigail Qi (Baton Rouge),  Gyeongyun Min (Lake Charles)
From the NASEF Farmcraft team from University View Academy in Baton Rouge: Alanna Piper, Elison Hebert, Diego Santana, Charles Steele

MAINE
Gabriel Kirmani (Limestone)

MARYLAND
Megan Yeager (Hanover), Bryan Hijam (Baltimore)

MASSACHUSETTS
Nichelle Thinagar (Shrewsbury), Sarah Wang (Andover)

MICHIGAN
Chikanma Okoisor (Midland), Elliot LeClair (Midland), Tanay Panja* (Ann Arbor)
* Tanay Panja is also a recipient of the Congressional Innovation Award

MINNESOTA
Tyler Clair (Minnetonka), Kevin Qiu (Plymouth), Surjosnato Dhar (Plymouth)

MISSISSIPPI
Celia Lane (Ridgeland), Pranav Reddy (Ridgeland)

MISSOURI
Elizabeth Saleeby (Saint Louis), Anikait Rawat (Manchester)

MONTANA
Akira Lanes (Bozeman)

NEBRASKA
Dakota Sage (Central City), Thanvi Bhat (Omaha)

NEVADA
Jordan Chong (Reno), Jayna Kim (Las Vegas)

NEW HAMPSHIRE
Viktor Osadsky (Exeter), Jiaxuan Dai (Exeter)

NEW JERSEY
Ishaan Kunwar (Edison), Krithik Alluri (Medford)

NEW MEXICO
Steven Xu (Roswell), Natashia Anderson*  (Farmington)
* Natashia Anderson is also the recipient of the AISES Indigenous Ingenuity Award

NEW YORK
Tristan Burchett* (Brooklyn),  Mai Tran (New York City), Isabella Wissa (Lincolndale), Chase Ende (Harrison)
*Tristan Burchett is also the recipient of the EXPLR Catalyst Award

NORTH CAROLINA
Sakhyata Gurram (Cary), Swayam Shah (Raleigh), Keertana Ramars Jillella Venkata*  (Raleigh)
* Keertana Ramars Jillella Venkata is also a recipient of the Congressional Innovation Award

NORTH DAKOTA
Fatemeh Saeedi (Grand Forks)

NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
Misha Kim (Northern Mariana Island, Saipan)

OHIO
Deepthisri Paruchuri (Columbus), Anuki Mudalige (Delaware)

OKLAHOMA
Caytie Couch* (Quapaw), Emma Zhang (Jenks)
* Caytie Couch is also the recipient of the AISES Indigenous Ingenuity Award

OREGON
Anisha Dhoot (Portland), Liam Aranda-Michel (Lake Oswego), Nidhi Yadalam (Portland)

PENNSYLVANIA
Aadi Deshmukh (Bethlehem), Audrey Rozea (West Chester), Dharunish Yugeswardeenoo (Warrington)

PUERTO RICO
Shanti Isaac (Guaynabo)

RHODE ISLAND 
Jimin Shon (Portsmouth)

SOUTH CAROLINA
Karthik  Arumugam (Mauldin), Sydney Poliakoff (Charleston)

SOUTH DAKOTA
Kambria Tamayo* (Lower Brule),  Lila Vanderlei (Avon),  Steven Swallow (Porcupine)
* Kambria Tamayo is also is also the recipient of the AISES Indigenous Ingenuity Award

TENNESSEE 
Benjamin Taylor (Memphis), Shashank Lahoti (Mount Juliet)

TEXAS
Hasini Leo Jayaraj (Leander),  Adel Sisy* (Manvel)
* Adel Sisy is also a recipient of the Congressional Innovation Award

UTAH
Aadhi Umamageswaran (Salt Lake City), Ian JakeKim (Salt Lake City)

VIRGINIA
Ashrita Gandhari (Alexandria), Ani Nishanian (Chantilly), Linda Pistun (Alexandria)

WASHINGTON
Lakshmi Agrawal (Bellevue), Matthew “Jerry” Yao* (Walla Walla)
*Matthew Yao is also the recipient of the Autodesk Design & Make Champion Award

WISCONSIN
Aditi Muduganti* (Onalaska), Ritisha Dey (Shorewood)
*Aditi Muduganti is also a recipient of the Congressional Innovation Award

WYOMING
Padmalakshmi Ramesh (Laramie), Teagan Thomas (Greybull)

The National STEM Festival, presented by EXPLR, is able to offer inspiring and engaging experiences to participants, both in Washington, D.C. and online, thanks to the support of co-presenting sponsors Autodesk and Broadcom Foundation, in addition to a number of supporting organizations that share a commitment to advancing innovation and STEM education. A full list of sponsors and supporters can be found on the National STEM Festival website.

For media and interview requests or inquiries about National STEM Festival coverage, please contact Skai Blue Media at teamexplr@skaibluemedia.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/explr-announces-top-student-innovators-named-national-stem-champions-302335311.html

SOURCE EXPLR

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

BLACKHAWK NETWORK (BHN) PARTNERS WITH ROBLOX TO LAUNCH DIGITAL GIFT CARDS IN INDONESIA

Published

on

By

JAKARTA, Indonesia , Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Global branded payments provider Blackhawk Network (BHN) has partnered with Roblox, a virtual platform with millions of immersive experiences for people to enjoy together, to launch a range of digital gift cards in Indonesia, opening up opportunities for fans of Roblox to connect with family, friends and a global community.

The Roblox digital gift cards are available through gaming sites including Tokopedia, Lapakgaming, Bukalapak, PaysGift, Codashop, Blibli, GOC and UniPin in denominations of 100,000 rupiah, 200,000 rupiah or 500,000 rupiah.

Roblox Gift Cards, whether purchased on web and computer, or in-store, now include up to 25% more Robux.

BHN and Roblox are also looking to add physical gift cards by the end of the year, that will be available through a range of retailers, in store and online.

Roblox is available across a range of devices including mobile, PC, tablet and VR devices enabling players to interact with each other within an experience in real time through any compatible device.

Roblox gift cards enable users to purchase Robux, the platform’s virtual currency, which is used to acquire digital items and accessories in specific virtual experiences or in the Roblox Marketplace. Gift cards can also be redeemed for a monthly subscription service, Roblox Premium, which adds a fixed amount of Robux to a user’s account each month as well as additional benefits such as exclusive items and discounts.

BHN Regional Head, Matt Howe said: “Roblox is a leader in its category bringing together millions of people across the globe to connect, play and learn in an immersive environment. Our partnership to launch Roblox gift cards in Indonesia will make the game even more accessible to fans and open it up to new players to help build an even bigger community of interactive users.”  

With more than 88.9 million daily active users globally, Roblox is reimagining the way people come together to connect, create, and express themselves through immersive, interactive experiences. Every day, people around the world play, learn, communicate, and expand their friendships as they explore millions of user-generated digital experiences on Roblox.

About Blackhawk Network

Today, through BHN’s single global platform, businesses of all kinds can tap into the world’s largest network of branded payment solutions. BHN helps businesses grow revenue, increase loyalty, motivate and reward their teams, disburse funds and engage consumers. Branded payment solutions include the issuance and distribution of gift cards, egifts, corporate payouts and rewards, along with the technology to deliver these products in seamless, integrated ways. BHN’s network spans the globe with more than 400,000 consumer touchpoints. Learn more at BHN.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/blackhawk-network-bhn-partners-with-roblox-to-launch-digital-gift-cards-in-indonesia-302334517.html

SOURCE Blackhawk Network (BHN)

Continue Reading

Technology

TuSimple Announces Rebranding to “CreateAI” and Unveils Major Advances in Generative AI

Published

on

By

SAN DIEGO and BEIJING, Dec. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — TuSimple Holdings Inc. (OTCMKTS: TSPH) (“TuSimple” or the “Company”), a global leader in artificial intelligence technology, today announced its official rebranding to CreateAI and major advancements in its new strategic initiatives. The rebranding reflects CreateAI’s renewed focus on transforming animation and video game industries through proprietary AI technologies and its integrated content development platform.  

CreateAI showed significant progress in generative AI research with the debut of its first major AI model, named “Ruyi”. The model, available open source on AI community “Hugging Face”, excels in frame consistency, motion fluency, color and composition quality. The decision to adopt an open-source model stems from CreateAI’s commitment to empower creators and foster a vibrant user ecosystem. The model, developed in under six months, leverages technological know-how building upon the Company’s autonomous driving expertise. It also lays the foundation for proprietary AI tools and infrastructure specifically created for video game and anime content development.

The Company has advanced rapidly since its entry into the digital entertainment content industry in August 2024. CreateAI announced the development of a “AAA” Open-World Role-Playing Game (RPG) based on the legendary Louis Cha intellectual property (IP) “Heroes of Jin Yong“. The game represents a significant evolution from previous adaptations of Louis Cha’s IP as it integrates characters and narratives from all of his influential literary works. This marks the unveiling of a cohesive world of heroes, moving beyond individual stories, and serving as a starting point for the creation of new original martial arts works. A preview event took place on December 14 in Guangzhou, China, garnering strong interest from fans and cementing its place as one of the most anticipated “AAA” games to be released.

“We are proud of the achievements we’ve made in the short amount of time since entering into the field,” said Cheng Lu, President and CEO of CreateAI. “We are confident that our integrated approach at the intersection of generative AI and digital entertainment creation is a differentiating factor, one that provides significant long-term growth opportunities.”

CreateAI has continued to advance its previously announced project related to the acclaimed “The Three-Body Problem”, partnering with the Japanese anime designer Shōji Kawamori, the “Father of Macross”, to ultimately bring this vast fantasy world to life through unprecedented visual and narrative depth via an animated feature film and video game.

Additionally, CreateAI has unveiled its latest business plan, showcasing the immense commercial value derived from today’s transformation and the industry’s total addressable market. The plan also outlines the historical industry challenges addressed by the company, technology milestones, commercialization pathways, and cohesive management team. It also emphasizes how the Company’s integrated strategy forms a flywheel effect in AI development, ultimately leading to long-term sustainable competitive advantage.

About CreateAI

CreateAI (formerly TuSimple) is a global artificial intelligence company with offices in US, China, and Japan. The company is pioneering the future of digital entertainment content production, seamlessly blending cutting-edge generative AI technology with the creativity of world-class talent. Our mission is to redefine the boundaries of what’s possible in digital storytelling by developing immersive, captivating, and visually stunning experiences that resonate with audiences on a global scale.

CreateAI Media Contact:
Brad Burgess
ICR, LLC
Email: CreateAI.PR@icrinc.com 

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tusimple-announces-rebranding-to-createai-and-unveils-major-advances-in-generative-ai-302335074.html

SOURCE CreateAI Holdings Inc

Continue Reading

Technology

Info-Tech LIVE 2025 in Australia: Keynotes on Technology Trends and IT Excellence Announced for March Event in Brisbane

Published

on

By

Info-Tech Research Group’s upcoming flagship IT conference, LIVE 2025 in Australia, is set to debut in the APAC region on March 18–19 in Brisbane. The event will showcase keynote sessions by Alan Neal and Hans Eckman, who will share forward-looking strategies and expert perspectives on navigating IT excellence and emerging technology trends.

SYDNEY, Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Info-Tech Research Group has announced the second round of featured speakers for its flagship LIVE 2025 in Australia conference, taking place at the Hilton Brisbane, Australia, on March 18–19, 2025. Alan Neal, Division President, Vendor Services,  and Hans Eckman, Research Fellow, both of Info-Tech Research Group, join the list of keynote speakers bringing actionable insights to the region’s IT leaders.

The reveal of another round of speakers follows the recent announcement of speakers Aaron Shum and Gord Harrison and builds on the excitement surrounding Info-Tech LIVE 2025 in Australia, which marks the event’s first debut in the APAC region. The conference aims to equip CIOs, IT professionals, and business leaders with the tools and knowledge needed to stay ahead in today’s dynamic technological landscape.

‘Info-Tech LIVE 2025 in Australia is shaping up to be the go-to event for IT leaders across the APAC region,’ says George Khreish, Managing Partner at Info-Tech Research Group, APAC. ‘Alan Neal and Hans Eckman bring unique perspectives and proven expertise into systematic IT improvement and emerging technology trends, ensuring attendees will leave with actionable strategies to address the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of IT.’

The featured experts and sessions announced for LIVE 2025 in Australia include:

Alan Neal – Division President,  Vendor Services, Info-Tech Research Group
Alan Neal leads Info-Tech’s vendor evaluation and advisory division, SoftwareReviews, overseeing partnerships and growth strategy. Since joining Info-Tech in 2013, Neal has scaled the firm’s workshop program and enhanced delivery excellence.

Keynote Title: The CIO Playbook: 8 Secrets and 12 Steps to Systematically Achieve IT Excellence

Session Description: This keynote will unveil Info-Tech’s systematic improvement program, offering practical steps to optimise IT performance and align capabilities with organisational goals. Alan Neal will share eight key insights and a 12-step framework for transforming IT operations, driving efficiency, and achieving sustainable excellence.Hans Eckman – Research Fellow, Info-Tech Research Group
Hans Eckman specialises in connecting business strategy to operational excellence. At Info-Tech, he supports members in Agile and DevOps implementation, leadership development, and SDLC optimisation. A frequent keynote speaker, Eckman shares practical insights on transformation and simplification at events across North America.

Keynote Title: 2025 Tech Trends: What’s Coming and What to Do About It

Session Description: This keynote session will explore the emerging technology trends and external factors shaping the IT landscape in 2025. Drawing on insights from Info-Tech’s Tech Trends 2025 report and the Future of IT 2025 survey, Hans Eckman will deliver actionable insights for IT leaders to navigate upcoming challenges, seize opportunities, and drive innovation.

What to Expect at LIVE 2025 in Australia

LIVE 2025 in Australia will deliver an unmatched opportunity for regional IT leaders to network, collaborate, and engage with industry experts. Key topics will include:

Leveraging emerging tech trends and generative AI advancements.Building resilient and adaptive IT teams.Accelerating digital transformation and operational excellence.

Attendees of Info-Tech LIVE 2025 in Australia can expect interactive panels and engaging keynotes tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities facing IT professionals in the APAC region.

Media professionals looking to attend can apply for complimentary media passes by contacting pr@infotech.com.

For more information about the conference, please visit Info-Tech’s LIVE 2025 in Australia events page. Further details on the event theme, keynote speakers, and registration will be announced in the coming months. Follow Info-Tech Research Group on LinkedIn and X for updates.

About Info-Tech Research Group
Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world’s leading research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 IT and HR professionals. The company produces unbiased, highly relevant research and provides advisory services to help leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For nearly 30 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organisations.

To learn more about Info-Tech’s divisions, visit McLean & Company for HR research and advisory services and SoftwareReviews for software-buying insights. 

Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm’s Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact pr@infotech.com.

Media Contact
Sufyan Al-Hassan, Senior PR Manager
Info-Tech Research Group
salhassan@infotech.com | +1 (888) 670-8889 x2418

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2584236/Info_Tech_Research_Group_Info_Tech_LIVE_2025_in_Australia__Keyno.jpg

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2584235/Info_Tech_Research_Group_Info_Tech_LIVE_2025_in_Australia__Keyno.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/info-tech-live-2025-in-australia-keynotes-on-technology-trends-and-it-excellence-announced-for-march-event-in-brisbane-302335387.html

SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group

Continue Reading

Trending