ÉSLCHS teacher Steven Schultz (left) joins students Eugene Lofgh Malabuyoc, Stijn Tans, Wakefield Roadhouse, and Judah Boyko at the AZTech Awards Grand Opening on Sept. 27 in Calgary. (Supplied)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

BEEWISE PROTOTYPE SHOWCASE

Lacombe high school students cause a buzz at Calgary AZTech Awards

Oct 6, 2024 | 11:00 AM

Four robotics students from École Secondaire Lacombe Composite High School (ÉSLCHS) had an opportunity to showcase their award-winning BeeWise Monitoring Prototype at the AZTech Awards on Sept. 27 in Calgary.

Eugene Lofgh Malabuyoc (Grade 12), Stijn Tans, Wakefield Roadhouse, and Judah Boyko (all in Grade 11) represented their school at this event, as well as at the Tech Futures Challenge (TFC), hosted by MindFuel Alberta.

The students were inspired to create the BeeWise Monitoring System after witnessing the declining commercial bee population over the winter, which hit both the school’s beekeeping program and local agri-bee operations.

The group began by consulting with beekeeping experts to identify the specific requirements for hive health.

From there, they designed and built their prototype using Arduino technology—a cost-effective, open-source platform compatible with various sensors. They assembled a prototype and then ran multiple lab tests, comparing their sensors to industry-standard references to ensure accuracy and reliability. Improvements, such as housing the sensors in a weather-resistant container and video-logging the data, enhanced the effectiveness of the system.

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The prototype monitors key environmental factors in beehives such as temperature, humidity and CO₂ levels.

Officials say the system stood out for its simplicity, creativity, and affordability, as the use of off-the-shelf products kept the cost of the prototype to just $37.

In recognition of their achievements, the BeeWise team was honoured with the Best Prototype Award at last year’s Tech Futures Challenge, hosted by MindFuel.

“It is so awe-inspiring to see LCHS Robotics Students Innovation being recognized at the AZTech Grand Opening. The BeeWise project aligns with the principles of environmental protection, social responsibility, and economic viability,” said ÉSLCHS teacher Steven Schultz.

“The students are tremendous innovators. Their presentation at the AZTech Awards marked another significant milestone, allowing the students to share their work with a wider audience and gain valuable insights from industry professionals. By educating others on bee health and promoting sustainable hive management, the students’ project contributes to a broader effort to protect these vital pollinators.”

The students shared that the presentation was an amazing opportunity to network with other innovators.

Looking to the future, the team has plans to continue improving the BeeWise Monitoring System by calibrating the sensors, conducting further lab trials, and testing the prototype under real-world conditions with local beekeepers.

They aim to make the device more compact, fully weatherproof, and capable of transmitting data directly to a personal device, including sending alerts when hive conditions deviate from optimal levels.

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