On January 27, students from Almeria Middle School participated in the 2007 Southern California Regional Future City Competition.  They were one of five regional teams that competed at the California Science Center in downtown Los Angeles to present projects promoting efficient energy use, alternative fuels, and air and water conservation. 

Under the guidance of their science teacher, Idam Chuku, the Almeria team, comprised of eighth graders Alexis Ramirez, Stacy Cuevas, Carlos Carrillo, Gwendolyn Gonzalez, Paola Reyes, and Melissa Felix, presented four projects:  1) an amphibious car that is powered by solar energy and batteries; 2) a fuel-cell car that is powered by solar energy and fuel, a type of battery; 3) a power house that has renewable energy that is stored inside by a variety of sources; and 4) a to-scale model city that is made out of recycled materials.  The Almeria team won prizes for best example of futuristic transportation and best example of a city promoting renewable energy through the planting of trees.

Approximately 26 schools in Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, and San Diego counties were invited to compete; however, only five completed their team projects.  Students who competed were required to write an essay on fuel cells, a future technology that could alleviate America's dependence on foreign oil.  Students were also asked to design their future cities on computers by using simulation software called SimCity 3000, before building their models.

The annual competition is designed to get seventh and eighth graders engaged in learning math and science by having them design and build cities of the future that could have real world application.  The ultimate goal is to encourage youngsters to pursue a career in engineering.

A team of seventh graders from Upland Junior High School won the competition and will move on to the national finals next month in Washington, D.C.  The Southern California competition was one of 38 regional competitions culminating with the national final.  The southern California competition was sponsored by, among others, the Metropolitan Water District, the Air Quality management District, CalTrans, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the San Bernardino County Fire Department.