Teen brothers teach Alberta students about microbial fuel cell technology
Two Calgary brothers are helping inspire an interest in science by sharing their passion with their peers.
Aaron Tan, 16, is in Grade 11, at Calgary's Westmount Charter Mid-High School, while his brother Justin Tan, 15, is in Grade 9.
It was just last year that the pair decided to share their love of science with other students through the creation of a program called the Microbial Fuel Cell Olympics (MFC Olympics).
"It first started with us just pitching it to the eco and science club at Westmount," Justin said.
"That was only 20ish students, but then it grew to over 400 students in Alberta. I'm just so proud of my brother and all the work he's done to help us grow this far and come this far."
Kelvin Tan, the boy's father, brought home a microbial fuel cell kit a few years ago, and his two sons enjoyed putting it together and watching it generate electricity.
"The microbial fuel cell is basically a technology that is actually able to produce electricity just through regular microbes, you can find these microbes everywhere, even in your garden soil, just in your backyard," said Aaron.
"These microbes are actually consuming the nutrients within the soil and secreting them as electrons, these electrons are then able to be harvested and basically put into a circuit in order to produce the electricity."
They still have the first kit they put together on April 23, 2019, and say it continues to generate electricity.
A kit is basically made up of a container, wires connected to an LED light bulb and soil.
"When I was young, I never thought that this would ever have been me as a Grade 9 student, teaching other students, this was such a dream come true," said Justin.
"I find it super easy to connect with the students, and I understand them and they understand me, so I feel like it's super easy to communicate with them and they know exactly what I'm talking about."
Justin says the program is called MFC Olympics because when they have the students putting together their kits, it turns into a competition to see which one is generating the most electricity.
Aaron says their 12 week program is geared towards students in Grades 5 to 9.
"Honestly, I think the reaction so far has been great. A lot of them do say it's a very messy thing, but at the end of the day, they have a lot of fun," he said.
"We're not only been teaching them about sustainability, we're also teaching them about problem solving. We have some quotes from students that are like, 'We not only learned how the microbial fuel cell worked, but we learned how to have a troubleshooting mindset. We learned how to work through our problems and work together in order to solve problems.'"
Heather Lai is the first teacher that the brothers approached about their project at Westmount.
Lai thought it was a science fair project the brothers wanted to show to the science club.
"I had no idea what microbial fuel cells are, and they explained that it was just using garden soils and the microbes in there to create something," she said.
"We're doing electricity with the Grade 5 at the time, that was last year, and I was like, 'Wait a minute, this is a perfect time to talk about alternate forms of energy.'"
Lai says the brothers are organized and can hold the attention of the students they're teaching.
"They have a passion and they follow through, which is super," she said. "I would say those are really good assets for anybody to have, and so having those already at a young age is going to take them far for the future."
Aaron says he and his brother want to spark something in the students they teach to turn them into the next generation of scientists.
"One thing that we like to say is that maybe one of these guys could be like the Elon Musk of the MFC, and they can really propel us forward," he said.
"At the end of the day, we want to empower them, instead of just teaching them the material and like letting them forget it."
Justin has a plan to head to MIT for his post-secondary education to work in computer science.
Aaron, meanwhile, wants to continue learning about microbial fuel cell technology.
"Whether that's maybe trying to code something for these microbial fuel cells to power even bigger things, or if that's actually taking this technology to leading scientists in microbiology in order to try and upskill this technology, or get it more well-known for more people to use."
The brothers see the program growing, and while they founded it, they're planning to teach other students to continue teaching it when they leave high school.
"I just hope that when these students become Grade 9, just like me, they'll also take the initiative to teach other students about MFCs and it'll just keep going on forever," said Justin.
Learn more about the initiative here: http://mfcolympics.ca/
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Walmart, Costco refusing to sign grocery code of conduct 'untenable': industry minister
Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says it's 'untenable' for 'smaller players' like Walmart and Costco to delay signing on to the government- and industry-led grocery code of conduct, now that industry giant Loblaw has agreed to do so.
BREAKING NEWS 'A horrible way to start the summer': 3 killed in serious boat crash on lake north of Kingston, Ont.
Three people were killed and five others were injured Saturday night following a boat crash on the Buck Bay area of Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont., the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said.
VIDEO Born without front legs, this dog has been inspiring the world for 3 years: Dresden farm owner
A sanctuary dedicated to animals with disabilities is celebrating the third birthday of one of its most popular residents.
Signs of Alzheimer’s were everywhere. Then his brain improved
Blood biomarkers of telltale signs of early Alzheimer’s disease in the brain of his patient, 55-year-old entrepreneur Simon Nicholls, had all but disappeared in a mere 14 months.
Ottawa driver who appeared to be racing another vehicle on Highway 416 facing charges
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says an Ottawa driver is facing charges after being caught going 187 km/h on Highway 416.
'It's pure joy!': B.C. pilot takes 96-year-old grandma on meaningful flight
“Good to see you,” Ryan Godard says before giving his 96-year-old grandma a big hug and walking her towards the small airplane. “Let’s get you prepped.”
Robbers made off with 'several million euros' of jewels in armed heist at Harry Winston store in Paris
Armed robbers who used a motorbike as a battering ram made off with 'several million euros' worth of valuables in a heist of the luxury Paris boutique of self-declared 'Jeweler to the Stars' Harry Winston, the French prosecutor’s office overseeing the police probe said.
Residents evacuated after threats made to residence in Fall River, N.S.
Nova Scotia RCMP are warning the public to avoid the area around Canterbury Lane in Fall River after a threat was made at a residence.
Five things to know about the NHL playoffs
Today is an off day for the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers as they prepare for Monday's winner-take-all Game 7 showdown at Rogers Arena.