Invention Earns School $20,000

For student Ebone Monk, nothing compares to what she’s learning from a little machine.

She’s says, “When I go to the other clubs they’re doing science but it’s not this science. It’s not as hands on. This is so much better.“

The machine is called the LightPad. It stands for Lightning Prediction and Decection Device. It’s purpose is to sense electrical currents in the air. Eventually, Ebone and her teacher, Mr. Lawrence, hope it will detect lightning before it strikes.

Lightning detection has been around for many years, but the radars and models meteorologists only detects lightning the instant lightning strikes. The LightPad, on the other hand, will detect lightning before it strikes.

The National Weather Service reports lightning causes 67 deaths and over 300 injuries each year in U.S.

In fact, her teacher has a personal interest in the LightPad. His aunt was walking on a beach when lightning struck near her without warning. He says it took her a few years to recover from the injuries.

It’s situations like his Aunt’s that drive him, Ebone, and the 13 other students to make the LightPad perfect. Perfect because next summer they head to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to put the LightPad to the ultimate test. They will climb to the top of the metal towers where NASA launches their rockets and test the LightPad during a storms.

Lawerence says, “It’s a pretty exciting thing, but of course it puts a lot of pressure on us”.