With a mind for science and motivated by compassion, one Broadalbin-Perth High School student made his mark at the 28th Annual Greater Capital Region Science and Engineering Fair, Inc., held at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, March 24. Sophomore Miles Compani, brought home the ASU Walton Sustainability Solutions Initiative Award for his original research and development of a wildfire prevention system, qualifying him for a $500 grand prize.
Compani, a member of B-P’s Research Science Club, created a prototype for an automatic sprinkler system that would spray a fire retardant to help homeowners combat wildfires. Seeing the devastation of the wildfires in California on the news sparked his idea.
“It’s just so sad how everyone loses everything and they can’t really stop it,” Compani said.
Before creating his prototype, Compani associated big aviation fire bombers to wildfire prevention. He knew these planes are expensive to run.
“So, I thought, what if there was a way that an average homeowner could have a system to protect their house quickly and efficiently, and hopefully have it saved,” he said.
When Compani, an Eagle Scout, tested his model concept design, which incorporates a holding tank and pumping system that can spray more than 17 feet outward, it was a success.
“It’s extremely impressive what he’s been able to do and we’re all very proud of him,” high school science teacher Brian Henry said. “Take all the science out of it and he is just a great kid.”
Henry believes Compani’s kindness is at the heart of his science project.
“Clearly with his design here, he’s looking at other people besides himself,” said Henry. “He’s a great thinker and it just shows you his maturity.”
Henry and Compani have so much confidence in the model that they’ve contact the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
“Down the road this is something you could see in somebody’s backyard as a preventative measure,” Henry said. “Not only is this timely, but this has a lot of applications in the real world.”
“Maybe not now, but in the next decade, I could have a final version I could patent,” Compani said.
They are expecting to hear this summer if Compani will win the $500 grand prize, which he said will further his research.