Issue link: https://owlkids.uberflip.com/i/1542643
Fatima sketched out a plan and then got to work coding a Raspberry Pi mini computer to make the detector sense heat, flame, and movement. Fatima won the Best Innovative Project Award at her local science fair! owlkids.com 19 OWL: What inspired you to do this project? FATIMA: My grandfather encouraged me. I recognized that fire-detection systems could be improved. I wanted to make a prototype that could help develop better fire detectors in the future. O: What's one thing you learned while doing this project? F: That no idea is too big and no challenge is too hard if you are willing to try. At first, I felt nervous because it seemed complicated. But I kept learning and asking questions. O: Did anyone help you along the way? F: My grandfather gave me important advice that shaped my research. His clear explanations helped make difficult ideas easier to understand. My father helped me navigate technical challenges. Wires, wires everywhere! Fatima had to connect many wires to a circuit board and a mini computer for this project. O: What do you like to do when you're not engineering? F: I like baking, playing video games, reading, and playing badminton. O: Did you enter your project into any science fairs? F: I entered a regional science fair, and I was selected for the Canada-Wide Science Fair. O: Wow! And what is next for you? F: Doing this taught me how exciting it is to solve real- world problems with technology. Before this, I had never worked with coding and electronics at this level. I really enjoy building things that can help people. I'm planning to try out a new Raspberry Pi (the mini computer used to program the fire detector) project. I want to use tech to make life safer and easier for people. This taught me that I can start building solutions now. TEXT: JACKIE FARQUHAR PHOTOS: GETTYISTOK (FLAMES); FATIMA (ALL OTHERS)