KidFix Journal

Celebrating brilliant and everyday solutions of youth!

5.18.21

Sanitizing robot designed by 14-year old from Texas

Bhavana Katta gave new life to the acronym VCR. In her case, she invented a Virus Combatting Robot to help her school safely clean surfaces.

Source: Spectrum News 1

5.5.21

Maryland teen pushes for accessibility in school

A fire drill gone wrong opened the eyes of Catherine Contreras to the challenges her friends with disabilities faced. Next? She took action.

Source: Washington Post

5.14.21

Mayo Clinic raises youth voice in pediatric research

Youth are considered a vulnerable research population, but that doesn't mean they are powerless. The Youth Advisory Board gives new voice.

Source: Rochester Post Bulletin

4.29.21

Philadelphia youth tackle urban heat island effect

Just for fun! Some of the wild ideas included underground waterslides and tree planting robots. A project of the Trust for Public Land.

Source: Yale Climate Solutions

5.14.21

Iowa teen uses beet juice to identify infections

Dasia Taylor--a self described 'not a science genius'--has invented a cost-effective way to ID post-surgical infections in lower income countries.

Source: People magazine

4.27.21

National 4-H Youth in Action awards announced

Madelyn Zimmerman ~ agriculture

Elizabeth Weidner ~ civics

Mayyadah Zagelow ~ healthy living

Aidan Spencer ~ STEM

Source: National 4-H Council

Journal Archive

(5.18.21) Texas teen Bhavana Katta helps her school sanitize with a Virus Combatting Robot via Spectrum News 1 (web and video)

(5.14.21) Iowa teen Dasia Taylor identifies post-surgical infections with beet juice stitching via People magazine (web)

(5.14.21) Mayo Clinic introduces Youth Advisory Board to give youth a voice in pediatric research via Rochester Post Bulletin (web)

(5.5.21) Maryland teen Catherine Contreras pushes school accessibility after friends with disabilities experienced a dangerous fire drill via Washington Post [web]

(4.29.21) Young children in Philadelphia share creative ideas for mitigating the urban heat island effect via Yale Climate Solutions and the Trust for Public Land [web]

(4.27.21) Four National 4-H Youth in Action winners announced via National 4-H Council [web] [videos]

Madelyn Zimmerman--Agriculture--developed POSS-ibilities program to help youth with disabilities via livestock therapy
Elizabeth Weidner--Civic Engagement--spearheaded the collection of over 60,000 essential items in support of five children's hospitals in the Midwest
Mayyadah Zagelow--Healthy Living--founding member of Washington state's Equity and Inclusion Teen Task Force
Aidan Spencer--STEM--generated financial support and 60+ STEM events for under-resourced youth in Oklahoma