What if a plane or drone flew like an owl? Well, Justice Arai says, it’d be a whole lot quieter. In April, the 16-year-old was one of five students from Ohio to present his research at the National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Peek inside the scientist's mind.
Curious nature. Noise pollution contributes to hearing loss, high blood pressure, speech interference, unhealthy sleep and loss in productivity, says Arai. “This takes biological strategies inspired by nature and incorporates them into our own technology. I took inspiration from owl flight to reduce the overall noise made by propellers.”
Fostering success. Arai says programs at University School have helped cultivate his experience and gave him a lab to pursue projects like this one on biomimicry. “Our research advisor Dr. Sara Laux offers advice with problems we encounter along the way."
Future Flight. What’s next for Arai? As design thinking goes, he’ll be testing, improving, retesting and tweaking his theories. Presenting his studies to military researchers opened his eyes to opportunities outside of civilian life. “I have been able to expand my horizons while also exploring future careers."
Get the report card on more than 100 Cleveland Private Schools with our 2022 Private School Guide.
Get more great Northeast Ohio stories by signing up for our free weekly “In the CLE” newsletter — your guide to staying up to date on what's going on in The Land. Arriving in your inbox every Wednesday, this weekend to-do list fills you in on everything from concerts to museum exhibits — and more. Click here to subscribe.
