The ocean environment has been a heated topic of late. It was discussed and explored during World Water Week, held from Aug 20 to 24 in Stockholm, Sweden. During the week, Naomi Park from the US received the prestigious Stockholm Junior Water Prize 2023 for her research on the removal of carbon dioxide and oil products from the ocean, reported AFP News.

The ocean absorbs nearly a third of carbon dioxide emissions in the air, and 1.3 million gallons of crude oil are spilled into oceans every year, according to the Stockholm International Water Institute. Both issues continue to affect the biodiversity of the ocean and human health. In her research, Park developed a method to remove these contaminants.

Speaking on winning the prize, Park said it was a project she did in her high school. “I never realized that I would get to this point.”

The jury (评判委员会) noted that “the student created a ‘sponge (海绵)’ that absorbs both carbon dioxide and oil products from the ocean. She built a model and tested it — in multiple conditions, even simulating (模拟) ocean waves — with impressive results.”

For Park, her exploration of environmental sustainability is motivated by witnessing the local impacts of the climate crisis with her own eyes. “Seeing these changes in your community really makes you believe that the time for action is now,” she said.

Her next step may be to pursue a patent for the device. Andy Bramante, Park’s teacher and the science research director at Greenwich High School, said seeing young scientists develop their original ideas at this age is very exciting.

Children of all ages gathered it New York City recently for the International Toy Fair Hidden among already Popular toys were new, high-tech educational products. Toymakers are working to create products for improving a child's emotional intelligence These toys reportedly not only hep rise intelligence in children, but also their emotional quotient, or EQ.

At the toy fair, companies showed of their products.

PleIQ is a set of plastic toy blocks. It uses augmented (增强的) reality technology to each words, numbers and other things. Edison Duran, the company director, showed people at the toy fair how virtual images appear on the bocks when they are held in front of a tablet camera. Intelligence includes intrapersonal skills (processes information within one's mind) and interpersonal skills (dealing with other people). Duran said PleIQ builds on both by having children act as teacher or guide to a companion character.

Karen Hu demonstrated an educational robot called Woobo. The robot comes programmed with educational games and activities. Children use its touch screen face to get them started. Toys that work as companions also aid in social development. Hu described how the robot can help a child who suffers from autism (自闭症). “The child can communicate with Woobo and follow some of the instructions Woobo is giving because he thinks of this as a companion instead of a parent or someone else telling him to do certain things.”

Jonathan Erickson, the sales director, showed off a board game called "Q"s Race to the Top. "Kevin Chaja said the game got his 4-year-old daughter to open up. "The biggest thing is her talking. And that's the key of all this-getting her feelings expressed out. Like, 'Hey, what does it feel like to be sad?'"

It remains to be seen whether a game or toy can improve emotional intelligence. But toymakers are doing what they can to help parents in their efforts to raise well-rounded children.