When a new prosthetic device helped a little girl in Duluth, Ga. born with a congenital hand deformity to grip a pencil for the first time, there was great rejoicing in Iowa.
A research team in Ames developed the custom adaptive device for 3-year-old Danielle Fairchild, who was born missing the fingers and most of the thumb on her right hand. But the group getting credit for the accomplishment is not a cadre of seasoned scientists and engineers from Iowa State University or a well-funded, high-tech corporation. This team is made up of 11- and 12-year-old girls.
The Cadette Girl Scouts from Ames and Gilbert comprise a team that has been honing research and development skills for this year’s First Lego League Challenge. The team is coached by Iowa State engineering students.
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