Sriram Elango is no ordinary high school student .
   If computer software engineering was a varsity sport , the Cinnaminson High School junior would be an All - American superstar , celebrated as the Lebron James of coding . Instead , the 17 - year - old teen devotes much of his free time to working in relative obscurity as an intern at the Palmyra Cove Nature Park’s Institute for Earth Observations , where he has been an instrumental contributor to the Institute’s Environmental STEM Center and model satellite program .
   Known as A3Sat , the project involves building and programming CubeSats , a miniature satellite being developed by scientific researchers and space programs .  
   The Environmental STEM Center’s A3Sat is a 4 - inch cube . It hasn’t gone to outer space , but it has traveled via drone several hundred feet above Palmyra Cove , succeeding in taking regular and infrared photos and video and recording environmental and health data , such as temperature , barometric pressure , humidity , and air quality .
   The data and imagery are transmitted in real - time from the A3Sat CubeSat to a desktop software app called ,
   Ground Station
    . The app plots and graphs the data in a user - friendly manner .  
   Sriram designed the app and developed all the software and code for its use , according to John Moore the executive director of the Institute for Earth Observations .  
   “He wrote the Ground Station software governing how the CubeSat collects and transmits data via Wi - Fi , as well as the app’s analysis tools . He was responsible for all that software . It was all him , ” Moore said , adding that the teen has contributed more than 350 volunteer hours on the project since he started on it in February last year .  
   “He was the one who found me . He called and said he was looking for a place to do STEM research , ” Moore said . “We put him on the team right away . ” 
   “I wanted to explore more fields and research areas that I could work on , ” Sriram said . “In doing so , I was able to begin doing research at the Institute for Earth Observations , which was developing a cube satellite as a model for schools across New Jersey to help them become more engaged with high - level technology . My goal was to aid in the development of the satellite and elevate it to an even higher level . ”
   ‘Changing our world for the better’
   The Ground Station app was selected as the winner of the New Jersey 3
   rd
   Congressional District’s Congressional App Challenge , and Sriram is scheduled to demonstrate it to the nation later this month during a virtual conference , #HouseOfCode 2022 , which is considered among the most prestigious events for students in STEM .
   In recognition of the honor and his extraordinary work , the Burlington County Bridge Commission hosted a reception in Sriram’s honor Thursday at the Institute of Earth Observations in Palmyra Cove . Congressman Andy Kim and the Burlington County Commissioners attended to congratulate the STEM superstar in advance of the big conference .
   Burlington County Bridge Commission officials and Cinnaminson Superintendent of Schools Stephen Cappello also attended the event .
   “I want to congratulate Sriram again on winning the Congressional App Challenge and for building a truly amazing app that can speak with a satellite in space and allows the app user to collect atmospheric data , ” said Congressman Kim . “STEM education and encouraging kids to learn coding prepares them for the needs and jobs of the future . Technology is ever evolving as is our use of it . Giving students like Sriram the opportunity to learn and develop their tech skills is essential for their growth and education . I look forward to following Sriram as he continues inventing , creating , and changing our world for the better . ”
   Burlington County Commissioner Director Dan O’Connell , State Senator Troy Singleton and Bridge Commission Chairman Matt Riggins also congratulated the intern on his achievement .
   “Burlington County is renown for its history , natural beauty , parks and open space , but it’s great to see coding and computer engineering in the spotlight , along with the Institute for Earth Observations , ” said O’Connell . “We want to congratulate Sriram on this extraordinary accomplishment and also recognize Palmyra Cove and the Institute for providing students with this kind of next level STEM experience . ”
   "I am extremely proud to represent young , talented minds like Sriram , " said Singleton , who represents Cinnaminson as part of the 7
   th
   Legislative District . "His intellect , innovation , technological capability , and motivation are truly inspiring . We are thankful for his contributions to the Environmental STEM Center , and congratulation him on this great recognition . " 
   “Sriram’s kind of talent and excellence in science and tech deserves to be celebrated in the same way we recognize other great achievements in academics , athletics and the arts , ” added Riggins . “We’re also incredibly proud of Palmyra Cove and the IEO’s Environmental STEM Center for the opportunities it provides to students . It’s one of the only places in the region to combine STEM education with a nature park . ”
   A pathway to the future 
   The Environmental STEM Center opened at the Nature Park in 2018 and provides a 2 , 000 - square - foot space for interactive exhibits about science and technology .
   Among the exhibits is a HoloGlobe that allows visitors to view authentic earth - observing satellite data from NASA , the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and other sources; the TopoBox , a colorful , mechanical sandbox that offers lessons about topography , geography , natural sciences , watersheds and computer science; and the Innovation lab , a virtual reality exhibit that allows  students to make virtual trips to the bottom of the ocean , space and even the Apollo 11 moon landing site .
   Visitors can also explore the 250 - acre nature preserve . Located at the base of the Tacony - Palmyra Bridge , Palmyra Cove was formerly used as a dumping ground for dredge spoils but has become an “urban oasis” along the Delaware River due to its varied habitats of wetlands , woods , meadows , wild creek and river shoreline , as well as a freshwater Tidal Cove the park is named after .  The park has also become a celebrated location to observe hundreds of species of birds and other wildlife .
   It is jointly managed by the Burlington County Bridge Commission and Burlington County .
   The STEM Center is open most weekdays from 9 AM to 4 PM . Palmyra Cove Nature Park is open daily from dawn until dusk . Admission to both the center and park is free .
   Moore said he hopes Sriram can inspire more students to become interested in STEM and the programs at the park .
   “We’d love for establish the Environmental STEM Center as a place where students interested in science and technology can go , ” Moore said . “The CubeSat offers an authentic science and engineering experience with a purpose and pathway to the future . ”
    
   Photos:
   Cinnaminson High School Junior Sriram Elango speaks during a reception Thursday at the Institute for Earth Observations in Palmyra Cove Nature Park , where he interns in the Environmental STEM Center . The reception was held to recognize him and the selection of a computer app he designed as the winner of the New Jersey 3
   rd
   Congressional District’s Congressional App Challenge .
   Intern Sriram Elango was a key contributor to the Institute for Earth Observations project to build miniature satellites , called CubeSats . Pictured is one of the A3Sat CubeSat’s developed at the Institute . It can attach to a drone and takes both regular and infrared photos and video and records environmental and health data , such as temperature , barometric pressure , humidity , and air quality .
   Data and imagery from the A3Sat CubeSat is transmitted in real - time to a desktop software app called ,
   Ground Station
    , that Sriram designed . The app plots and graphs the data in a user - friendly manner .  
   Sriram Elango works on a CubeSat kit with another student intern at the Institute for Earth Observations .
   Burlington County Commissioner Director Dan O’Connell presented Sriram Elango with a certificate of Student Achievement and Excellence for his work at the Institute for Earth Observations at Palmyra Cove Nature Park .
   Burlington County Commissioner Director Dan O’Connell delivers remarks at the reception honoring student intern Sriram Elango at the Institute for Earth Observations at Palmyra Cove Nature Park .
   Congressman Andy Kim presents Sriram Elango with a certificate of recognition .
   Sriram Elango shows Burlington County Commissioner Director Dan O’Connell how the A3Sat CubeSat is carried by a drone to take photos and measurements above the Palmyra Cove Nature Park .
   

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