A team of seventh- and eighth-graders from Middletown Area Middle School (MAMS) recently placed second out of 15 teams at the annual Future Cities competition, which was held virtually this year. Students served as artists, writers, presenters and researchers for the project.

The judges lauded the eight-person MAMS team on several aspects of the team's city, called Perfeudum. The students considered their city's location and its natural resources in their innovative solutions, such as the use of Neptune Balls, algae and seaweed from the Mediterranean Sea. They also focused on reusing and recycling of materials in creative ways. For example, consumers in Perfeudum can use 3D printers to replace broken or missing toy pieces instead of throwing away their toys. Also, electronics are disassembled, and parts are melted down to be reused. Packing waste is reduced by using biodegradable materials made from algae instead of plastic.

To watch the MAMS team's presentation, visit https://bit.ly/Perfeudum.