8th grader invents biodegradable fish hook

It has been said that children are natural inventors, unafraid to explore new ideas.

One 8th grader from Graland Country Day School, is certainly giving some truth to that.

Since she was very little, Grace Dale has been in the water. She swims and is an avid fisher-woman.

"I just always grew up watching my dad do it and I held my fishing rod when I was three," said Grace.

She started noticing a lot metal hooks left behind and checked to see if there were any biodegradable hooks she could us.

"It was just amazing that no one had created it," said Grace. So, she did.

With the support of the Gates Invention and Innovation Program at her school.

The hook is made of a 3D material that biodegrades after a couple months.

Jorge Chavez is her teacher and co-director of the program.

"At first I had to do a lot of research because I was like surely this already exists on the market, surly someone has made a biodegradable fishhook," said Jorge.

There were other biodegradable things for fishing but they couldn't find the fishhook itself.

Together, Jorge and Grace came up with prototypes, tested them and finally came up with the design.

Her invention landed third place during the school's competition. Now, Grace plans to add a barb, market the hook and sell it if she can.

The Gates Invention and Innovation Program has another competition in the Spring. If the judges think this invention is a patent worth pursuing, the Gates program will pay to get those wheels in motion.

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