A team of Grade 8 students in Rothesay has been named a regional winner in a North American science competition for designing bulletproof material they say is 30 times stronger than the Kevlar currently used in bulletproof vests and can be used for other types of clothing to protect more of the body.

The four Rothesay Netherwood School students created the stronger, lighter, more flexible and breathable bulletproof material using magnesium, which is woven together with silicon carbide nanoparticles — materials originally used in airplanes and cars.

"We figured out that if we could alter the amount of nanoparticles and make them smaller, we could make it more flexible and use it in clothing," Heather Chisholm said on behalf of her teammates Ore Alugo, Matthew Morehouse and Alec Oland.

This bulletproof material is featured in the the team's application video about their design, which they say can 'revolutionalize bullet safety.' The science project earned them a spot as one of 24 regional winners in the Toshiba-NSTA ExploraVision Competition, an annual challenge to youth to "change the world by re-imagining today's technology for the future."

The students will now advance to the national phase of ExploraVision, marketed as the world's biggest K-12 science competition, with a chance to win up to $10,000.

"We were very nervous but very excited as well," said Ore. "This took a lot of hard nights at work, usually bickering or laughing our heads off, but altogether this was a really fun project," she said.

The students say their material "has the potential to revolutionize bullet safety" for police officers, soldiers and citizens.

"The magnesium infused metal has a world record yield strength and the highest magnesium heat resistance and it stands up to most extreme conditions," their entry states.

"Another good component is that it protects more than the vital organs … This would provide maximum security for our officers and soldiers who risk their lives every day."

Toshiba representative Robert Trenchard, who was at Rothesay Netherwood School on Monday to present prizes to the winning students, says 'it's amazing,' what Grade 8 students can do. (Brian Chisholm/CBC) Matthew said his team tried to "dig in deeper and find the science behind all of the myth of it, like make the myth a fact."

"Like, try to prove our thing and show that it really is going to happen some day."

Toshiba Canada's regional service manager for the Atlantic region, Robert Trenchard, who was at RNS on Monday afternoon to present prizes to the four students, was impressed.

"They do this all on their own. They do the research, they find the contacts, really it's amazing. Something I never would have been able to do in Grade 8, that's for sure," he said.

Prizes included Toshiba tablets for the students, a Toshiba computer for the school, as well as some plaques and a banner, said Alec.

He and his teammates have now set their sights on the national competition. "We've calculated we have a one in three chance," said Heather.

The first place team wins $10,000, while second place wins $5,000.

The first and second place winners both also win a savings bond and an invitation to attend the Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Awards Ceremony Weekend in Washington, D.C.