Designs for Tomorrow S World : Talented Teens Show Industry Experts and Celebs Their Winning

21st June 2016
PRESS RELEASE for immediate release

Designs for “Tomorrow’s World”: Talented teens show industry experts and celebs their winning ideas for a ‘better, simpler, easier’ future at TeenTech Awards 2016

With Women in Engineering day coming up on Thursday, TeenTech are pleased to announce that 8 of the 20 category prizes were won by teams of girls. This included the Design and Construction prize for a remarkable design for an ‘Emergency Necklace Bridge’ and a cancer detecting bra. 75 girls and 69 boys reached the final held at the Royal Society in London. These positive female numbers clearly demonstrate that girls are just as enthusiastic as boys when it comes to developing tech ideas that will change our world. Over 800 girls across the UK participated in the competition.

Wearable Technology and our health and well-being was a prominent feature at the 2016 TeenTech Awards, with “Bras with Benefits” a cancer detecting bra, designed to identify early stage breast cancer, winning the Wearable Technology prize and Medivest, pipped three other highly commendable finalists to the post in the Healthcare Category. Medivest is a unique, advanced piece of wearable technology designed to combat the often crippling cases of severe epilepsy.

A biodegradable fishing net, Bluetooth Speakers made from obsolete books and vinyl records and “MyST App”, an app to make booking school trips simple an easy for teachers were also on the winners rostra for 2016. These were just some of the winning innovations pitched by talented teenagers on how to use technology to make life ‘better, simpler or easier’ at the TeenTech Awards yesterday (20th June, see editors notes for full list).

A host of celebrities, journalists and eminent academics visited the Royal Society to meet the talented young entrepreneurs and hear more about their cutting-edge insights into how to harness technology to make the world better. More than 120 teens were given the opportunity to get their ideas in front of the businesses and individuals who can help commercialise them and make them a reality.

Having seen off fierce competition from hundreds of teams from schools across the UK, the young innovators travelled to London to present their pioneering ideas to a team of judges made up of celebrity science presenters, journalists and eminent academics. Co-founder of TeenTech co-founder and former BBC Tomorrow’s World presenter Maggie Philbin was joined by a host of familiar faces including Professor Brian Cox, theoretical physicist and broadcaster Professor Jim Al-Khalili, Channel 4’s Dr Christian Jessen, BBC technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones, tech reporter for BBC Click LJ Rich, Channel 4 News’ Geoff White, science and tech reporter Dallas Campbell, Gemma Morris from SKY, Fran Scott, CBBC Science Presenter and Jo Johnson MP.

Youngsters aged between 11-18 years old were challenged to use technology to solve real-world problems by researching current markets and gleaning advice from industry experts. The students came up with scientific and technological solutions to real problems across a range of categories including energy, healthcare, education, entertainment, environment, transport, construction, and wearables.

Winning teams have been rewarded with special experiences with the sponsoring companies and an invitation from TeenTech Patron HRH Duke of York KG to a special reception at Buckingham Palace in the Autumn.

Harry Smith, 18 from Oakham School was named as winner of the Consumer Innovation award, sponsored by Maplin. His idea, ‘Gust,’ is an ergonomically redesigned hairdryer that is cordless and heats using semi-conductors to minimise damage to the hair. Maplin will be working with Harry over the next 12 months to see if his idea can be made, marketed, and sold in their stores - with all profits going back to Oakham School.

‘Bras with Benefits’ the winner of the Wearable Technology Category, sponsored by Maplin was created by Alexandria Hall, age 15 from Alton Convent School,BwB – Bras with Benefits is a cancer detecting bra, designed to identify early stage breast cancer before outward signs are visible. Alexandria said of her win today: "Everyone knows someone affected by cancer and what's more it's not just the person diagnosed who suffers - it's their friends, family, and loved ones too. So when we were asked to 'solve a problem' that seemed a good place to start.”

TV’s Professor Brian Cox, said: “I always look forward seeing what the students at TeenTechcome up with and I’m never disappointed. We are seeing the next generation of scientists and engineers, and it fills me with optimism. TeenTech's great contribution is to re-enforce their enthusiasm and to provide them with both the inspiration and information they will need to build successful careers.Every finalist was a worthy finalist and as for the winners, I congratulate you. But the real prize is your future in science and engineering."

Iona and Alice from James Allen’s Girls’ School in London, winners of the 2015 Consumer Innovation Award, brought along their working prototype of their product ‘Indicate’. Since winning in 2015 they have been working with Maplin making their designs and concept a reality, with the end goal is selling it at Maplin stores. ‘Indicate’ is a high visibility jacket that allows cyclists to indicate using LED lights worn on their back. Iona and Alice said: "For us TeenTech has been a really life changing experience that's helped us see the world in a different way. It's made us realise that if you have ideas you don't have to wait to be 18 or wait until you graduate from university to make something of them. You can start whenever you want - coming up with ideas and designing products that can actually make a difference and people want to use"

The awards were set up to excite young people about the ever-expanding career possibilities available in the fields of science, engineering and technology, with TeenTech events taking place across the UK throughout the year – seeing hundreds of schools benefit from hands-on exhibits and challenges.

“Every year we are blown away by the exceptional standard of entries coming through the awards, and this year has been no exception. The Awards offer an incredible opportunity for businesses, and academics to get a genuine insight into just how entrepreneurial and tech-savvy the youngsters of today can prove to be,” said TeenTech’s founder and CEO, Maggie Philbin.

“With the right support, the kids of today display bundles of enthusiasm and time and again prove how capable they are of shaping the future in a really positive way. The Awards are without doubt the highlight of the TeenTech calendar and really sum up what we’re about; embracing creative talent, putting youngsters face-to-face with industry professionals, and encouraging them to see the power and potential of their ideas.”

TEENTECH® is a Registered Trade Mark of TeenTech Community Interest Company