Teen engineers scoop 2017 Big Bang award for safety invention
27 Mar 2017
Two school students who created a wearable vest that predicts epileptic attacks have been awarded the top prize in the annual Big Bang Competition, organised by Engineering UK.
Sankha Kahagala-Gamage and David Bernstein, both 16, won the UK Young Engineer of the Year award for creating the vest that monitors heart rate variability and body temperature to detect the likelihood of a fit.
It then sends a message to the wearer’s phone or that of a carer to warn them to seek help.
Said Kahagala-Gamage: “Winning was one of the greatest achievements of our lives. It just goes to show if you truly believe in your invention and you put enough work in, you will succeed. I hope the MediVest will inspire the next set of engineers in 2018.”
I hope the MediVest will inspire the next set of engineers in 2018
Co-winner Sankha Kahagala-Gamage
A total of 600 finalists competed at the event, pitching to an expert panel. Judges included space scientist Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, presenter Jason Bradbury and engineer/presenter Dr Shini Somara.
Paul Jackson, chief executive of EngineeringUK said:
“The winners have been rightly recognised as some of the brightest young talent in the country. Their innovative thinking and fresh ideas stood out to the judges.”
Award co-winner Bernstein, who attends Loughborough Grammar School with his colleague, added: It’s an opportunity to learn about the most amazing sciences and engineering and I’m humbled to be around such amazing minds working to create the newest science and technology.”
