Warwick Engineering Students Shortlisted for National Award
Warwick School of Engineering undergraduate students Ella Bray and Archie Campbell have been shortlisted in a nationwide award, Engineering For Access, to find the next greatest innovation in disability products.
The annual award, run by personal injury specialists Claims.co.uk and product innovation specialists Bang Creations, tasked undergraduate engineers from all disciplines across the country with creating a product designed to aid people living with a disability. Students were able to choose the disability they wanted to design for, with other entries tackling epilepsy and deafness. In return they get the chance of winning £5,000 towards the cost of getting their product made.
Ella’s design is for a wheelchair wheel cleaner, specifically aimed at schoolchildren and Archie entered the award with a body-mounted support kit that helps disabled musicians to hold an instrument if they only have the use of one hand. Both designs, alongside eight others shortlisted, were picked as a viable frontrunners.
Ella, originally from Kent, said that her design was inspired by a visit to local school, where a teacher explained that this type of device would be important in helping disabled children have greater independence:
“It could really benefit the pupils of the school I visited, as well as many others in multiple walks of life.”
Archie, who spent his earlier years in Scotland before moving to Warwick for his degree, said that music has always been a huge part of his life. His design was particularly inspired by OHMI, a charity which helps those with limited mobility to get involved in music.
When asked how he felt about being shortlisted in Engineering for Access, Archie replied:
“Upon receiving the email, I was ecstatic. I had faith in my project, and I hoped that I had clearly communicated why this project addressed something so personal. To be given the opportunity to see this possibly manifest itself proved that all consider music as a fundamental all should have access to.”
The winner of Engineering for Access will be judged on a number of criteria, with innovation and cost efficiency as just two.
You can find more details about Ella’s entry design at https://www.claims.co.uk/engineering-for-access/engineering-for-access-2020-shortlist-ella-bray and Archie’s entry design at https://www.claims.co.uk/engineering-for-access/engineering-for-access-2020-shortlist-archie-campbell.