The design that could save millions of lives
When was the last time you designed something based on an overlooked idea of Einstein's?
Or made a design that could save millions of lives?
If you've never done either, then give a thought to the 22-year-old industrial design graduate from Loughborough University who has just done both.
Before going to university, Will Broadway had heard that medical teams have great difficulty getting life-saving vaccines to where they're urgently needed. Vaccines need to be kept at a constant low temperature, something that is very hard to achieve in remote regions without access to power. It has been estimated that 20 million children worldwide fail to receive routine immunisation services.
His inspiration came to him when on holiday in Mexico with friends, who carried quantities of ice with them. He wanted to find a better way of cooling things, and discovered an idea of Einstein's based on ammonia evaporating in a chamber, causing the cooling effect.
Will has designed 'The Isobar', a rechargeable cooling system inspired by an invention by Einstein in the 1920s. It maintains temperature between 2C and 8C for up to six days inside an insulated backpack, yet can be recharged in just over an hour, either by electricity or a propane burner.
He has just received the UK James Dyson award, including a £2,000 cash prize which he intends to put towards further prototypes and patent applications. The design will also be in the running for the global Dyson award worth £30,000.
So, if you happen to be in the design sector, be proud. And, of course, be cool (for up to six days at a time anyway).