KUALA LUMPUR: Lim Zi Suen, a former part-time teacher, has won the national level James Dyson Award 2023 for her invention Soapy. Drawing ideas from her time working in a daycare centre, Soapy is an educational toy that teaches children to wash their hands properly. As the winner, Lim received RM26,500 and will now progress to the international stage for a chance to win up to RM160,000.
Inspired by the lack of adequate hand hygiene practices among children in the daycare centre where she worked, Lim decided to create Soapy. According to her, children tend to wash their hands too quickly without proper guidance, which leads to the spread of infectious diseases caused by bacteria from dirty hands.
The international top 20 shortlist for the James Dyson Award will be announced on October 18, with the international winners being revealed on November 15.
Soapy is a sphere-shaped toy equipped with a timer and indicator light. The scrubber is made of silicone rubber, allowing it to effectively brush away dirt. Additionally, it features a press system that makes it easy to dispense foam soap.
In other news, a team of four students from Taylor’s University Malaysia, comprised of Ng Yong Pong, Alantino Raven Daniel, Shannen Kay Chan, and Tan Zi Qing, became the runner-up for their invention “Braillepad.” Braillepad is a 3D printed tablet designed to revolutionize learning for the visually impaired while addressing manufacturing issues.
The James Dyson Award is an initiative by founder James Dyson to showcase the impact engineers can make in changing the world. The competition has supported over 300 inventions with prize money. The Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology and the Foundation’s work aim to inspire aspiring engineers and problem solvers to use their knowledge to improve lives through technology.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
