Students from ATU Donegal have achieved a fantastic second place finish in a global innovation competition.
A team of ATU Donegal students from the Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Science and Electronic Engineering departments took part in the World Technology Universities Network Student Competition 2024.
The competition challenged students to create solutions to address a number of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, including in the key areas of Good Health and Wellbeing, Quality Education, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production and Climate Action.
ATU Donegal’s teams, PhosLumina and EduSensor Innovations, were mentored through the process by Dr Christopher McEleney from the Department of Life and Physical Science at ATU Donegal, with support from Martin Bradley in the Department of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering at ATU Donegal.
Team PhosLumina worked on a user-friendly solution to monitor orthophosphate levels in water bodies, benefitting ocean users and communities near water bodies. The team members were Cormac Harte, Fellicia Akinbulejo, Natalia Miotk and Tuba Altaf, all from Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Science.
The EduSensor Innovations team presented a project which developed a low-cost instrument and sensor system capable of measuring glucose and caffeine levels in soft drinks and paracetamol in medicinal products. The team members were Oisin O’Brien from Electronic Engineering, and Tuba Altaf, Timi Akinyimika and Brona Tinney from Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Science.
Team Phoslumina’s project finished in second place just behind a team from the Hindustan Institute of Technology and ahead of a team from National Taiwan University of Science and Technology. Each team member will receive a £150 prize for their efforts.
Dr Ciarán Ó hAnnracháin, Deputy Chair of the WTUN Operational Board and ATU’s Representative offered congratulations to both teams for an excellent competition, and highlighted the opportunities for students to engage in WTUN global collaborations and competitions which benefit both students and staff.
Both groups are pictured above along with mentor Dr Christopher McEleney and Dr Kim McFadden, Head of Department of Life and Physical Sciences, ATU Donegal.
