Three Irish student inventors have beaten off stiff competition from over 500 entries worldwide to make the global semi-finals of the prestigious James Dyson award. University of Limerick’s Harry de Stacpoole (23) and Paddy Mulcahy (21), and DIT student Ian Burnell (23) will now go before an international judging panel consisting of esteemed designers and academics in the hope of making the final shortlist of 15 entries on 18 October. The inventions to make the finals will go before James Dyson himself, who will select the overall winner and two runners up on 8 November. The overall winner will receive £10,000 (€12,000 )and £10,000 (€12,000) for the design department at their university.
Harry de Stacpoole invented Thadeus, a hydraulic chair system, after working as an instructor with disabled sailors. Thadeus enables users to get in and out of sailing dinghies safely and independently, with more ease and dignity. It is a portable, lightweight, easy-to-use and manufacture, inexpensive chair system that gives the sailor a genuine chance of more freedom and greater independence.
Paddy Mulcahy won the Irish leg of the 2012 James Dyson award for his invention U-neat, a redesign of hospital bed tables and lockers with features that are easy to clean. It has seam-free, filleted surfaces, which eliminate corners for bacteria to build, facilitating easy cleaning.
Last year Mulcahy began conducting on-site research into healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) in hospitals. His research showed that over 70% of the spread of infections in hospitals was due to surface-to-person transfer of bacteria.
DIT’s Ian Burnell has received the support of Dublin Fire Brigade for his invention – the Enhanced Emergency Lighting Barrier (EEL), a portable reflective barrier with built LED lights for protecting emergency service personnel from oncoming traffic, while working on accident scenes at night or in dangerous places such as on motorways.
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