A Chinese video explaining a new rapid testing procedure for the COVID-19 virus and a video from the Netherlands showcasing an innovative way to predict crop harvests are the winners of this year’s inaugural CAETS Communication Prizes.
The Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences (CAETS) is an international organisation of engineering and technological sciences academies from more than 30 countries and six continents. The Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) is a founding member.
Earlier this year CAETS launched an international competition to find the most compelling technological and engineering innovations, communicated in a way to inspire the public and aspiring young technologists.
There were two categories for the Communication Prizes: Engineering Success Stories and High Potential Innovations.
The winners were announced overnight (Thursday 23 September) at the annual CAETS symposium which is being hosted this year by Argentina and occurring virtually.
The Engineering Success Stories winner is a video submitted by the Chinese Academy of Engineering, detailing the work of Professor Jing Cheng from Tsinghua University who along with his team at Capital Bio Corporation has developed a fully integrated “Lab on a Chip” system for rapid nucleic acid detection of SARS CoV-2.
The High Potential Innovations winner is a video submitted by the Netherlands Academy of Technology and Innovation, featuring Kaz Vermeer co-founder of Van Boven which has developed a method of predicting the growth of fresh open-field produce to optimise harvests.
ATSE’s entry in the competition was a video about Aurecon’s Project Gilghi, detailing an initiative to supply remote communities with energy efficient, transportable water purifying treatment plants.
You can see all three videos below.
WINNER — CHINA
Engineering Success Story
Professor Jing Cheng, Tsinghua University and Capital Bio Corporation
WINNER — Netherlands
High Potential Innovation
Kaz Vermeer, Co-founder of Van Boven
FINALIST — Australia
Project Gilghi
William Cox, CEO Aurecon