Filipino students from De La Salle University-Manila (DLSU-Manila) and Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) are moving on to the global round of the 2024 James Dyson Award after being named national winner and finalists, respectively, for their inventions to solve the world’s sustainability problems.
Joseph Aristotle de Leon from DLSU-Manila emerged as the National Winner for his invention, RAMUN (Resistivity Acquisition and Monitoring of the UNderground). This innovative system provides a near real-time view of the Earth’s subsurface to monitor environmental hazards.
MSU-IIT finalists include two teams: Ynna Nichole Ilogon and Rodel Remolana Jr. with GeopolyCement, a low-carbon alternative to traditional cement, and King Zhytt Driz and Alonzo Gabriel Limocon with FireGeoPrimer, a flame-retardant primer coating for wood.
The James Dyson Award website announced the national winners and finalists from 29 countries on September 11. According to the award’s organizers, “The James Dyson Award is a chance for budding inventors to make a name for themselves. As well as winning a significant cash prize, they could generate media exposure to kick-start their career, earn the esteem of their peers – and perhaps gain the confidence to launch their own business.”
The Filipino winner and runners-up were among the best young inventors from over 1,900 entries submitted for the international design and sustainability competition.
Students from @DLSUManila and @msuiitph have been named National Winner, and runners-up, respectively. They are advancing to the global round of the 2024 @JamesDysonAward for innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. Full report via @GoodNewsPinas_ pic.twitter.com/vTz0UghlDB
— Angie Quadra Balibay (@AngieQBalibay) September 19, 2024
The five young design engineers from the Philippines join the prestigious list of the country’s past national winners including DLSU-Manila’s Maria Yzabelle Angel Palma with her air conditioner that runs without ozone-depleting refrigerant, PhilSCA’s Mark Kennedy Bantugon with his pili aircraft sealant, UP Diliman’s Jason Pechardo and Emmanuelle Pangilinan with their plant-based breast prosthesis for breast cancer survivors, and Mapúa University student Carvey Ehren Maigue whose invention using upcycled crop waste converts ultraviolet (UV) light to sustainable energy, eventually won the first-ever Dyson Award for Sustainability.
The Filipino inventors from DLSU-Manila and MSU-IIT will now compete for a spot in the global Top 20, to get a chance to be named either the Dyson Award International Winner or Sustainability Winner, following the feat of Mapua’s Carvey Maigue in 2020 with his solar device.
DLSU’s RAMUN for the Earth
Joseph Aristotle de Leon’s invention, RAMUN (Resistivity Acquisition and Monitoring of the UNderground), is an innovative underground monitoring system that provides a near real-time video feed of the Earth’s subsurface. This breakthrough technology helps identify hidden environmental hazards, enabling engineers, decision-makers, and environmentalists to take proactive measures.
What sets RAMUN apart is its easy deployment in various environments, offering crucial insights that traditional methods may overlook.
As the 2024 James Dyson Award Philippines National Winner, De Leon won PhP348,000 ($6,300) and gained valuable media exposure, bringing him closer to commercializing his invention.
“It is an honor to have my hard work and effort in creating RAMUN be recognized. I hope that being the Philippine National Winner of the James Dyson Award will help make RAMUN a reality,” the Manufacturing Engineering student shared in a DLSU report.
Watch the video to see how RAMUN detects hidden underground risks like groundwater pollution and sinkholes while uncovering potentials such as groundwater reservoirs and thermal storage.
MSU-IIT Runners-Up
Two innovative inventions from MSU-IIT students are moving forward to the international stage as runners-up in the 2024 James Dyson Awards.
GeopolyCement
Created by Ynna Nichole Ilogan and Rodel Remolana Jr., GeopolyCement is a low-carbon, cost-effective alternative to traditional cement. Made from agro-industrial waste and pozzolan materials, it addresses the growing problem of carbon dioxide emissions in the construction industry. The formula is refined by adjusting the silica-alumina ratio and alkali activator concentration, ensuring strength and integrity.
FireGeoPrimer
Developed by King Zhytt Driz and Alonzo Gabriel Limocon, FireGeoPrimer is a flame-retardant primer coating for wood. Its formulation combines nano silica from agro-industrial waste and aluminum from clay, offering superior fire resistance and enhanced protection for wooden structures, while providing an adhesive surface for paints.
Eyeing for Global Top 20
The innovative projects RAMUN, GeopolyCement, and FireGeoPrimer are advancing to the next stage of the prestigious 2024 James Dyson Award, with the Top 20 global finalists set to be revealed on October 16, selected by Dyson engineers. The final global winners of the International and Sustainability awards chosen by James Dyson will be announced on November 13 and will each receive PhP2,100,000 ($38,000) in prize money.
The James Dyson Award, organized by the James Dyson Foundation, is an annual competition that challenges young designers and engineers to create innovative solutions that improve products.
Read more Good School stories to stay updated as Filipino student inventors vie for global recognition.
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