FURTHER Education’s top innovators have been rewarded at the Business & Education Through Skills & Training (BEST) Awards.
A range of prizes and awards were presented for the most prom-ising and exciting new projects linked to Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) emerging from Northern Ireland’s six regional FE colleges.
Organised by Colleges NI, an expert team of industry and inno-vation specialists chose 13 category winners and four grand award winners at the event, while eight outstanding students were selected to take part in the STEM-focused Frontiers Programme in Massachusetts, USA this summer.
Curtis Adams from Belfast Metropolitan College, took top spot in the 16-18 age category for coming up with the design of a green traffic light for cyclists. Andrew Neill, Daniel Killop, Curtis Wilson and Michael Speirs from Northern Regional College took the runner up spot with a project that a comic book app that incorporates augmented reality. In the 19+ Age Category John Ward from South Eastern Regional College took first place for his development of a wireless self-levelling jockey wheel. Malise Lowe and Emma Green from North West Regional College were runners up with for their idea for a 100% organic, yet heat and light sensitive nail polish.
Gerry Campbell, chief executive of Colleges NI said: “Our congratulations go to each of the winners and all the finalists who were shortlisted for the BEST Awards. The calibre of submissions this year points towards a very bright future for young and mature innovators in the FE sector.
“They demonstrate a huge range of skills and talent so we know that entrepreneurship, crea-tivity and innovation are thriving in Northern Ireland,” the chief executive added.