From a deodorant that repels mosquitoes to engineering a trap that disrupts mosquito breeding, nine innovative projects were awarded and have shared $45,000 in funding in the University of Newcastle's 2020 Grand Challenge.
This year's Grand Challenge tasked teams of staff, students, alumni and community members to develop solutions to manage the global problem of mosquitoes. The teams were required to either reduce the health risks certain species pose to humans or consider how to lessen the nuisance factor imposed by urban and invading mosquito populations.
Congratulations to the nine teams selected to receive $5,000 in funding to progress their idea:
In a pitch competition held virtually today, successfully-funded projects had the opportunity to present their proposals to receive a share in a further $10,000 prize pool. The following teams were successful:
Judges' Choice: Social Enterprise
- MozzieBox
Judges' Choice: Research Project
- Project mKO
- Sustainable Mosquito Control
People's Choice
- Borne Clothing
The judging panel included the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alex Zelinsky AO; University of Newcastle Research Communications Manager Lauren Devine; and the Principal Hospital Scientist in Medical Entomology at NSW Health Pathology, Dr Cameron Webb.
