Students from an Auckland college have claimed first prize at Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow competition for their innovative non-invasive diabetes device.

In partnership with MOTAT, Solve for Tomorrow celebrates young people creating innovative solutions that target our communities using design, think and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Maths).

Eva Malez, Htet Waiyan, Lennox Dilworth and Kurt Marshall from Auckland’s Howick College have created a non-invasive diabetes device which aims to make a practical way for diabetics to measure their glucose levels.

“What was exceptional about the non-invasive diabetics device was not only did this group ideate a breathing device and app to measure blood glucose levels for diabetics, they prototyped it too,” says Solve for Tomorrow judge and University of Auckland Associate Professor, Siouxsie Wiles.

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“The science behind this idea is incredible and I haven’t seen anything like it. It was a close race between first and second though.”

Students from Mount Richmond Special School came in second for their entry Kitchen Tools Reimagined which ensures safe kitchen utensil use for people with disabilities.

“This entry tackled a really important issue and what particularly made it shine was the team’s ability to take on feedback,” says Solve for Tomorrow Judge and Education Manager at MOTAT, Julie Baker.

“During the project plan phase of the competition, the judges asked to see more user feedback, and the team really took this on board and implemented it throughout their submission, which got a huge tick of approval from me.”

Head of Samsung Electronics New Zealand, HM Chun says that the competition has elevated since the first Solve for Tomorrow.

“Kiwi kids really took the competition up a notch this year, and it was truly inspiring to read all of the submissions,” he says.

“Changing the world for good is what the Solve for Tomorrow contest is all about and this is exactly what each and every entry showed, not just the winners.” Both first and second place winners will receive a shared prize pool of $20,000 in cash and Samsung tech for them and their schools