Young Filipino inventor Jeremy de Leon has clinched the prestigious James Dyson Award for his novel “Make-roscope” project.
De Leon conceived a single-lens “keychain microscope,” a microscopic device that easily attaches to smartphones or tablets, allowing users to magnify microscopic samples between 125 and 400 times, as noted by the award body.
This pioneering invention, which originated during the pandemic’s peak, surpassed nearly 50 other entries from all over the Philippines.
Aiding Education and Inspiring Global Innovation
De Leon, a student from Mapua University in Manila, crafted this invention with an eye to facilitate microbiology access for students and educators.
Retailing at Php549 (around $8) on Lazada, though currently out of stock, the Make-roscope intends to make the learning experience more individualistic, as opposed to the common practice of sharing a single microscope among 10 students.
The Filipino inventor dreams of not just assisting Filipino students in STEM fields but also in showcasing Philippine innovation on a global stage.
“With Make-roscope, every student can own a microscope,” de Leon emphasized, envisioning a future with more “researchers, scientists, engineers, innovators, and especially change-makers.”
As a national winner, de Leon will be awarded Php330,000 (approximately $6,000) to nurture his project further.
His innovation will also grace the international platform of the James Dyson Award, vying for a substantial prize of up to Php2 million ($35,000).
The national phase of the James Dyson Award also lauded other significant innovations.
A team from the University of San Carlos in Cebu City secured a runner-up position with their “AI-Assisted Fes Device,” conceived to aid the rehabilitation of individuals with paralyzed fingers, working under the guidance of Prof. Luis Gerardo Cañete Jr.
Another notable project that achieved runner-up status was the “Sugar Buddy” by Franchezka Oxales from the University of the Philippines Diliman.
This wrist device aims to assist children with Down syndrome in managing their diabetes effectively while navigating daily motor and cognitive challenges.