The College of Public Overall health and Overall health Sciences (SPHHS) at UMass Amherst held its inaugural Overall health Innovators Challenge on March eight, in the Life Sciences Laboratory conference area. The occasion served as a showcase for the revolutionary suggestions and challenge-solving skills of SPHHS students.
Six teams, every single comprised of 3 or much more students, competed across 3 categories of innovation: goods, applications, and policies created to boost public well being or an aspect of well being sciences. A fourth prize was awarded to the innovation (in any category) that supplied the very best method to address a challenge straight associated to well being equity and/or disparities.
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The group of Hana Energy, Jenna Marando and Zachary Clark claimed major prize in each the “Policy” and “Integrating Overall health Equity” categories.
“The strength of these teams was impressive,” says competitors organizer Laura Vandenberg, associate vice chancellor of analysis and engagement and professor of environmental well being sciences. “They presented higher good quality, revolutionary options to pressing public well being wants. But what was probably most inspiring was the concentrate of every single and each group on an problem of equity or justice. This is specifically what we require from future leaders in public well being and well being sciences.”
In the course of the competitors, every single group offered a pre-recorded video message followed by a reside, 3-minute presentation on their innovation. The teams had been then questioned by a panel of 3 judges: Elizabeth (Betsy) Cracco, assistant vice chancellor of campus life and wellbeing Kathryn Ellis, director of the UMass Innovation Institute and Gregory Thomas, executive director of the Berthiaume Center for Entrepreneurship. Questioning explored such subjects as solution viability, originality of notion and how the innovation addressed a public well being or well being science require.
Associate Vice Chancellor of Analysis and Engagement Laura Vandenberg announced the winners at the occasion conclusion. Winning teams received a $1200 money prize though honorable mention recipients every single received $400.
The 2023 Overall health Innovators Challenge winners are:
1st spot (Plan)
Cholera Prevention in West Bengal, India by way of Every day Testing
Group members: Megan Bergeron, Daniela Divo, Allison Henderson, Syd Levasseur and Sasha Whittaker
1st spot (Policy)
Legislation Proposal for Cancer Alley, Louisiana USA
Group members: Zachary Clark, Jenna Marando and Hana Energy
1st spot (Solution)
Ultrafine and Fine Particle Alarmer for 3D Printer Customers
Group members: Olatunbosun Arowolo, Joshua Mogus and In Kyu Park
1st spot (Integrating Overall health Equity)
Legislation Proposal for Cancer Alley, Louisiana USA
Group members: Zachary Clark, Jenna Marando and Hana Energy
Honorable mentions:
Clean Cooking, Clean Power, Clean Air
Group members: Jennifer Costa, Gwenyth Hamilton and Coltin Hargrave
Documenting and Responding to Hepatitis C Misinformation Amongst People today Who Inject Drugs in Greenfield, Massachusetts
Group members: Fiona Lyons, Kelly O’Neil and Sam Tarplin
Microplastic Filtering to Safeguard Water
Group members: Sophia Duhig, Vina Nguyen and Sabreena Shah
