LANCASTER STUDENT INNOVATION SCOOPS NATIONAL AWARD

A group of Lancaster University engineering students have won a national award for their innovative eco-friendly parasol.

The Parasolar team created their smart and luxurious parasol invention on their way to winning their university’s enterprise competition, funded by charity EIBF.

Some seven members of the original team are now pressing ahead with the venture and competed against nine other teams from across the UK in the EIBF Champion of Champions Competition.

At the event, held at the Royal Academy of Engineering in London, the team impressed judges to win the Best Presentation prize of £1,000, sponsored by PurpleCV.

The team comprises 21-year-olds Trudie Morrison, Jonathan Sharp, Hugh Lea, Natalie Chigwedere, Ano Chirongoma, Baraa Elrayah and 23-year-old Muhamad Adam Bin Muhamad Sukhami.

On winning the award, Trudie said: “Winning the Best Presentation prize is an achievement we’re incredibly proud of. The prize money will go directly towards developing our business further and building the next prototype, bringing us one step closer to making Parasolar a reality.”

Trudie said their innovation was inspired by Lancaster University’s green campus, adding: “Rather than inventing something from scratch, we took a mundane object and transformed it into something more desirable.

“Unlike typical parasols, Parasolar creates a comfortable and convenient environment for its customers even in the most remote locations. Its self-sufficient power source offers up a sustainable solution to improve outdoor enjoyment no matter the time of day.

“The canopy is embedded with high-efficiency solar panels that generate clean energy all day long. The energy is stored in a powerful battery built into the base, providing reliable power to the LED lights and x2 USB slots, even after the sun sets.”

The team says the product is a perfect choice for event venues, beach fronts, cafés or any outdoor space looking to enhance outdoor customer experiences.

The event, hosted by TV presenter and engineer Rob Bell, was the culmination of a year of EIBF-sponsored enterprise competitions held across UK universities, with thousands of undergraduate and graduates taking part.

Each year, EIBF champions business education for engineers and supports universities by giving them grants to award prizes to engineering students who develop ideas that can make a positive impact on society.