Lab-in-a-box is top prototype

INNOVATION Developed by students at Rhodes University’s Biotechnology Innovation Centre, the solar-powered 3D-printed mobile lab-in-a-box Fieldlab prototype beat more than 300 innovations entered in the Best Prototype category of the national Innovation Bridge Showcase event in Sandton recently, bagging R50,000 in prize money in the process. Fieldlab is the brainchild of Charles Faul and Lucas Lotter, who are both completing their masters’ degrees in biotechnology. Giving scientists access to tools that can identify a viral outbreak on the spot, the mobile lab is set to break new ground in field-testing for viruses and bacteria, particularly in remote areas. The Innovation Bridge Showcase is an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology.