Youngsters gear up for tech prize of £25,000

● Teams tackle social problems

Arobot fish that hoovers up plastic from the oceans and a T-shirt that detects heart problems are just two of the ideas from teams of young people hoping to scoop a £25,000 tech prize.

A shortlist of 40 teams from across the UK are competing to take the Longitude Explorer Prize back to their school or youth group.

The prize calls on 11 to 16-year-olds to put their ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit to the test and use technology, such as artificial intelligence, for social good.

They have been challenged to create and develop solutions for some of the world’s biggest issues, including climate change, living healthier lives, and an ageing population.

And while the competition is not related to the coronavirus outbreak, some of the ideas are aimed at people living in isolation.

Science Minister Amanda Solloway said: “It is incredible to see how these young finalists have thought up innovations to tackle global challenges, from devices that detect health problems to robots which can remove plastic waste from our seas.

“Innovation is important to grow the UK economy and we are supporting young people to pursue careers in this area through schemes like the Longitude Explorer Prize.”

This year’s shortlist includes: Loneliness

“Innovation is important to grow the UK economy”

Buddy: A smart device to help people who are isolated in their homes. The device learns about people’s interests and is able to hold conversations, as well as connecting them with others so they can communicate over the device. Designed by a team from Wilmslow High School, Cheshire.

Medbot: A delivery robot designed to distribute prescriptions and medical necessities to the front doors of people who cannot leave the house, with the contents only accessible using biometric/ fingerprint technology to ensure the right medicine is distributed to the right person. Designed by teenagers from West Exe School, Exeter, Devon.

ClassBot: A device for young people who cannot attend school, the robot helps them take part in lessons remotely from home. Designed by young people at Titus Salt School, Baildon, West Yorkshire.

Bacteriophage Production Technologies: A team from Sutton Grammar School in London is developing an AI which can engineer viruses to work for our benefit so that they attack harmful bacteria as an alternative to antibiotics and, in turn, save lives. A bacteriophage is a targeted virus which behaves like a parasite in harmful bacteria by infecting it and reproducing inside it, effectively eating the harmful bacteria.

The teams will now get expert mentoring and receive resources to help develop their concept, ahead of a Dragon’s Denstyle pitch in July.

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The team from Sutton Grammar School is looking at viruses

Wilmslow High School pupils are addressing loneliness

Yorkshire’s Titus Salt School are working on the Classbot

The West Exe team has come up with the Medbot