100 ideas to change the world with 24 UK entries

A diabetes monitoring earring; an Underground air pollution solution; an alternative to Styrofoam made of food waste; a Sudden Infant Death Syndrome prevention device; a skin patch that monitors nutrition data and superworms that convert plastic into organic matter.

Today sees the unveiling of 100 ideas countries that could change the way we live.

The Global Grad Show, the world’s most diverse gathering of graduate ideas for social impact, kicks off on Monday 9th November, and the UK makes up almost a quarter of the entries.

Invented by students, the innovations are one of many university-developed health and social innovations being exhibited at a virtual and interactive exhibition called the Global Grad Show – including 24 designs from UK and Ireland institutions like Imperial College London, the University of Huddersfield and the University of Glasgow.

The ideas are the outcome of rigorous academic research conducted by graduates and their professors, reflecting areas of deepest environmental, social or economic concern, such as the world’s aging population, the number of people living with chronic illness, the radical approaches dealing with waste and the increasing number of communities vulnerable to emergencies.

The innovations include:

A food shopping innovation that allows people to maintain a well-balanced diet, Royal College of Art
A wearable device to purify the air on underground train networks, Royal College of Art
Technology that uses electrostatics to capture the dangerous, minute particles from wearing car tyres, Royal College of Art and Imperial College London
A protective wearable which are modelled on animals’ scales to rehabilitate from joint injuries & prevent them, Imperial College London
Creating an alternative, lean source of edible protein from waste chicken feathers, Central St Martins
Water management technology and moisture sensor system for farmers, Imperial College London
Sustainable kelp bricks that can be used for environmentally friendly construction, Imperial College London
A biodegradable, sustainable film to improve small hold farming methods, Royal College of Art
A flat pack air purifier which lowers pollution for very young children, Nottingham Trent University
A new toy that helps kids with diabetes get used to their treatment, Nottingham Trent University
An under-pillow emergency alarm for the deaf, Loughborough University
A revolutionary artificial pancreas to improve the diabetes self-care experience, Coventry University
A Water Purification device, Staffordshire University
A non-invasive blood glucose monitor to manage type 1 diabetes, University of Huddersfield
A hydration solution in emergencies, Bournemouth University

Scotland

An earpiece that predicts epilepsy attacks, University of Glasgow
A footwear & stimulation belt that anticipates & prevents Parkinson’s sufferers from falls, University of Glasgow/Glasgow School of Art
The exchanging of plastic waste for financial credit via a stock market for plastic, Glasgow School of Art
A moss panels ecosystem to help keep track of your good environmental deeds , Edinburgh Napier

Wales

A sudden Infant Death Syndrome prevention device, Cardiff Metropolitan University
Technology to help children understand and deal with medical procedures, University of Wales Trinity St David/Swansea School of Art

Ireland

An airbag belt to cushion the elderly during falls, University of Limerick
A child friendly Cystic Fibrosis airway clearance therapy (breathing therapies), National College of Art and Design Dublin
Calming compressive gloves for adults with Sensory Processing Disorder (wearables relating to anxiety), TU Dublin