Filipino engineering graduate Jeremy de Leon’s lightweight microscope, called the "Make-roscope," is one of the 20 shortlisted inventions from across the world that will vie for the prestigious 2023 James Dyson Award.
De Leon’s entry is an affordable and portable keychain that converts any smartphone or tablet into a microscope, giving students an easy access to the microscopic world. The invention uses just one special lens to make things appear up to 400 times larger using a smartphone. Currently, over 3,000 Filipino students and teachers are using the Make-roscope.
Other contenders for the global award include Singapore’s Auxobrace, a vest-like device for post-operative rehabilitation that improves support for the fusion of the sternum bone after a surgery; Australia’s REVR, a device that converts petrol cars into hybrid vehicles; and Japan’s AISIG, devices that enable the visually impaired to safely cross pedestrian crossings using AI-based image recognition.
Rachael Pink, Dyson's Head of Technology Development, explained that to be shortlisted, inventors must display a deep understanding of their idea, its practicality, and its resilience in real-world applications.
Sir James Dyson himself will personally pick the international winners, who will receive up to ₱2 million to advance their invention. Winners will be announced on November 15.