British Columbia is widely recognized as one of Canada’s most progressive and developed provinces, writes vancouver-future. Known for its extensive network of educational institutions, the province nurtures individuals who later contribute to its growth and infrastructure. These institutions offer modern teaching methodologies and provide students with invaluable knowledge that they actively apply in their respective fields.
Moreover, the opportunities provided by both federal and provincial governments for young professionals inspire them to enhance their skills and contribute to the development of their region. Grants, awards, prizes, and public recognition are just a few tools used in British Columbia to encourage young talent.
The province takes pride in promoting new faces in science through television broadcasts, radio programs, and various media outlets. After all, talented youth are, without exaggeration, the future of the province. Supporting and assisting them is essential.
Among British Columbia’s young scientists, Ann Makosinski stands out. She is a celebrated Canadian inventor best known for her thermoelectric flashlight, created in 2011. However, Ann didn’t stop there and continued developing her inventions.
It’s worth noting that Ann’s interests extend far beyond science. While pursuing her university education, she studied English literature and later became deeply involved in acting. Despite this, she never abandoned her inventive pursuits and continued to create new, fascinating, and practical innovations.
Below, we delve into Ann’s life, inventions, and achievements, based on information from forbes.com.
Early Years
Ann is of Filipino and Polish descent and was born in British Columbia. Her father once led a laboratory and held two medical patents.
From a young age, Ann enjoyed tinkering with objects around the house. Her first “toy” was a box of transistors.
She began building circuits at nine years old and became a frequent participant in science fairs by sixth grade.
Over the years, she participated in ten science fairs, with each project focusing on ideas of alternative and sustainable energy.
First Projects
As a seventh-grader, Ann designed a radio powered by the heat from a candle as part of a science project.
Two years later, she delved into creating a piezoelectric flashlight, designing the device entirely by herself.
A Unique Invention
At fifteen, Ann decided to invent a light source that required no batteries and could be powered by the heat from users’ hands. This idea led to the creation of the Hollow Flashlight—the first rechargeable flashlight that didn’t require charging or battery replacements.
The inspiration came when a friend mentioned missing school due to a lack of electricity at home.
This invention won Ann first place at the Google Science Fair and the Intel Science and Engineering Fair.
She was invited to appear on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to showcase her invention and delivered talks at TED events. She also made TIME magazine’s list of “People Who Are Changing the World.”
Education and a Shift in Interests
Between 2015 and 2018, Ann attended the University of British Columbia, where she studied English literature.
During this time, she led the Uniqlo Heattech Fleece campaign and received recognition for sustainable entrepreneurship.
In 2019, Ann took a significant leap, pausing her scientific endeavors to study acting at the HB Studio.
However, she simultaneously collaborated with a toy company producing children’s toys powered by green energy, which later gained attention on CNN.
Ann later resumed her English literature studies at a Canadian university, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 2021.
Winning Competitions
In 2013, Ann won the Google Science Fair for her thermoelectric flashlight.
The flashlight operated using the thermoelectric effect and Peltier tiles, which enhanced convective currents.
By 2018, Ann was in talks to commercialize and distribute her flashlight.
She also presented the project at TED events and won a gold medal at a Canada-wide science fair. This recognition earned her the title of “Young Inventor of the Year.”
A New Project
Ann’s second invention was the eDrink coffee mug, designed to convert the heat from a hot beverage into electricity as the drink cooled.
This electricity could then charge mobile phones, tablets, headphones, and other devices.
Like her flashlight, the mug was designed to harvest energy efficiently for practical use.
Ann was subsequently invited to various television shows to showcase her innovative mug.
Continued Achievements
In 2016, Ann received a $50,000 grant from Quest Climate Grant, which supports heat-powered inventions.
Later, she became a global ambassador for Uniqlo. After discussing her new invention on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Ann was awarded $5,000 to further support her endeavors.
2018 brought Ann four major awards at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.
She later founded Makotronics Enterprises and began filing patents for several of her inventions.
Conclusion
Ann Makosinski embodies the saying that a talented person is talented in everything. Despite having many interests, she continues to delight the Canadian and global scientific communities with her groundbreaking inventions.
This proves her immense potential and talent, making it clear that her inventive journey is far from over. We can look forward to hearing more about Ann’s remarkable contributions to science, which will undoubtedly enrich the world’s knowledge and technological advancements.