On Friday 26 June, I attended the TeenTech National Finals at the IET in London after being selected from an initial pool of almost 2,000 project submissions. The day started with setting up stands, collecting lanyards, and an introduction by the founder and CEO of TeenTech, Maggie Philbin.
The judges then looked at our stands; after we presented to them, they had the opportunity to ask questions and interact with the live demonstration and activities surrounding the science behind my neuroimaging helmet. I visited the stands of others on my floor and was impressed by the calibre of submissions – from producing tritium to use in nuclear fusion in the energy category, to making school shoes using recycled waste for children in deprived areas in the ethical innovation category. Each project was equally inspiring.
The day concluded with the presentation of awards, where “one minute wonders” were given by influential people. These included Evan Davis from Dragons’ Den, who showed a passion for solar eclipses; Victoria Cleland, the Chief Cashier of the Bank of England, who spoke about the science and engineering behind banknotes to prevent counterfeits; and, my favourite, Hannah Gibson’s presentation on how vulnerability must be implemented within innovation. I was selected as the winner of the Health category for my project, AFABi – a portable, affordable, and personalised neuroimaging device designed to promote accessibility in healthcare.
I was glad to be chosen as a finalist and winner of the National TeenTech Awards for 2026, and to have been able to put time into researching, creating, developing, and presenting an idea of my own. Partaking in co-curricular activities such as MUN in school previously helped me communicate my ideas with others and answer questions on the spot. I am excited to see where else my ideas lead me.
Kaweng P
Year 10
