New grads make top three in Dyson invention contest

Two recent Waterloo Engineering graduates were named national finalists in a prestigious design contest this week for an idea that began taking shape in a first-year class.

Anneke van Heuven (BASc ’21) and Elias Trouyet (BASc ’21) were just starting the nanotechnology engineering program when they learned that the chemicals in most existing flame retardant materials can cause long-term health effects including cancer.

Five years later, the safe, non-toxic alternative they went on to develop with classmates Tessah Costello and Abby Bull as their Capstone Design project earned them one of two runner-up spots for Canada in the 2021 James Dyson Award competition.

Go to Fighting fire with seaweed for the full story.