Dublin teen scoops Future Maker prize at Coolest Projects 2018

Harvey Brezina Conniffe, 14, from Dublin scooped the ‘Future Maker’ prize at the seventh annual Coolest Projects International 2018 in Dublin yesterday (26.05.2018) for his project ‘Intelligentia’. The Future Maker prize celebrates young people who use their coding and creative technology skills to bring about a positive social impact and change in their communities.

Harvey Brezina Conniffe was amongst the next generation of digital innovators showcasing their work at Coolest Projects International 2018. Organised by the CoderDojo Foundation, the event brought together over 1,000 young people from Ireland and around the world who have had an idea and made it a reality using the skills they have learnt at their local CoderDojo, Code Club, or Raspberry Jam

Commending the participants, Rosa Langhammer, Coordinator of Coolest Projects 2018 and General Manager with the CoderDojo Foundation said, “The standard this year was incredible, not just for the winners but for each of the 700 projects that took part. Since we started Coolest Projects seven years ago, it has expanded from a handful of projects to a large international event. We are putting the power of coding and technology into young people’s hands all over the world. Our aim is to celebrate young people’s creativity and innovation and to inspire and encourage both children and adults alike to either get involved in their local coding clubs or to establish their own.”

An expert panel of judges awarded prizes in seven project categories as well as four additional special prizes, including:

• Andrei Codreanu, Ioana Paulescu, David Daniel Candreanu, Bianca Laura Pasca from Timisoara  won the Best International prize for their project AZ-Tech Teddy.
• Adriana Cullinane from Clonakilty won the Best Education & Learning prize for her project Wonder Fair.
• Freddie Howells won the Openet Innovator prize for his project, a face recognition system for the elderly.
• Aisling Cowap from Dublin won the Best Female Led prize for her project, Girls do Code.
• Radu Matei Caravateanu from Romania won the Best Original Design prize for his/her/their project ‘The Cult’.

The CoderDojo based at Holy Family School, Dun Laoghaire won the coveted ‘Coolest Club’ award.

Over 10,000 people visited the family-friendly event which comprised hands-on activities for young and old including a STEM escape room, flying drones, VR headset testing, creating wearable technology pieces and a giant circuit board puzzle as well as demonstrations, workshops and panel discussions.