Irish Graduate Shortlisted for International James Dyson Award

An Irish graduate has been shortlisted for the international final of the prestigious James Dyson Award, a competition that honors inventions by budding engineers and designers from around the globe. The University of Limerick alumna, Olivia Humphreys, has developed ‘Athena,’ a scalp-cooling device intended to aid cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and will now compete for the grand prize of €38,000.

The invention, Athena, is a portable, thermoelectric battery-operated device that aims to reduce hair loss during chemotherapy. This process, known as scalp-cooling, works by applying cold temperatures to the scalp, thereby shrinking blood vessels and helping prevent hair loss, a common side effect of chemotherapy treatments.

Humphreys’ creation is said to be a more cost-effective and time-efficient alternative to current hospital-based models without sacrificing effectiveness. Olivia Humphreys was inspired to create Athena after observing the impact of chemotherapy-induced hair loss on her mother, who battled cancer in 2019.

Through her mother’s treatment experience, Humphreys noted the scarcity of scalp-cooling machines in the hospital and the limitations of existing options. Athena addresses these gaps by employing affordable thermoelectric semiconductors to cool water inside a tank, which is then circulated through a specialized headpiece.

“Being recognized by the James Dyson Award has been an incredibly fulfilling experience,” Humphreys remarked. “It reflects the invaluable input I’ve received from patients and care staff that helped me, along with the passion and hard work I have put in to get it to this point.” She expressed gratitude for the recognition and noted her hopes that the invention could have a significant positive impact in the future.

The global winners of the James Dyson Award will be announced by inventor James Dyson himself on November 13th. Winners will receive €38,000 to aid in the further development and commercialization of their innovations.