Article content

A Victoria teenager has won one of the top prizes in Google’s annual global science fair.

Ann Makosinski’s battery-free flashlight, which is powered by the heat of her hands, was chosen as the best project created by a student aged 15 or 16.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or B.C. teen's battery-free flashlight wins her a top prize in Google global science fair Back to video

Makosinski told the Vancouver Sun that the inspiration for her project was a friend in the Philippines who failed at school because she had no light to study by once it got dark. Her experience left the 15-year-old Makosinski determined to find a way to power a light without batteries or electricity.

“She was my inspiration for the project,” said Makosinski, who is in California at Google headquarters where she received the award Monday. “So many people have this problem all around the world.

“I think if you have a problem, why wait for someone else to fix it? Why wait for someone to come out with the technology, why not try and fix it yourself?”

Her work was chosen from thousands of projects submitted by students in more than 120 countries.

The grand prize winner was 17-year-old Eric Chen for his project dubbed “the taming of the flu,” which used computer modelling to identify influenza inhibitors that could be used for antiviral drugs.

The Canadian Press with files from the Gillian Shaw, Vancouver Sun