Ann Makosinski Canadian schoolgirl, inventor Country: Canada

Biography of Ann Makosinski

Ann Makosinski, a Canadian schoolgirl inventor, gained international recognition at the age of 15 with her groundbreaking invention. Her invention left many male scientists scratching their heads, wondering why they hadn't thought of such a simple and effective solution to a common problem. So, what did this ingenious schoolgirl invent? Just a flashlight, but her flashlight runs on the warmth of the human body. Many hailed it as a brilliant and simple creation, and Ann received numerous awards and accolades, including one from Google Science Fair.

Living in Canada, Ann Makosinski was only 15 years old and attending school in Victoria, British Columbia when her name became known worldwide in 2013. One day, while contemplating energy sources, Ann had a sudden realization that the warmth of the human body could also be a source of energy. This led her to design a flashlight that operates using the heat of the human body. Of course, this invention required knowledge of physics, and Ann worked with a Peltier element, a thermoelectric module familiar to electronics enthusiasts. She later admitted that the idea of using body heat as an energy source came to her almost accidentally when she realized that the human body constantly generates heat that is simply wasted.

It is worth mentioning that Ann's interest in power sources was not entirely coincidental, as most girls her age are not thinking about Peltier elements. However, Ann's parents were both electronics professionals, which likely contributed to the fact that instead of focusing on fashion and parties, the talented Ann was inventing a flashlight. When she showed her invention to her parents, they unanimously declared it a breakthrough. Nonetheless, her father initially had doubts and requested to see a diagram from Ann. Ultimately, he was surprised not only by the simplicity and brilliance of the invention but also by the fact that all this simple genius came from his own daughter.

With her flashlight that truly operates on the heat of the human body, Ann applied to the annual Google Science Fair, where the most ingenious and inventive young minds in the world showcase their inventions. She managed to become the winner, and her flashlight, named 'Hollow Flashlight,' was recognized as the most useful and ingenious invention. Ann received a certificate and a prize. Following her victory, Ann became a true celebrity, attending various forums and conferences, and even becoming a speaker at the renowned TedX platform.

Her victory also had a more tangible reward – a prize of $50,000 and a trip to the Galapagos Islands. Naturally, Ann Makosinski plans to pursue a career in science and electronics in the future. Immediately after her remarkable victory, she began contemplating how to commercialize the idea of her flashlight, which was somewhat expensive in terms of production costs, making it pricey for sale. Many inventors gladly embraced the idea of a flashlight powered by human heat and started working on improving it. However, Ann's parents made sure that the invention remained her own.

While Ann still has a long way to go in her studies, she already knows for certain that she will pursue a career in science, especially since she already has a remarkable start. By the way, Ann also worked on improving her flashlight and invented a new version called the 'handsfree' headlamp, which does not require the use of hands.