3 Ann Makosinski

Ann Makosinski

Time period:

2011- present

Subject:

Physics and Technology

Biography:

Ann is a Filipino-Polish Armenian from Vancouver Island BC. Her passion for STEM inventions started at a young age, where her family gave her a hot glue gun and materials to invent her own toys. Her inventions are inspired from a friend in the Philippines, that was unable to study for exams past sundown, due to lack of electricity in her home.

Her most notable inventions are the e-mug, a coffee mug that transform heat energy from warm drinks into electricity and  flashlight powered by the heat of the hand.

She is a global keynote speaker, and has delivered over 5 TED talks. Ann has also been a brand and campaign ambassador for sustainable products for Uniqlo, Maybelline and much more.

Ann’s future project is to publish her first book The Inventing Mindset, which focuses on her life story and experience combining science and art. The book is projected to release in 2026.

Summary of their contributions:

Hollow Flashlight: a flashlight that harvests heat energy from the human hand for power, rather than kinetic energy from a battery. She won the Google Science Fair in 2013 for her invention at the age of 15.

E-Drink: A coffee mug that transforms wasted heat energy into electrical energy, that can charge mobile devices. Ann has presented her inventions on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and was featured on Forbes 30 under 30 in the energy sector.

Integration with the BC Secondary Science Curriculum:

Physics 10: Transformation of Energy

Students learn about how energy is conserved, meaning it is never destroyed, only transformed. Ann’s inventions involve the transformation of heat energy into light or electrical energy. One of the innovation curricular competencies is to contribute to finding solutions to problems at a local and/or global level through inquiry. After hearing about her friend in the Phillipines, she utilized her STEM knowledge to help solve a problem that many experience in this region.

Physics 11: Energy is found in different forms, is conserved, and has the ability to do work.

The physics 11 content expands on the transformation of energy, and how it applies to power and efficiency of machines. Students also cover how a traditional battery circuit works, and Ann’s work offers an alternate source to the kinetic energy produced by a battery. One of the application competencies in the BC curriculum is to implement multiple strategies to solve problems in real-life, applied, and conceptual situations. Ann’s inspiration stemmed from her observations of classmates’ beverages being too hot, and their devices not holding charge.

References:

https://www.eeweb.com/hollow-flashlight/

https://www.womenemerging.org/ann

https://www.annmakosinski.com/

https://www.nsb.com/blog/ann-makosinski-motivates/