Five students have each been awarded £500 for their response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The RGU Foundation launched the Covid-19 Student Innovation Challenge, asking students to come up with “real and impactful” responses to the crisis.
The winning projects provided potential solutions to lockdown issues, including reducing feelings social isolation in care facilities and offering practical support for those self-isolating.
Chris Moule, head of entrepreneurship and innovation at RGU, said: “Themes of citizenship and resourcefulness shone through the submissions.
“Our winning students demonstrated a real interest in social well-being and supporting their communities to remain healthy, positive and resilient while being creative in their response to the emerging challenges of the pandemic.”
In the challenge, there were two sets of winners.
The Inspirational Student Prize went to nurse Robyn Ward, who set up the Aberdeen City Mutual Aid group; Naomi Morris and Lauren McKay who launched a fundraiser to buy books for schools to educate children on race as a result of the Black Lives Matter movement; and Jemma Stephen who set up her own bakery – the Cupcake Stop – to offer food online.
Meanwhile, the Innovative Idea Prize went to Avril McKie, who plans to help those in care facilities feel more connected by setting up an art exchange with students; and Barry Robertson who will work with creatives whose careers have been disrupted due to the lockdown to create audio dramatizations of theatre plays.
