The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson Launches the COP26 “Together For Our Planet” campaign with small businesses in the garden of Number 10 Downing Street. Also in attendance was The Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng who serves as the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Picture by Tim Hammond / No 10 Downing Street.
On 4 June 2021, Llanelli-based KESS 2 company partner Vindico ICS Ltd represented small businesses at Downing Street. The exclusive event at Number 10 Downing Street launched ‘Together for Our Planet’ – a nationwide campaign that will roll out across the UK in the run up to the UN Climate Summit in November.
Vindico used the launch at Downing Street to unveil their latest Think Air product, TASK – Think Air Schools Kit, an educational product designed for children aged 9 to 11 to build, code, and measure the air quality around them – at school, at home, and on the daily commute.
A central contribution from his PhD, Sam Lewis from the Swansea University School of Management was instrumental in driving the development of this innovation line with the current Welsh and English curriculums.
The first person outside of Vindico to get their hands on TASK was Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, who not only built the product, but praised the tech experts’ vision and commitment to the next generation. Picture by Tim Hammond / No 10 Downing Street.
Following months of research and development working in partnership with the Vindico team, Sam (co-supervised by Assoc. Professor Dr Frederic Boy) and University Professor Emeritus, Paul Lewis, developed Think Air, an essential move towards the understanding and management of air pollution – and the impact of PM2.5 (small air particles), carbon dioxide, and other air pollutants – on our health and wellbeing.
Says Sam,
“It’s truly been an honour to undertake this project. Seeing the journey of your prototype grow into a final product is incredibly rewarding on its own, however seeing that solution be acknowledged and used as an example for future initiative by the Prime Minister undeniably highlights the impact we can make here as staff, students, and affiliated companies. I’m very proud.”
Professor Paul Lewis who also sits on the Welsh Government Clean Air Panel advising on the forthcoming Clean Air Act in Wales said,
“It’s a huge achievement for Sam to have taken a concept all the way through to product within the lifetime of his KESS 2 PhD. To have his TASK kit presented to the Prime Minister at the COP26 launch was a real recognition of all the hard work carried out by him and his industrial partner.
His work significantly enhances the interdisciplinary research being carried out by the Medical School, School of Management, College of Engineering and Vindico on developing solutions to monitor air pollution, educate children on its impacts on health and help in the development of behavioural change strategies.”
Associate Professor Dr Frederic Boy, Sam’s academic supervisor added,
“It is a fantastic recognition for Sam’s PhD work to be showcased at Downing Street during the official launch of the COP26 conference.
It demonstrates the high value of research done in partnership with Hi-Tech companies such as Vindico, mainly about finding innovative solutions to air pollution management, one of today’s global challenges.
I have little doubt Vindico’s solutions through Sam’s PhD research and development work will play a significant role in designing the air quality live management systems that will benefit current and future generations.”
Vindico MD Jo Polson also said,
“Being a part of the Together for Our Planet campaign, and being able to present at Downing Street, has been a huge opportunity for us as a small business. By committing to Net Zero, we’re just trying to do our bit, and to be recognised for our carbon-conscious efforts is incredible.”
Picture by Tim Hammond / No 10 Downing Street.
All images are credited to Tim Hammond / No 10 Downing Street
