[CDU eNews] - NEW WHEELIE BIN DESIGN

[Peter.Hurt at cdu.edu.au]

Wheelie good idea wins the day

They say most great ideas are the simplest . . . and when somebody wheels
out a new idea, people will say, "Why didn't I think of that?"

That is exactly what they are saying at Charles Darwin University this week
about a new invention created by three engineering students. What's more,
this invention is in keeping with the greatest of Territory traditions:
it's an improvement on that icon of suburbia, the faithful old wheelie bin.

First-year students Jacinta Thorbjornsen, 18, of Berry Springs, Paul
Gostynski, 19, of Woodroffe, and Chace Karpenko, 19, of Berrimah, put their
heads together and have designed and created a foot-operated wheelie bin
opener.

Chace, a former Dripstone High School student, said today: "I'm sure this
has been done before, but we couldn't find any examples anywhere in
Australia when we were doing our research. It's been a bit of fun and has
taught us a great deal. We are considering presenting the design to the
Darwin City Council as a viable way of making wheelie bins more
user-friendly."

Jacinta, a former NT Open Education Centre student, said: "It's really a
simple idea that people could use, especially if they have their hands full
with rubbish; it makes it easier to open the bin."

Paul, a former Palmerston High School student, said: "We worked on several
different designs but we had to make changes. For instance, we had to make
sure the lever wouldn't interfere with the garbage truck pick-up
mechanism."

Coordinator Common Units Nicola Prichard said the wheelie bin was declared
the winner at a presentation night held at the university. A panel of
independent staff and students from within the university judged the
presentations, which were submitted by students studying the new Common
Unit Design and Innovation: Communicating Technology.

Nicola said: "In this first year common core unit students from all
disciplines have not only learned to collaborate on a practical design
project but also to present their designs in a professional written report
and through a public verbal presentation. These are skills that are
essential for students at university and later in their professional life."

Other finalists in the competition were:

·     A coconut catcher;
·     A portable baby change bag;
·     A lecture theatre table;
·     A cigarette butt disposal device

The awards were organised by the School of Engineering and Logistics in
conjunction with the Common Units Committee.

Nicola Prichard is available for interview


Peter Hurt
Media Manager
Charles Darwin University
Tel: 08 8946 6019 or 0438 466 439

CRICOS Provider No: 00300K