Region. Device to represent Australia

An innovative hand-washing device for the developing world, designed at the University of Western Sydney, is representing Australia in a prestigious international design award. Industrial Design honours student, Balin Lee, was nominated for his design 'Kopper', which cleanses contaminated water by processing it through a micro-filtration and electrolysis system. Mr Lee says Kopper is designed to be powered by kinetic energy and would be made of recyclable materials that cost less than $2.50, making it an affordable option for people and aid groups in the developing world. "Balin was able to synthesise technological, social, economic and environmental dimensions into a project of considerable intellectual property potential," said the associate head of the UWS School of Engineering and head of the Industrial Design program, Dr Sasha Alexander,