Could you power a smartphone just by walking?

A team of London school pupils has won top prize at an Imperial competition for inventing electricity-generating insoles.

Green Steps, a team of Year 9 pupils from Clapton Girls School, came up with the idea as part of the Schools Challenge programme - a collaboration between Imperial and J.P. Morgan which tasked young people to come up with innovative products to improve our cities.

Green Steps were named winners of the Schools Challenge

The insoles are made from memory foam and piezoelectric materials which produce electrical current when placed under pressure. The electricity generated from each step would be stored in a power bank, which could be used to charge your phone or other electronic devices.

Nearly 150 students from nine London schools took part in the challenge, where they were asked to tackle one of three key urban challenges – transport, reusing resources, and air quality.

Cutting edge facility

The teams have been working on their projects in the Reach Out Makerspace

Teams worked with Imperial students and J.P. Morgan business mentors to develop their idea and business plans, before developing prototype products in the Reach Out Makerspace, housed within The Invention Rooms.

The Reach Out Makerspace provides access to cutting-edge equipment such as 3D printers, laser cutters, and wood and metalworking machinery. Launched earlier this year, the space provides local young people with free hands-on experience of designing and prototyping.

Top Awards

Air 4 London pitching at the Science Museum

Two runner-up teams were also recognised at the competition. Air 4 London, a team from Greenwich Free School, plan use ultramafic rocks – rocks which can absorb carbon dioxide - to clean C02 from the exhaust pipes of vehicles. Plug Smart, from Burlington Danes School, developed a plug which would automatically switch off when not in use.

Green Steps were crowned the winners of the competition after pitching in the Science Museum’s IMAX theatre in front of a panel of judges including Joanne McCartney - Deputy Mayor of London, Professor Maggie Dallman – Associate Provost (Academic Patenerships) at Imperial, and Ryan O’Grady - Managing Director, Co-Head of Global Fixed Income Syndicate and Head of EMEA Credit Product Development at J.P. Morgan.

Plug Air were the second team to receive a runner-up prize

All students who participated in the programme will also have the opportunity to enter their projects for a national CREST Award, funded through the new Mayor’s London Scientist programme.

The new programme, the first of its kind in the UK, will fund up to 5,000 pupils who are underrepresented in the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) sector to enter the awards, which are the top science award scheme for schoolchildren in the country.

"Thoughtful and Innovative"

Joanne McCartney, Deputy Mayor of London

Speaking at the event, Joanne McCartney, Deputy Mayor of London said: “London prides itself on being an extremely diverse city. It’s one of our strengths. Greater things can be established and accomplished if we work together.

“The ingenuity of your ideas is because of the richness of experiences in this room.”

“The Mayor and I want to make sure that all young Londoners, no matter what their background, can become active scientists and make our cities a better place to live.”

Professor Maggie Dallman, Associate Provost (Academic Partnerships)

Professor Maggie Dallman, Associate Provost (Academic Partnerships) said: “The Schools Challenge has evidenced the talent, drive, and creativity of London’s young people. They have come up with ideas that have the potential to greatly improve the way we live and help our cities respond to major societal challenges.

"Green Steps have created a thoughtful and innovative product – they are deserving winners.”