Student wins world research award

Gareth Conway illustrates one of his new award winning wireless antenna sensors

Gareth Conway, a Queen's student from Keady, County Armagh, will receive a global award in San Diego on Wednesday.

His research on wireless, wearable antennas allows doctors to monitor illnesses and injuries remotely.

Gareth's research could make medical visits for tests and check-ups a thing of the past.

Information on patients' heart rate, respiration, posture and gait can then be accessed by doctors via the internet or mobile phone.

One possible use could be the monitoring of firefighters' heartbeat, respiration and movement as they tackle a blaze.

The antennas can be fitted almost anywhere on the patient without causing inconvenience and are sufficiently low-profile to be worn in clothing or a wound dressing.

They are up to 50 times more efficient than previously available designs of the same dimensions.

Gareth will receive the SEMCAD X Student Research Award at the 2008 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers in San Diego.

I am delighted to be chosen for such a prestigious award, as I had competition from universities from all over the world Gareth Conway

The awards recognise outstanding research in the field of numerical simulation of electromagnetic fields.

Gareth is a final year PhD student at Queen's Institute of Electronics, Communications and Information Technology.

He said: "I am delighted to be chosen for such a prestigious award, as I had competition from universities from all over the world."

In addition to a $5,000 prize, Gareth wins the latest version of electronic modelling software, and a hardware accelerator for the University, worth approximately £15,000.

Dr William Scanlon, from Queen's University said that the UK was leading the world in this field of research.

"We could change the way that a range of illnesses, injuries and conditions are monitored, perhaps within five years," he said.