UHI alumnus and researcher announced as Converge finalists
A UHI nursing alumnus and a SAMS researcher have been named as finalists in Converge. The annual company creation programme provides support to staff, students and graduates of Scottish universities and research institutes to turn their ideas for products and services into reality.
Dr Georgina Robinson, Research Associate/ Fellow at SAMS is a finalist in the Converge Challenge programme. Her project offers a solution to the issue of organic waste in the Scottish aquaculture industry. The scalable biotechnological approach can convert waste into high value, sustainable feed ingredients in the form of marine worms, rich in protein, lipid and omega-3 fatty acids.
The technology can be co-located at aquaculture production facilities to deliver circular aquaculture. This innovative approach enables us to grow high quality polychaetes year-round for UK and global export markets. In doing so, the technology creates a circular economy, reducing waste disposal costs and impacts, and create low carbon alternate feed ingredients.
Roma Gibb, a BSc nursing alumnus who set up Person Centred Solutions Ltd, is a finalist in the Create Change Challenge programme. Person Centred Solutions has developed the Bed Band, an innovative product which helps people with mobility issues get a good night’s sleep. This patent-pending innovative support system will help users maintain a comfortable position in bed. This aims to reduce insomnia, pressure sores, pain and discomfort. Improving sleep can increase energy and self-sufficiency while lowering care requirements, generally improving the wellbeing of the person using it.