The award, presented on Tuesday 10th November, recognised Oakes for her Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) titled 'Artefact: How can 3D printing technology be used to create prosthetic hands for below-elbow amputees while balancing cost, comfort, and functionality?' This project stemmed from an interest she developed during her first year of study.
Oakes successfully researched, designed, and built a functional, adaptable prosthetic hand with a partial wrist. The prosthetic's fingers could close as the wearer flexed their wrist. Her project demonstrated how accessible tools and resources could be used to create innovative solutions for real-world problems at a significantly lower cost than traditional prosthetics.
Laura Brennan, Curriculum Leader for the Honours Programme at NSCG, praised Oakes's journey. "When Marika started at NSCG she chose A-level subjects based on what she enjoyed, as she was unsure what she wanted to do in the future," Brennan stated. "During the first year, she developed an interest in prosthetics through her Human Biology and PE studies and used the EPQ as an opportunity to explore something she was genuinely curious about. This led her to take on the challenge of designing and creating something new."
Brennan added that Oakes developed crucial skills, including independent research, time management, problem-solving, and resilience. "She became much more confident with independent research, managing her time, problem-solving and learning from things that did not work first time. Being able to take an idea from a rough sketch to a working prototype was impressive and something Marika found rewarding, developing her resilience, problem solving and independence."
Oakes is now in her first year at Loughborough University studying Biomedical Engineering, where she plans to build on her experience and contribute to future developments in the field. Brennan expressed immense pride in Oakes's achievements, calling her project "truly inspiring" and looking forward to her future contributions.
