Teen’s ‘skid lid’ a science hit
Sidney Crosby could use a few friends like Claire Longcroft.
The West Vancouver teen has come up with a “skid lid” — a gel cap that fits under sports helmets she believes can cut concussion-causing injuries by 70 per cent.
“You put on your skid lid, you put on your helmet, and off you go,” said the 16-year-old veteran of science fairs, walking a reporter through a thorough presentation she’ll put up against the world’s best this weekend at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) in Pittsburgh.
“The ideas always come from personal experiences. That gives me original ideas,” she said.
While some others trot out triedand-true science-fair standards, Claire explores newsworthy topics for discussion — and concussions are certainly current.
“My dad is an active cyclist. That got me a little scared,” she said. “That got me to thinking if I could find a solution.”
Claire’s skid lid is a spiderweb of gel fingers that protect the head.
The West Vancouver youngster said she takes a nature-based approach — “biomimetics” — where science mimics nature for innovative solutions.
Claire explained that nature fends off brain injuries by having the brain floating in fluid, cushioning any blow. Her invention mimics that by forming a second protective layer, surrounding the head.
“I used the same concept outside the skull,” said Claire.
The thorough young engineer conducted 240 meticulous tests with and without skid lids, using an innovative way to measure impact — by sandwiching carbon paper and cloth together.
The sandwich measuring method determined that 70-per-cent less cloth was marked with the carbon paper with the skid lid in place — a result that she hopes will wow judges.
She’ll join an 18-member Canadian team, proud to show off the invention inspired by keeping her bike-commuting dad safe.
“It’s nice to know that she thinks about me,” joked her dad, David, who thinks his daughter is on to something.
“It’s going to take a little work before it’s adopted by road cyclists. But it’s a good idea, and there are a lot of other applications.
“You think about Sidney Crosby, and all the concussion problems he’s had.”
Reni Barlow, executive director of Youth Science Canada, said that Claire has already beaten long odds — 500,000 entries at local science fairs became 25,00 entries at regional fairs and now she’s one of just 18 Canadians at the big one.
For the next step, battling with 1,500 of the world’s brightest young minds, Barlow thinks Claire will once again face long odds.
But he says the record shows that despite our small numbers, Canadians do exceptionally well, whether it’s hockey or technology.
“We’re like the World Juniors hockey team — we punch well above our weight class,” said Barlow. “We don’t always win, but we do very well.”