Engineering Students Invent Simple, Elegant Anemia Test for Developing Nations

As readers of my blogs know, I am passionate about promoting the power of simplicity, minimalism, and elegance.

Today, I came across an article about two bio-engineering students who used simplicity and elegance in a way that will probably save countless lives in the developing world.

I feel excited for them: At a young age, as part of a class project, they have made an impact on the world.

These students, Rice University undergraduates Lila Kerr and Lauren Theis, were challenged to find a portable, low cost way to diagnose anemia without power.

Their solution was creative and elegantly simple: they modified a common kitchen salad spinner to create a device that separates blood samples (and diagnosis anemia) without electricity.