Ann Makosinski, Filipino-Canadian Google Science awardee has become an instant celebrity after winning the title for her battery-free flashlight.
“I honestly did not expect any of this to happen to me. My project is so simple so I didn’t expect this media attention. It’s just been a huge shock and honor and I’ve just been trying to enjoy it as it comes,” Ana Makosinski said in an interview with ABS-CBN News.
According to Ann Makosinski, she was inspired by a friend in the Philippines when she invented the flashlight powered by the heat of the hand. Google was impressed on the invention of Mokosinski, whose mother is a Filipino. In fact, TEDx invited her to give talks about her invention.
Aside from TEDx, the 16-year-old Fil-Canadian inventor also guested on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” Ann Makosinski is set to join the Canadian team at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair this May.
Ann Makosinski noted that science runs in her family citing that her grandfather invented his own windshield wiper while her father is a laboratory administrator at the University of Victoria.
The Filipino-Canadian inventor usually hangs out with her friends when she’s not busy in lab. She also helps her dad with his film projects and manage to play piano and violin during her free time.
“Don’t be discouraged by your failures because if you keep on working for something and you really want it, you will get there. It may not be the path that you expect it to be, but you will get there in the end. Everything is possible,” she added.
Watch the video below as Ann Makosinski debuts her battery-free flashlight on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys0WVOPmA6g