A team of sixth formers from St Swithun’s combined scientific and entrepreneurial knowledge to proceed to the final of the Micro-Tyco Sustainability Challenge. Top teams from all over the country were selected to pitch their project in front of a panel of judges in London, and our students were one of seven to be selected. 

The Micro-Tyco Sustainability Challenge is a global competition that challenges students to create innovative solutions that are in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. 

Tolu D, Nathalie Y and Judy Y selected Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being and developed an inhaler that combats the effects of smoking. They said, “Smoking remains one of the leading causes of preventable death, affecting millions of people worldwide. Our goal is to minimize the health impact of hazardous chemicals in cigarettes, particularly tar, which contributes to lung diseases, cancer, and other respiratory conditions.” 

The three students explained their idea; 

“Our innovation is a soft mist inhaler that degrades tar in the lungs using nanoparticle technology. The inhaler delivers liposomal nanoparticles encapsulating peroxidase enzymes, antioxidants (Vitamin E), anti-inflammatory agents (celecoxib), and pH-sensitive coatings that target tar deposits in the lungs.” 

Participating in the programme allowed the students to learn about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), be inspired to make a positive impact (locally and globally) and have the opportunity to design, deliver and manage a project from idea to implementation. 

The judges feedback said their idea was awesome because they were thinking so ambitiously. Whilst they didn’t win the competition, they conducted themselves professionally in an intimidating atmosphere and gained valuable entrepreneurial and creative skills. The girls have been encouraged to get in touch with an organisation called Social Shifters to try to pursue their project further and scale up their idea into a workable solution. 

The three students reflected on the opportunity, “This has been an incredibly enriching experience. Although we did not win the competition, we gained essential skills in collaboration, presentation and innovation, and we were able to apply our scientific knowledge and research abilities beyond the classroom! We hope to continue this journey and that our innovation will make a real impact on Sustainable Development Goal 3." 

Here at St Swithun’s we encourage entrepreneurship at all ages through our weekly Enterprise Club and opportunities such as the Tycoon Enterprise and enterprise days. This term our U4 enterprise day involved pitching business ideas to the owners of Jude’s Ice Cream whilst M5 enterprise day groups had to pitch social enterprise ideas designed to improve the lives of women in rural India. Tolu, Nathalie and Judy are an inspiration to girls across the school for their ambitious entrepreneurial pursuit at the Micro Tyco finals. 

More about their idea: 

The inhaler aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 3 by:  

Reducing smoking- related illness by directly targeting lung damage rather than focusing solely on addiction  

Providing an Innovative, accessible alternative for smokers who struggle to quit  

Minimising the long-term impact of smoking on global healthcare systems 

How it works: 

The inhaler delivers nanoparticles directly to the alveoli, where tar accumulates. 

The enzymes break down tar molecules into non-toxic byproducts that the body can naturally eliminate. 

Anti-inflammatory agents reduce lung damage, while antioxidants prevent oxidative stress. 

pH-sensitive coatings ensure the nanoparticles only activate in tar-affected areas, preventing harm to healthy lung cells. 

Why it will work: 

It imitates the act of smoking, making it psychologically simpler for smokers to shift to a healthier option.   

It offers a non-invasive, lung-targeted solution that avoids the need for surgery or systemic medications.