Last week, at both campuses of SCE – The Sami Shimon Academic College of Engineering in Beersheba and Ashdod, a project conference, exhibitions, and an open day for prospective students took place. During the event, students who recently completed their studies at the college presented their final projects, which spanned a variety of fields and featured numerous innovative developments — including socially impactful projects and others inspired by the backdrop of war.
Among the showcased innovations were projects by students Sagi Alterman and Ofek David pinzaro from the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering. They developed a portable thermoelectric refrigerator for preserving blood units on the battlefield for IDF soldiers. Ofek, who is also a combat medic, came up with the idea during the long reserve duty he and Sagi served during the war.
Aviv Vandenberg and Omer Journo from the Department of Mechanical Engineering developed a device that enables hand amputees to open bottles with one hand. The device attaches to the forearm and can hold a knife or other tools, allowing users to cut and eat independently — even with only one hand — without giving up the use of two tools simultaneously.
Aviv and Omer participated in a unique course for designing customized products for IDF wounded soldiers. The course, part of the Product Planning and Development track, was initiated by lecturer Naama Agassi in collaboration with the Beit HaLochem rehabilitation center in Beersheba. During the course, students met with injured and recovering soldiers, learned about their daily challenges, and developed personalized, innovative solutions to improve their independence and day-to-day functionality.
Other developments included: A device for tying shoelaces with one hand, a quick-release mechanism for prosthetics used in kite surfing, a tool for soaping and drying the body in the shower, and a marine transport cart for people with disabilities.
Among the additional innovations presented were an AI-based app with an interactive chatbot that detects emotional distress and offers counseling, support, meditation, and emotional regulation tools; and a simulator designed to prepare children for radiation treatments, developed in collaboration with the oncology department at Hadassah Hospital.
SCE Rector and Founder, Prof. Yehuda Haddad, addressed the students:
"For 30 years we’ve been educating and nurturing not only generations of excellent engineers but also engineers with a moral and social compass. The developments presented here prove that technology can — and must — be a tool for improving the quality of life for us all. This is engineering with heart. You have persevered in your studies under complex security conditions, amid uncertainty and personal challenges — a testament to your strength, determination, and exceptional abilities."