CHMSU student’s ‘Pencroscope’ enters James Dyson Award 2025

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BACOLOD CITY — The “Pencroscope,” a device invented by Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (CHMSU) student Ceejay Faala, is now an official entry in the prestigious James Dyson Award 2025.

Faala is an incoming fourth-year Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Science at CHMSU’s Binalbagan Campus.

The James Dyson Award is a global design competition that supports and celebrates emerging inventors and engineers.

Faala said he did not expect his invention to be accepted, as most entries typically come from the fields of engineering and industrial design.

He developed the Pencroscope under the guidance of his research adviser, Alberto De la Cruz, using recycled materials such as scrap electronic components.

Faala initially wanted to submit his invention last year but said it was not yet refined and that the James Dyson Award primarily accepts entries from students or recent graduates in engineering, product design, industrial design, or related degree-level apprenticeships.

Although education majors are rarely represented, Faala ensured he complied with the specific eligibility criteria set by the Dyson Foundation.

He also encouraged fellow CHMSU students to collaborate with him on future innovation projects.

Participating in this year’s competition, he said, has further motivated him to develop practical solutions to education-related challenges and beyond.

Faala added that the patent application for the Pencroscope is currently underway.

The James Dyson Award, organized by the James Dyson Foundation, is open to current students and recent graduates in engineering or design fields.

It celebrates innovative and functional ideas that solve real-world problems and aims to inspire interest in careers in design engineering.

Faala’s Pencroscope is now featured in the official James Dyson Award Gallery and is viewable by a global audience alongside more than 2,000 entries worldwide.

The top three Philippine entries will be further evaluated by Dyson engineers, with James Dyson himself selecting the international winner, two runners-up, and a sustainability awardee from the global top 20.