Third year Philosophy and Ethics student Alex Fermor has been announced as the winner of the Creative Thinking Award for his idea ‘The Authentic Mind Machine’.

The Creative Thinking Award established by Bath Spa University in partnership with Ark Data Centres, was launched in September and aimed to challenge students to develop new concepts and ideas that demonstrate 21st century creative thinking with ideas involving some form of imaginary technological solution.

Alex was awarded the £1,500 prize money for his imagined idea ‘The Authentic Mind Machine’ (AMM) which would identify triggers in a person’s mind when a decision they have made, or a thought occurs, is connected to their deeper self.

Professor Andrew Hugill said: “Alex’s evidence of creative thinking and spark of genius made him a worthy winner. Alex’s presentation of his idea was excellent and his approach and manner in which he presented was really impressive.”

The award was open to any student undertaking an undergraduate or postgraduate course at Bath Spa. The judging panel was looking for lateral thinking, originality and innovation, whatever the area or field within which they occurred.

From the 19 entrants to the awards, seven were shortlisted to present their ideas in person to the judging panel consisting of Huw Owen and Jeff Thomas from Ark Data Centres and Andrew Hugill, Professor of Creative Computing at Bath Spa University.

Huw Owen added: “A great final with great ideas across a wide spectrum of topics; I congratulate all of the finalists on their achievement. Alex demonstrated genuine creative thinking, made a great presentation and displayed an open, quick, non-defensive wit under questioning. Ark is proud to sponsor this prize and encourage bright young people in a really positive way to stretch how they think and come at issues in everyday life and then to present and act as advocates for their resulting ideas.”

Commenting, Alex said: “It feels fantastic to win. I was a little overwhelmed at first and couldn’t quite believe it, but it is encouraging to know my creativity has been recognised.”