Current Affairs - Awards and Honours - Discussion

Filipino Engineer Aldrei Ong won the 2026 James Dyson Global Sustainability Award for developing an innovative sensor called Sentinel. The award was announced on November 4, 2026, and recognised his contribution to improving building safety through advanced structural monitoring technology. A graduate of De La Salle University in the Philippines, Ong received a prize of £30,000 to support further development of his invention. Sentinel converts a conventional concrete spacer block into a structural monitoring sensor that detects hidden cracks and internal damage through changes in electrical resistance. This technology could improve earthquake safety and help prevent structural failures by identifying damage at an early stage.