On April 6-9, the international project “TOM Kazakhstan”, organized by the association of legal entities “Association of Friends of Tel Aviv University in Kazakhstan”, took place in Pavlodar. Project was participated by the 11 teams from Kazakhstan and Russia. EKSTU named after D. Serikbayev was presented by the lecturer of the "Mechanical Engineering" Department: R. Gabdysalyk, K. Bekbolatov, and Zh. Muhametbek.

TOM (TIKKUN OLAM MAKERS) is a project, which unites inventors and people with disabilities.

Within the framework of the project, meikaton TOM took place. It’s 72 hours marathon, where makers (inventors, developers, engineers-innovators etc.) create prototypes convenient to use, easy to manufacture and affordable, aimed at adapting people with disabilities in society and organizing their full lives. Prototypes, which are made on the meikaton, will be available to all for use and published on the OPEN Makers Market website.

Our team worked with need-knower, who has an amputation of 1/3 of his shin. Need-knower asked to make prostheses of both legs; he has a great desire to get on his feet. Students designed and made the prostheses of both legs from the available means, which proved to be much cheaper than the world analogues.

As the results of marathon, our university with its project “Prosthesis on both feet with a removable foot to replace it” was chosen as one of the best. Project past 3rd stage of meikation, which is scheduled for the end of April.

EKSTU’s team will take classes at the School of Social Entrepreneurship in Astana. There they can demonstrate their inventions to the potential investors and other interested people in order of further commercialization.

R. Gabdysalyk
Senior lecturer of the “Mechanical Engineering” Department