The year 8 student has been named as a finalist in this year’s littleBIGidea competition, which is part of a national search for Australia’s best young inventors.

Imogen has been awarded as one of four winners in the year 7 and 8 category for her “Waste Not App”.

She is now in the running to win a trip to NASA as the national winner in her age category.

Imogen’s idea has been developed to address the issue of the four million tonnes of edible food that Australians waste every year.

Her suggestion is aimed at helping people to better understand what perishable food they have in their cupboards and when it is due to expire.

“Basically the app would involve scanning what’s in your fridge, freezer or cupboard … the scan would pick up the use-by date and then remind people when it’s almost out-of-date,” Imogen said. 

“It would also provide different healthy recipes that could be used with the ingredients you’ve already got.”

The littleBIGidea initiative encourages young people to think creatively about how to solve real world problems and aims to foster problem solving skills, curiosity and adaptability. While Imogen didn’t have to physically create the app it was something she was considering doing. 

“My dad is a computer programmer, so with his help I might be able to do it,” she said. 

“I basically just had the idea one night when mum was about to cook dinner. 

“There was so much stuff that we were always throwing out, so I decided to go online and see just how much food is wasted in Australia every year. At first I couldn’t really believe the amount was so big, so I had to check again.”

With the news Imogen has been named as a finalist, she has earned herself $1000, as well as a further $500 for St Francis College to use on resources. 

“I think I might put the money away somewhere because I do want to go to uni one day,” Imogen said. “I would love to become a vet.”

Imogen will find out next month whether or not she has taken out the competition ahead of the other finalists. 

“I was pretty shocked when I found out I was a finalist,” she said. “I was home sick at the time and my dad came in and told me and I didn’t believe him.”