Could an 18-year-old who discovered two asteroids and a doctor who found bacteria can power cars be the future of women in technology? The Women of the Future Awards think they could be.
Hannah Blyth, who found the asteroids while on a work placement this year, and Dr Kylie Vincent, a Senior Research Fellow at Oxford University are both nominated for the awards which will be presented next Wednesday in London.
Hannah Blyth, a student at St John’s college, is shortlisted in the Young Star category. She said: “Being in the running for a Women of the Future Award has come as a huge surprise, I come from a small town in Wales and didn’t think something like this would happen to me!
It’s given my confidence a huge boost and I’m now more driven than ever to persevere with my chosen career path in science. I’ve chosen to go on to study biology and biochemistry at university, followed by going into astrobiology as a research field.”
The awards were set up by Pinky Lilani in 2006 to celebrate the next generation of British female talent, aged 35 and under,
across business, the professions, the arts, media and science and technology.
Nominees also include editor-in-chief of Huffington Post UK, Carla Busazi. Princess Zahra Aga Khan and Cherie Blair are the Women of the Future Awards patrons and previous winners include Holly Tucker of notonthehighstreet.com, Thea Green, founder of Nails Inc, and Lisa Smosarski, launch editor of Stylist magazine.
Kylie Vincent, a scientist who established and patented ways to exploit enzymes from bacteria in hydrogen fuel cells, said that she hoped her work made a difference to the environment. She is shortlisted in the Science and Technology category.
"By exploring the potential of using hydrogen as a future renewable energy source, I am striving to contribute to solving our sustainable energy problems.
“I hope that the awards will help commercialise my work and inspire other young women in what is often a very male-dominated field, as well as providing a springboard for further success in my studies to help me achieve my ultimate goal - making a real difference in the future,” she said.
See the full list of nominees across all categories at Women of the Future.