A veterinary student has been named the first female UK Young Scientist of the Year at this year's National Science & Engineering competition.
Hannah Eastwood, a first-year undergraduate studying veterinary science at the University of Bristo l, was awarded the prestigious accolade at The Big Bang: UK Young Scientists' & Engineers' Fair.
She is the first woman to be awarded any senior title in the competition. Her winning project explored how chromium can be removed from drinking water. This enables tap water to be purified and reclaimed for the steel industry, where it is a valuable resource.
Hannah, originally from Coleraine in Northern Ireland, made a substance called Lepidocrocite, which is an iron oxide-hydroxide mineral. She discovered its formation pathways after creating a control system to make the substance.
"I'm still in shock but so thrilled," Hannah said . "This is an unbelievable opportunity to be an ambassador for science and to inspire young people."
Professor Brian Cox, one of the judges of the National Science & Engineering Competition, explained: "The judges were truly overwhelmed by her project and it's wonderful to witness such enthusiasm and dedication for science. It's left me hugely excited about the future of science in the UK, with passionate young scientists such as Hannah at the helm."
The National Science & Engineering Competition is open to 11-18 year olds from across the UK. Finalists showed off their projects at the Big Bang fair at the ExCeL centre in London last week [10-12 March], which marked the start of National Science and Engineering Week 2011.
(extracted from www.optimistworld.com)
