Two teams of promising UK scientists and engineers have come away with top prizes at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS).
Sahar Roxanne El-Hady won a Joint Research Council prize which will see her have an all-expenses-paid trip to the EU Joint Research Centre's Institute in Ispra, Italy. She was awarded this following her Nuffield Research Placement at Royal Holloway, University of London. Her work there involved reconstructing climate change in South Wales following the last glacial period.
Stuart Chau, Ethan Dunbar-Baker, and Rogan McGilp received €2,000 from the Salvetti Foundation for their design and build of a hot rod named ‘Attitude Adjustment’. Inspired by Rogan’s disabled younger brother, the idea to get disabled people more involved in the hot rod scene arose, leading to the creation of a custom vehicle designed specifically for a disabled user. The name of the car, “Attitude Adjustment”, aims to challenge people to re-think any existing attitudes they might hold about differences, disabilities, minorities and individuality.
This year Sahar was named the 2016 UK Young Scientist of the Year, while the boys were named 2016 UK Young Engineers of the Year. Supported by the BSA, they were entered into the EU competition with over 130 other competitors from all over Europe.
The competition is in its 28th year and was held in Brussels, the heart of the European Union. It was set up to advance the cooperation and exchange of ideas between young scientists and engineers, with the aim of building a harmonious relationship between science and society.