Interview: SMF Rising Star winner on being an envoy for neurodiverse girls in engineering

Charlotte ‘Lottie’ Bridgewater is the 2024 winner of the Sanjay Mortimer Basis Rising Star Award, an award which recognises neurodivergent younger individuals who have the potential to contribute tremendously in direction of engineering.

As a pupil at Newcastle College, Lottie created the “TuCan”, an assistive expertise system that helps people with low grip power to open beverage cans. Right here, Lottie tells TCT Journal concerning the TuCan, her profession ambitions, and being an envoy for neurodiverse girls in engineering.

TCT: Lottie, you’re this yr’s recipient of the SMF Rising Star Award- congratulations! How does it really feel to be recognised to your achievements?

L: Thanks! It’s unimaginable to be recognised, particularly after years of navigating the challenges of being an autistic lady in a subject the place I’ve usually felt the necessity to go the additional mile to have my educational achievements stand out.

TCT: When did you first uncover 3D printing and your ardour for design? What drew you to it?

L: I’ve been captivated with design my total life—from LEGO kits and practice tracks as a toddler, to a GCSE in Design and Know-how as a youngster, and now finding out engineering whereas constructing initiatives in my spare time. I’ve solely had entry to 3D printers for a couple of yr by way of the Newcastle College engineering division, however they’ve been a sport changer, permitting me to often create my designs and discover new mechanisms which might be troublesome to realize with out print-in-place expertise. I’m excited to see the place this journey leads!

TCT: Inform us concerning the “TuCan” and the inspiration behind it.

L: The ‘TuCan’ is the identify of my third-year dissertation challenge, an assistive system to assist these with low dexterity open drinks cans. It took place after I was speaking to a good friend of mine in the beginning of the educational yr. She has a incapacity that impacts her grip power and dexterity, and whereas we had been on the telephone she was struggling to open a drinks can. I did some analysis and found that there wasn’t actually something in the marketplace that didn’t depend on some grip by the consumer to take the highest of the can off fully, so I made a decision to pursue it as a challenge. It has been actually rewarding, and thus far I’ve managed to 3D print a semi-working prototype. The mechanism makes use of a print-in-place design, which is one thing I’ve actually loved getting access to, because it opens numerous doorways. Hopefully I’ll have the ability to attain a completely practical model over the subsequent yr.

TCT: When the SMF’s Teula Bradshaw welcomed you on stage on the TCT Awards, she stated you had been an ‘glorious ambassador for neurodiverse girls in engineering.’ Do you are feeling that duty with this recognition?

L: I do – I feel that although engineering will be a superb profession for neurodivergent individuals, it may be onerous to get by way of all of the levels of training to get right here. I hope my work now, and sooner or later, can present neurodivergent those who it is potential and price it, and likewise present these concerned in creating and sustaining help techniques (which is all people) what will be achieved when neurodivergent persons are given the help they want. Assist and understanding of neurodivergence can look completely different for ladies, however a range of minds in engineering is essential. It permits us to method issues from a number of distinctive views, resulting in extra progressive and inclusive options.

TCT: You’ve simply completed your third-year dissertation whereas finding out Mechanical Engineering at Newcastle College. What are your ambitions to your engineering profession?

L: After I end my Grasp’s course subsequent yr (Mechanical Engineering with Biomedical Engineering), I hope to enter designing assistive units that may be helpful, accessible and enjoyable. Whereas that is an space that’s seen a number of enchancment not too long ago, numerous assistive units are nonetheless cumbersome, costly or ugly, which makes them inaccessible to lots of people. Finally I’d like to use for CEng standing. General, I hope to spend my time creating units that make life not solely extra accessible however extra gratifying for everybody.

Have you ever entered this yr’s TCT Awards? Submissions for the 2025 version of the business’s annual celebration of 3D printing and additive manufacturing excellence are open till January twenty second. To search out out extra and enter your AM expertise or utility, go to tctawards.com.