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Eleven-year-old wins IEE award

An Institution of Engineering and Technology product story

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Sep 26, 2005

Eleven-year-old Edward Smith has scooped a top award for his work helping mums and dads get to grips with the world of computers.

Eleven-year-old Edward Smith has scooped a top award for his work helping mums and dads get to grips with the world of computers.

Edward, from Chippenham, Wiltshire, UK, won the Flipside magazine award at the Institution of Electrical Engineers' (IEE) Innovation and Engineering Awards for his work to bridge the gap between technology and people.

The Flipside award is presented to a young person aged 16 or under, who has demonstrated talents in the area of science, engineering and technology.

Edward impressed the judges with his combination of highly developed social and technical skills.

Acting as technical support to a parents ICT group and Family Learning Project, Edward helps people, many with learning difficulties, come to terms with technology by explaining the complexities of computers and the internet in a non-patronising and supportive way.

In addition, Edward produces animations in the style of 'Aardman Animations', which he has used at school events to help breakdown barriers to learning across the generations and bringing them together using technology and humour.

Commenting on his award, Edward said: "I enjoy making people laugh and showing them that engineering and science is fun and rewarding whoever you are".

"In the future I would like to become a CGI specialist and work on films such as Shrek".

Editor of Flipside and the judge for the award, Dickon Ross thinks that Edward has a bright future: "It is rare to see such commitment and empathy in one so young".

"Edward exhibits a passion of science and a dedication to education that is encouraging".

"With people like this leading the charge the future of engineering in the UK is assured", he said.

Edward was presented with his prize, a Sony Vaio notebook worth over £1000, at a gala ceremony at Savoy Place, London, where he joined representatives of some of the UK's top organisations including the University of Oxford and BT, who had won awards for leading edge technology,.