Abbie Hutty facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Abbie Hutty
CEng
|
|
|---|---|
Abbie Hutty at Google Mountain View in 2017
|
|
| Born |
Abigail Hutty
|
| Known for | Work on ESA's ExoMars project |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mechanical Engineering |
| Institutions | European Space Agency |
Abigail Hutty is a British mechanical engineer who lives in Stevenage. She is famous for her work on the European Space Agency's ExoMars rover, which is now called the Rosalind Franklin rover. This rover is designed to explore Mars. In 2016, she became the youngest ever Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, which is a big honor for engineers. Abbie loves to encourage young people to study science and technology, and to think about careers in space. She has appeared on TV shows like the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures and The Sky at Night.
Contents
Abbie's Early Life and Education
Abbie Hutty grew up in Kent, England. She finished her A-Levels in Maths, Design and Technology, Physics, and French at Weald of Kent Grammar School for Girls in 2005. Abbie became interested in engineering when she was studying for her GCSEs. She was inspired by watching the Beagle 2 mission, which was a spacecraft sent to Mars.
She went on to study Mechanical Engineering at the University of Surrey and graduated in 2010. After that, she worked for a year at Surrey Satellite Technology. Then, she joined a special training program for new graduates at Airbus Defence and Space.
Abbie's Career in Space Engineering
Abbie Hutty started working at Airbus Defence and Space in 2010. She focused on understanding how spacecraft parts move and how strong they need to be. She was offered a full-time job in the Spacecraft Structures Engineering Group. This is where she began working on the ExoMars rover, which is now known as the Rosalind Franklin rover. This rover is planned to launch in the mid-2020s. Her job was to help turn the rover's design into something that could actually be built.
In 2014, she became a Chartered Engineer with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Later, she became the Senior Spacecraft Structures Engineer for the ExoMars project at Airbus.
Awards and Achievements
Abbie Hutty has received several awards for her amazing work and dedication:
- In 2010, she won the IMechE Frederick Barnes Waldron Best Student Award.
- In 2012, she received the Astrium STEM Ambassador Award.
- In 2013, she was named the IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year.
- Also in 2013, she won the IMechE Young Member of the Year award.
- In 2014, she received the Royal Academy of Engineering Rising Star Award.
- In 2016, she made history by becoming the youngest ever Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
Inspiring Others: Public Engagement
Abbie Hutty spends a lot of time working with the media to promote engineering. She has appeared on BBC shows like The Sky at Night and Stargazing Live, and also on Euronews. She is a well-known ambassador for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). She often judges national STEM fairs and gives talks at schools, museums, and learning centers.
In 2014, she was part of the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures. Besides talking about the ExoMars mission, she often helps people understand what engineering is really about. In 2017, Abbie gave a TEDxLondon talk called "Why we need new role models in science and engineering." Later that year, she appeared on BBC 2's Horizon to discuss whether people could travel to Mars. She has also given tours of the Airbus facilities. Abbie is very excited about the idea of finding life on Mars.
Promoting Diversity in Engineering
After winning the IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year award in 2013, Abbie Hutty became a stronger supporter for diversity in engineering. This means encouraging more people from different backgrounds to join the field. In 2016, she was listed as one of the top 20 influential women in engineering to follow on Twitter. That same year, she was featured on the "Finding Ada" podcast, which highlights the work of women in STEM.
Abbie is a role model for many young women and engineers. She often writes blogs about her experiences in the industry. In 2015, she took part in the social campaign "#ILookLikeAnEngineer" to show that engineers come in all shapes and sizes, breaking old stereotypes. In 2017, she was invited to speak at the United Nations Expert Meeting on Space for Women.
