Helen Atkinson facts for kids

Dame Helen Valerie Atkinson DBE FREng (born 29 April 1960) is a very important British engineer. She is currently a Pro-Vice-Chancellor at Cranfield University. This means she helps lead a big part of the university. She works in the School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing.

Before this, she was the head of the Engineering Department at the University of Leicester. She also served as Leicester's Graduate Dean. This role helps students who are studying for advanced degrees.

Her Achievements

Dame Helen has received many important awards for her work. In 2010, she was named one of the UKRC's Women of Outstanding Achievement. Her picture was even shown in a special exhibition.

Royal Academy of Engineering

In 2007, she became a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. This is a huge honor for engineers in the UK. It means she is recognized as one of the best in her field. She also served as a vice-president of the Academy. Later, she joined its Trustee Board.

Royal Honors

For her great contributions to engineering and education, she received two high honors from the British Crown. In 2014, she was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). Even more impressively, in 2021, she became a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE). This title is like being knighted for women.

Her Education

Dame Helen studied at some of the best universities in the UK.

University Studies

She earned a top degree from Girton College, Cambridge. Her studies focused on Metallurgy and Materials Science. This field is about how metals and other materials are made and how they behave.

Advanced Research

She then earned her PhD from Imperial College, London. Her PhD research was about how tiny grains grow in oxide scales. This work was done at the Atomic Energy Authority at Harwell.

See also

In Spanish: Helen Atkinson para niños