Ozak Esu facts for kids

Ozak-Obazi Oluwaseyi Esu, born on April 23, 1991, is an amazing electrical engineer from Nigeria. She is a technical leader at the BRE Centre for Smart Homes and Buildings (CSHB). Before this, she designed electrical systems for buildings at a company called Cundall in Birmingham.

Ozak Esu's Early Life and Education

Ozak Esu was born in Kaduna, Nigeria. She finished her high school exams in mathematics, physics, and geography in Lagos. Ozak shared that she was inspired to study engineering because of energy problems in Nigeria. She said that "frequent power cuts" made her very interested in physics.

Moving to the UK for University

In 2008, Ozak moved to the United Kingdom. There, she earned her bachelor's degree in Electronic and Electrical Engineering. She was also the president of the Nigerian Society at her university.

Studying Wind Turbines

Ozak received a scholarship worth £54,000 for her advanced studies. She earned her PhD in 2016. Her research focused on wind turbine blades. She showed how small, affordable sensors, like those in everyday electronics, could check the health of wind turbine blades. Ozak published her work in science magazines and presented it at international conferences. She traveled across Europe and to the USA to share her findings.

Ozak Esu's Career and Research

In November 2014, Ozak Esu joined Cundall Johnston and Partners. She started as a graduate engineer while still finishing her PhD. In her first two years, she helped design and oversee the building of over sixteen schools across the UK. She also worked on the design team for the Energy Systems Catapult office in Birmingham. This office won a special award in 2017.

Becoming an Electrical Engineer

In 2017, Ozak was promoted to electrical engineer. In this role, she led and managed projects to check existing electrical systems. She also designed new electrical services for buildings. Ozak also helped mentor younger students.

Working with Smart Homes and Buildings

In January 2019, Ozak joined the BRE (Building Research Establishment). She became a technical lead at the Centre for Smart Homes and Buildings (CSHB). This center brings together different groups to speed up the use of smart products in buildings. They want to make sure everyone benefits from new technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT).

Her Role in Smart Buildings

In her current role, Ozak researches many topics about smart buildings. She also plans new projects and develops ideas. This allows her to use her PhD knowledge to help create "smart cities."

Teaching and Inspiring Others

Besides her main job, Ozak is a guest lecturer at several universities. These include the University of Bath, University of Lincoln, Loughborough University, and London South Bank University. She shares her knowledge and experiences with students.

Public Engagement and Diversity

Ozak Esu spends time helping groups that promote diversity and equality. She works to empower women and minority groups in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). She has been a speaker for groups like the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE-UK). She also helped Loughborough University look into why female students might not continue in academic roles. Ozak mentors students at The Visiola Foundation in Nigeria.

Promoting STEM Careers

Ozak visits schools and universities to talk about her academic and professional journey. She encourages children and students to pursue education and careers in STEM fields. She has been part of campaigns like Careers in STEM and Portrait of an Engineer. She also supported the HM Government Year of Engineering in 2018. Ozak has appeared on TV shows like Made in Birmingham and Channel 4 Extreme Cake Makers.

Awards and Honours

In 2013, Ozak won the first Energy Young Entrepreneur Scheme (Energy YES) award. This award was worth £2,000. She won it as part of a team of four students.

Recognised as an Influential Woman

On June 23, 2017, Ozak Esu was named one of the Women's Engineering Society's "Top 50 Women in Engineering under 35." This list recognizes influential women in the field.

Young Woman Engineer of the Year

In 2017, she received the Institution of Engineering and Technology Young Woman Engineer of the Year award. In September 2017, she also won the Mike Sargeant Career Achievement Award. This award recognized her important contributions to engineering and technology.