Sophie Harker facts for kids
Sophie Harker is a super smart British engineer. She is an aerodynamicist, which means she studies how air moves around things, especially airplanes. Sophie works at BAE Systems in a special team that designs future aircraft.
She became a "Chartered Engineer" when she was just 25 years old. This is a big achievement for engineers! In 2018, she won the Young Woman Engineer of the Year Award, which is a really important award for young women in engineering.
Early Life and Learning
When Sophie was 16, she visited the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This trip made her want to become an astronaut!
She went to the University of Nottingham and earned a Master’s degree in mathematics. While at university, she met Helen Sharman, who was the first British astronaut. Helen suggested that engineering could be a good way to become an astronaut.
After that, Sophie focused on applied mathematics. She also did an internship at BAE Systems, where she worked on computer software for engineering.
Her Engineering Career
Sophie joined BAE Systems after university. She worked on different engineering projects, including the Eurofighter Typhoon jet. This led her to join the Concepts & Technology Team.
Today, Sophie is part of the Team Tempest project at BAE Systems. She helps create new technologies for flight control systems. These systems will help future combat aircraft fly better.
Sophie also worked on designs for the Skylon Space Plane. This is a special type of space plane that can be used many times. It is designed to fly into space and back to Earth.
In March 2019, Sophie gave a talk at the University of Nottingham called "Women in Aerodynamics." She also helps encourage young people to get into science and engineering. She is part of the "This Is Engineering" campaign by the Royal Academy of Engineering.
Awards and Special Mentions
Sophie has received many awards for her amazing work.
- In 2016, she was named BAE Systems' Technical Graduate of the Year.
- In 2017, she won Graduate of the Year from SEMTA (Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies Alliance).
- Also in 2017, she was featured in The Daily Telegraph's Top 50 Women in Engineering list.
In 2018, Sophie received the Bee Beamont award. This award celebrates new engineers who have done great things early in their careers. She also won the 2018 Young Woman Engineer of the Year Award that same year.
In 2019, when she was 26, Sophie was given the Sir Henry Royce Medal. This award recognized her research in creating new technologies for the aviation industry.
Personal Life
Sophie Harker lives in Lytham St Annes, a town in England.
