Profile

I am a great believer in just trying something and giving it a go. I think we learn more from our mistakes than our successes and so I try fail as often as possible. I have always been a problem solver, even as a kid I would open up broken equipment to figure out what was wrong to fix it and make it better. If it didn’t work as expected, then I would have found out another way not to do it and be one step closer to a better solution. This has stayed with me my whole life and I apply this way of thinking every day. I always wanted to change the world and that is why I became an engineer.

In my spare time I like playing guitar, mainly rock styles (although the hair is a lot shorter these days…). I also really enjoy 3D printing, designing new kinds of products and playing with new ideas for businesses.

I am an active volunteer in Engineers Ireland and am the youngest member ever to be elected to the “Council”, which runs the organisation. I regularly go to schools or organize events to encourage more people to learn about engineers and why

My goals for 2017 are to develop my renewable bio-coal company, raise further investment.

I am qualified as a mechanical engineer but decided to specialize in energy systems. Energy systems is a very broad area and covers any method of harnessing energy and converting it into useful forms like electricity or heat that we can use to power our lives.

My main area of work is in developing renewable biofuels such as biocoal. I am a co-inventor of a new process which can make an entirely new form of fuel substitute for coal known as bio-coal. Biocoal is made from biomass like woods, grasses and other plant materials which are not currently used for energy. Fossil coal is made over millions of years and must be mined from the earth unlike biocoal which is made in less than an hour from waste plants which we grow naturally. Biocoal is a fantastic renewable alternative for peat too!

I work on improving how the biocoal is made and invent new ways to saving energy, costs and CO2 emissions.

We have all seen those fantastic photos from the edge of space of SpongeBob and Heisenberg figurines. I even saw one company who launched a “Meat & Potato Pie”  into space. I would like to go one step further in the name of STEM awareness and launch a small rocket from a weather balloon platform at 20km height and catch the whole thing on camera! I think this would be a great way to promote STEM and encourage people to get involved.

If I win, I look forward to failing fast and learning lots in the name of STEM!