We are delighted to announce that Serena Jacob (Year 9) has been awarded the Junior Engineering 2021 prize for her Big Bang Competition project, DM2.Prevent. With over 200 science and engineering projects entered into the competition this year, this is an incredible achievement.
Serena created an app to prevent or potentially even treat Type 2 Diabetes. The app targets reversible risk factors for the disease and provides ways to reduce those risks. The current version of the app links to QDiabetes®, a verified Type 2 Diabetes risk calculator. Based on the result of the risk calculation and additional data inputted by the user, Serena’s app guides the user to specific steps to reduce their risk.
Serena has undertaken extensive research and received advice and support from former BGS parent, Mrs Charlotte Lucas, during the course of the year via video conferencing. Mrs Lucas is a pharmacist and researcher with a specialty in Type 2 Diabetes prevention. Watch a video of Serena talking about her research HERE.
Following the announcement of her award, Serena was interviewed by Emma Barnett on BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour on Thursday morning. You can listen to the full interview at 28:10 HERE.
Serena reflected: “I’m simply ecstatic to be chosen as Junior Engineer of the Year! I never thought that I could actually win this, especially as the calibre of entries was outstanding. I am really thrilled to know that all my hard work has finally paid off. I would love to thank all of those that have supported me with this project, especially the STEM Coordinator at BGS, Dr Swope, who has helped me throughout.”
Serena has been mentored by Dr Swope (Physics Teacher and STEM Coordinator), he said: “Serena is well deserving of this award. She has worked several hours each week since September putting together the pieces required for this app project. In the process, Serena has learned how to create and assemble app images as well as how to program and collect information from movement data with a microcontroller, and she has also furthered her programming skills in Python. Serena has also shown her resolve as a researcher and has developed a great working knowledge of Diabetes Mellitus 2.”
View the full list of winners HERE.
