Everywoman in Tech award goes to chemical engineer
10 Feb 2017 by Evoluted New Media
A Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Bath has won the Academic Award in the UK’s biggest programme championing women in technology.
A Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Bath has won the Academic Award in the UK’s biggest programme championing women in technology.
Professor Semali Perera, who specialises in developing novel sustained drug delivery methods for cancer sufferers, has been recognised in the FDM Everywoman in Technology Awards – set up to celebrate the contributions of women who are changing the face of technology in the UK.
Professor Perera said: “I hope this accolade will enable me to continue inspiring young people, and in particular young women, to study STEM and engineering subjects in which there remains a gender imbalance.”
Announced at a ceremony in the London Hilton, Professor Perera’s award – sponsored by Dell – recognises a woman in academia whose work has made, or has the potential to make, a significant long-term impact in STEM.
Perera is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) whose 23-year career has resulted in a number of accolades. In 2002 she was presented the Mary Tasker Award for Excellence in Chemical Engineering Teaching, and in 2007 the prestigious Royal Society Brian Mercer Award for Innovation. In addition, her work on pollution control technology led to the formation of a University of Bath spin-out company – nano-porous solutions – which was acquired in 2013 by a FTSE-100 listed company.
She is currently leading a team to develop a way of delivering sustained chemotherapy treatment which will allow the use of lower doses of drugs and fewer side effects. She said: “A busy career has meant at times my job has taken me away from spending time with my two daughters so I would like to thank them for their patience, love and understanding.”
This is the seventh annual 2017 FDM everywoman in Technology Awards which have been set up to encourage greater numbers of women to work in tech by driving awareness of career opportunities, as well as showcasing the breadth and diversity of talent contributed by women in tech across all industries.
Sheila Flavell, Chief Operating Officer of title sponsor FDM Group – an international IT services company – said: “This year’s FDM everywoman in Technology Awards showcase the outstanding women who work in technology today. They are role models for all of us, demonstrating that IT is a great career option for young women today. It’s particularly important that we get this message across to young women to create a gender balanced workforce and build the pipeline for future talent.”
