Top 10honour forinventoraged 23

John Roberts Education Correspondent

EMILY Cummins’s career as an inventor started in her grandfather’s shed while she was still at school in West Yorkshire.

Now the 23-year-old Leeds University graduate’s work, which includes a solar-powered fridge and a water carrying device designed for use in Africa, has seen her honoured by Nobel Prize winners and named among the top 10 most outstanding young people in the world.

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Miss Cummins, from Silsden, near Keighley, is receiving two major honours in recognition of the impact her inventions have had.

This week a jury of Nobel Prize winners selected her as an Oslo Business for Peace Honouree during an awards ceremony in Norway.

She was the only woman and sole representative from Europe among this year’s seven honourees. The award, which is in its second year, aims to recognise the work of ethical businessmen and women.

Next month Miss Cummins will receive an award in Japan having been named as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World winners by Junior Chamber International.

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The solar-powered fridge which she began to design while she was still a pupil at South Craven School is now benefiting families in Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

She has also designed a multi-bucket water system to help people transport water effectively across southern Africa.

She said: “I’m continually amazed at the extent to which school technology projects have changed my life.

“Recognition for my work in Norway and Japan is a great honour. I’m passionate about encouraging young people in the United Kingdom and overseas to reach their creative potential, especially in the field of sustainable design.

“Hopefully these awards will inspire other young people to think about how they can contribute to our global community in a positive way.”