Anna Ploszajski
{{Short description|English scientist and writer}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
Anna Ploszajski (born 1991) is a materials scientist, engineer, and writer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.annaploszajski.com/|title=Anna Ploszajski|website=Anna Ploszajski}} Her book, Handmade: A Scientist's Search for Meaning Through Making, was published by Bloomsbury Publishing in 2021.
Education and career
Ploszajski attended Dame Alice Harpur School (now part of Bedford Girls' School) choosing to study A-Level mathematics, further mathematics, physics and music.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ingenia.org.uk/Ingenia/Articles/d8e786f7-59b0-468e-b216-6fb1aa68808f|title=Articles - HOW I GOT HERE Q & A - Anna Ploszajski |website=www.ingenia.org.uk |publisher=Royal Academy of Engineering}} She went on to study at Mansfield College, Oxford.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mansfield.ox.ac.uk/news/mansfield-alumna-wins-james-s-walker-award|title=Mansfield alumna wins James S Walker Award |website=www.mansfield.ox.ac.uk |publisher=Mansfield College, Oxford}}
Ploszajski was a post-doc Research Fellow at the Institute of Making, University College London, specialising in the research of 4D printing and metamaterials. In addition, she presents on stage, radio and TV and writes about science.{{cite web |title=2019 BSA Media Fellows Announced |url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/engineering/news/2019/may/2019-bsa-media-fellows-announced |publisher=UCL Engineering |date=10 May 2019}} Her debut book, Handmade: A Scientist's Search for Meaning Through Making, was published by Bloomsbury Sigma, the popular science imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing, in 2021.{{Cite journal|last=Novitzky|first=Anna|date=11 May 2021|title=From spoons to semiconductors — we are what we make|journal=Nature|language=en|volume=593|issue=7858|pages=186–187|doi=10.1038/d41586-021-01247-w|s2cid=234471429 |doi-access=free}}{{cite news |last1=Comerford |first1=Ruth |title=Bloomsbury Sigma acquires Ploszajski's handmade debut |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/rights/bloomsbury-sigma-acquires-ploszajski-s-debut-science-exploration-1199896 |access-date=9 January 2024 |work=The Bookseller |date=17 April 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Newton |first1=Jennifer |title=Handmade: A Scientist's Search for Meaning through Making |url=https://www.chemistryworld.com/review/handmade-a-scientists-search-for-meaning-through-making/4013503.article |access-date=9 January 2024 |work=Chemistry World |date=13 May 2021}}
In 2017, she was named Young Engineer of the Year by the Royal Academy of Engineering,{{Cite web|url=https://www.raeng.org.uk/grants-and-prizes/prizes-and-medals/individual-medals/young-engineer-of-the-year/2017-winners/2017-winners|title=2016-2017 winners |publisher=Royal Academy of Engineering}} and in 2018 won the Silver Medal from the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.{{Cite web|url=https://www.iom3.org/iom3-awards-2018|title=IOM3 Awards 2018|website=www.iom3.org |publisher=Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining}}
Personal life
The BBC talk show The Naked Scientists interviewed Ploszajski in 2021 on her experience as a cold water swimmer.{{cite news |title=Cold water swimming: the thrill of the chill |url=https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/interviews/cold-water-swimming-thrill-chill |access-date=September 26, 2024 |work=The Naked Scientists |date=March 17, 2021}}
References
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Category:People educated at Dame Alice Harpur School
Category:People associated with University College London