CNN names Irishwoman as one of 7 tech superheroes to watch in 2015

20 Jan 2015

Jane Ní Dhulchaointigh, inventor of Sugru

Jane Ní Dhulchaointigh, the inventor of the Sugru moldable glue technology, has been named by US news network CNN as one of seven female tech superheroes to watch in 2015.

The 35-year-old scientist invented the Sugru moldable glue that can stick to anything, from glass to wood, and turns into a strong, flexible rubber overnight.

On why Ní Dhulchaointigh’s invention matters Shivvy Jervis wrote for CNN: “This self-setting material allows people to ‘hack their products’ – modifying, fixing, and generally making regular objects better. Added to that, Sugru is waterproof, adhesive, and heat-resistant.”

CNN’s other tech superheroes to watch in 2015 include:

  • Rosalind Picard (52), co-founder of computing and human analytics start-up Empatica, and researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s media lab.
  • Desiree Vargas Wrigley (32), co-founder and CEO of crowdfunding medical platform, Giveforward.
  • Kathryn Myronuk (45), director of research at Singularity University, an organisation devoted to studying how different technologies will affect the world over the next decade.
  • Lynette Kucsma (43), co-founder of Natural Machines, a company that makes 3D food printers.
  • Nina Tandon (35), co-founder of EpiBone, the world’s first company growing living human bones for skeletal reconstruction.
  • Anne Wojcicki (41), founder of one of the world’s largest databases of individual genetic information, 23andme.

Women Invent Tomorrow is Silicon Republic’s campaign to champion the role of women in science, technology, engineering and maths. It has been running since March 2013, and is kindly supported by Accenture Ireland, Intel, the Irish Research Council, ESB, Twitter, CoderDojo and Science Foundation Ireland.

Inspire 2015 is Silicon Republic’s international event running 18-19 June in Dublin that connects sci-tech professionals passionate about the future of STEM with fresh perspectives on leadership, innovation and diversity.

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com