The University of Nottingham has scored a hat trick in this year's WE50 with three engineering researchers named on the list of the top 50 women in engineering.
The WE50 awards are run by the Women's Engineering Society and were announced today on International Women in Engineering Day. The awards honour exceptional women engineers and their achievements.
This year's theme, Engineering Intelligence, recognises the many ways engineers combine knowledge, innovation, data, emerging technologies and human-centred thinking to create solutions for an increasingly complex world. The winners demonstrate that intelligence in engineering extends far beyond technical capability; it includes adaptability, creativity, communication, ethical decision-making and a commitment to delivering positive impact.
Dr Chantal Cappelletti is an Associate Professor and member of the Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering Department at the University of Nottingham She has a strong international background in space engineering, small satellites, and space education. Her research is on small satellites, biomedical applications in space, climate-related technologies, and sustainable space systems. She is currently leading international initiatives, including studies on Planetary Sunshade concepts under the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA). She is a passionate advocate for women in STEM and inclusive space education. She has founded and organised the annual Women in Space workshop at the University of Nottingham. She is also the founder of NottsSpace and has led a wide range of outreach initiatives, from primary school engagement to international student programmes.
I am honoured to be recognised among the WES Top 50 Women in Engineering. This award reflects not only my work in space engineering, but also my commitment to engaging and inspiring the next generation of women to pursue careers in this field. Supporting inclusivity and widening participation in space research is central to what I do, and I am delighted to see this recognised.
Deepti Deepti is a Commonwealth Split-Site PhD Scholar conducting advanced research at the University of Nottingham. Her research focuses on combustion and emission characteristics of biomass–coal composite fuels, biomass densification, and sustainable bioenergy systems. She has authored publications in the areas of biomass conversion, biochar, gasification, and renewable energy systems. She has also presented her work at several international conferences and received the Best Paper Award at an international conference on energy management and renewable resources.
I am deeply honoured to be recognised among the Top 50 Women in Engineering (WE50) 2026 by the Women's Engineering Society, UK. As a researcher from India, this recognition is a proud and humbling milestone in my journey in engineering research.
Cristina Cortés is a third-year PhD student in the Optics and Photonics Group at the University of Nottingham. Her research focuses on developing miniature medical imaging instruments for early cancer detection in hard-to-reach areas of the body. She has presented her work at several international conferences and founded the Nottingham Optics and Photonics Society, which is working towards becoming the university's first optics and photonics Student Chapter. She is also a tutor for The Brilliant Club's Scholars Programme, where she delivers a KS4 course on designing medical imaging devices in schools across the Midlands, aiming to make STEM education more inclusive.
I feel immensely grateful to be recognised among the WES Top 50 Women in Engineering. As an early-career researcher, I am very lucky to be part of OPTIMlab, a research group that has supported me in taking initiatives to strengthen our research community and help make STEM education more inclusive. I especially appreciate that this award recognises the importance of these values in engineering intelligence.
I would like to congratulate all three recipients for this very well-deserved recognition, and I am especially proud of Chantal's achievement as one of 20 female academics in the department. It is both her personal research success and her passionate outreach and women in STEM promotional work that has also been recognised with this award.
Established in 2016, the awards were created to increase the visibility of women engineers, and provide powerful role models for the next generation. Each year, the awards spotlight a different theme, reflecting the evolving landscape of engineering and the diverse ways women are shaping it.
Our theme of Engineering Intelligence for International Women in Engineering Day 2026 captures the reality of the world we're working in today. Engineering now is shaped as much by the creativity, insight and humanity of the people who choose to be part of it as it is by technical expertise. Engineering is at its best when people are brave enough to challenge things in their quest for shared success. That spirit of courage and curiosity is what drives progress, and it's what we're celebrating this year.
