![\"Schoolgirl](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/SEI_280659959-1d4e.jpg\")
\n\t\tJennifer Barry went from kids space camp to real-life space engineer (Picture: Christian Trampenau\/The Institution of Engineering and Technology)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tJennifer Barry went from kids space camp to real-life space engineer (Picture: Christian Trampenau\/The Institution of Engineering and Technology)<\/p>\n
Reading Metro newspaper<\/a> really can change your life.<\/p>\n We might sound biased, but now there is proof \u2013 just ask Jennifer Barry.<\/p>\n She was a schoolgirl when she won a Metro competition in 2008 to spend a week at a space camp in Turkey.<\/p>\n And now, 17 years later, she\u2019s an award-winning space engineer who has addressed the United Nations<\/a> and is tackling the biggest issues of the cosmos.<\/p>\n Jennifer, now 29, was on her daily commute to school<\/a> in west London<\/a> in May 2008 when she picked up a copy of the Metro.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSign up for all of the latest stories\t\t\t<\/p>\n Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates<\/a> newsletter or get Breaking News<\/a> alerts the moment it happens. <\/p>\n The Year 7 pupil spotted a call to action for young space lovers, asking them for ideas for the future of the skies.<\/p>\n The competition \u2013 a collaboration between Metro, British National Space Centre, Space Camp Turkey<\/a> and private astronaut Richard Garriott \u2013 wanted youngsters to come up with their best plan for a private space venture.<\/p>\n \t\t It didn\u2019t take long for Jennifer to submit her vision, which was planning for a future home for mankind in case the Earth became uninhabitable due to pollution.<\/p>\n She was on holiday when her dad read the email that she was one of the six winners.<\/p>\n \u2018My dad thought I\u2019d won a book or something,\u2019 Jennifer told Metro, \u2018but it turned out I\u2019d won a trip to space camp instead.\u2019<\/p>\n In October 2008, Metro became the first newspaper in space when Garriott took a special edition of the paper up to the International Space Station.<\/p>\n That copy featured details of the winning entries in the competition, including Jennifer\u2019s, with Garriott then carrying out these experiments for 10 days before returning to earth.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t Nine months later, Jennifer jetted off to Izmir in Turkey, where she got to experience space in a way spend years wishing they could.<\/p>\n She recalled: \u2018It was fascinating. We learnt about space missions, tried an astronaut simulator and got to experience what it would be like walking on the moon.<\/p>\n \u2018One of the big things I took away from it was all the careers that go into making a space mission.<\/p>\n \u2018It was such a cool experience at that age. It helped keep my passion for science<\/a> alive throughout my teen years and throughout the rest of my career.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t The impact of that trip, as well as a VIP day at the National Space Centre with Richard Garriott that she also won, kicked off a journey that has led her to work<\/a> on the kinds of missions she used to dream about.<\/p>\n She said: \u2018I decided that what I was most passionate about was all those unanswered questions that make up space.\u2019<\/p>\n Jennifer went on to study physics and astronomy at Southampton University and graduated with a masters in 2018.<\/p>\n She then \u2018fell into engineering\u2019 and became a leading advocate for space sustainability<\/a>, which is keeping space clean and safe for future generations.<\/p>\n Working for the UK Space Agency, she spoke at the UN\u2019s Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.<\/p>\n She also contributed to the European Space Agency\u2019s Zero Debris initiative, which tackles the growing challenge of space debris and aims to ensure a safer, more sustainable future in orbit.<\/p>\n \t\t Jennifer was awarded the Institution of Engineering and Technology\u2019s (IET) Young Woman Engineer of the Year in December.<\/p>\n She said: \u2018I was pretty overwhelmed. It was a real honour. You never expect to be nominated for it.<\/p>\n \u2018I want to use this opportunity to amplify underrepresented voices, challenge stereotypes, and show that engineering is for everyone.<\/p>\n \u2018Part of that change is inspiring the next generation.\u2019<\/p>\n The award-winner has also carried out 500 hours of outreach work with young people to encourage them to get into STEM.<\/p>\n She says competitions like the one Metro ran 17 years ago are crucial for inspiring kids \u2013 in particular those underrepresented in the field \u2013 that a career in space and engineering is for them.<\/p>\n Metro\u2018s Editor-in-Chief Deborah Arthurs said: \u2018I\u2019m absolutely thrilled for Jenny and touched that Metro has had such a positive impact on her life.<\/p>\n \u2018We pride ourselves on representing and inspiring future generations so it\u2019s fantastic to see something that began as a childhood competition evolve into a career shaping the future of space.<\/p>\n \u2018We played a small part in Jenny\u2019s journey, but know we will see her success encourage the next generation of readers, particularly young women, to achieve greatness in industries traditionally dominated by men.\u2019<\/p>\n Jennifer added: \u2018Giving kids the opportunity to do more than studying in class means they have a chance to really imagine what they could do when they\u2019re older.<\/p>\n \u2018A lot of the time people still have quite an outdated view of what engineering is. <\/p>\n \t\t \u2018Going to something like space camp Turkey or something similar makes you really understand that engineering is so much more. <\/p>\n \u2018Particularly for young girls and people that are underrepresented in engineering, it gives them the chance to imagine what someone like them could do in the future.\u2019<\/p>\n Jennifer has now joined Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) in a new role as Senior Systems Engineer.<\/p>\n There, she will continue her pioneering space work and help to design and then test and build a new satellite, with the goal of launching by 2028.<\/p>\n Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n For more stories like this, check our news page<\/a>.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Schoolgirl](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/SEI_280655314-fcc3.jpg\")
\n\t\tJennifer read the Metro every day on her commute to school in London<\/p>\n![\"Schoolgirl](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/SEI_280660837-50e9-e1768320937562.jpg\")
\n\t\tPart of the competition page Jennifer spotted in Metro in May 2008<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/astro-e611.jpg\")
\n\t\tRichard Garriott and the special edition of Metro he took to space<\/p>\n![\"Schoolgirl](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/SEI_280655315-34ee-e1768319933682.jpg\")
\n\t\tJennifer (fourth school girl from the left) was inspired after her trip to Space Camp Turkey<\/p>\n![\"Schoolgirl](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/SEI_280655829-b8ae-e1768320214758.jpg\")
\n\t\tJennifer got to experience being an astronaut during the space camp in Turkey<\/p>\n![\"Schoolgirl](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/SEI_280655310-4567-e1768321066569.jpg\")
\n\t\tJennifer has spoken at the United Nations in her work tackling space junk<\/p>\n![\"Schoolgirl](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/SEI_280655934-969c.jpg\")
\n\t\tJennifer took home the Young Woman Engineer of the Year Award prize in December (Picture: Christian Trampenau\/The Institution of Engineering and Technology)<\/p>\n
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