The Millennial generation has been labeled as lazy, impatient, self-absorbed, and addicted to social media. I think that our generation is misunderstood as we are utilizing evolving technologies to create change in the world around us. A Millennial who has excelled in breaking the stigma surrounding our generation is a teenage girl named Hannah Herbst who was titled America’s Top Young Scientist. 

Hannah Herbst won the 2015 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge by creating an ocean energy probe called BEACON which offers a reliable power source for people who are living in energy poverty areas across the world. 

According to Herbst: “This prototype is very novel because it's portable. Most of the turbines available on the market are large — they take thousands of man hours to create — and they cost thousands to millions of dollars, whereas mine costs less than $500 to make.” 

Herbst’s goal is to combine specific materials that will ultimately make the small turbine more cost-effective for those who live in energy poverty. 

Hannah Herbst went to an engineering camp at Florida Atlantic University and that was when she discovered her interest in science and engineering. When she returned to school, she was determined to improve her engineering skills in order to help her pen pal in Ethiopia who was living in energy poverty. She wanted to create a solution to the energy poverty crisis so that her pen pal’s family could have access to a reliable power source. 

At just 16, Herbst is fully dual enrolled both in her high school and at Florida Atlantic University, where she is pursuing her undergraduate degree in computer engineering. Herbst is breaking Millennial stereotypes, as well as breaking gender stereotypes; engineering programs generally have a huge gender gap. 

The Standard-Examiner interviewed Kathleen Kramer, an electrical engineer professor at the University of San Diego, who reported: “Nationwide, women represent around 19 percent of engineers. But we’re more like 10 percent in electrical and computer engineering.” 

She suggested the reason why there is a persistent gender gap is because “there aren’t a lot of role models for young girls... It’s about making the profession more appealing to women and helping them see the tremendous impact they can have. By changing technology, you change the world.”

Hannah Herbst is an inspiration and the perfect role model for girls as she demonstrates that it is possible to enter a male dominated field and be successful regardless of stereotypes. She is also a prime example of how millennials utilize improving technologies to make a difference in the world around us.  

Herbst’s motivating advice to other students is to “Try stuff! If you have an idea or a problem to solve, don’t hesitate to sketch out a model or build a prototype out of materials that you have around your house. Who knows, that prototype could change someone’s life!”

You go girl! Break those stereotypes!