Image from IT Tallaght librarian ‘highly commended’ at international event
By Mary Dennehy
AN IMAGE captured by a librarian at IT Tallaght is currently on display in the London Science Museum, after it was Highly Commended in an international engineering photography competition.
Librarian Linda Bennett entered a photograph of IT Tallaght mechanical engineering technician and lecturer Elaine Gough into the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s Photographer of the Year competition.
Linda Bennett in London with photograph of Elaine Gough
The photograph captures Elaine working on 3D printed hands for the college-based 3D Assist project, which prints 3D prosthetic arms for children - who are given the new, customised limb for free.
Speaking with The Echo, Linda said that the competition was launched in a bid to challenge public misconceptions of engineering and technology and dispel its traditional image of hard hats and dirty overalls.
The photographs entered also had to capture the dynamic, creative and progressive face of engineering and engineers today.
“It was a no-brainer to take a picture of Elaine”, Linda said.
“I got to know Elaine through working in the library when she was a student.
“After graduating she worked in industry for a while and then came back to IT Tallaght where she is now a lecturer and a technician.”
Linda believes that her picture fits the brief of the competition as it “shows another side to engineering”, with its focus fixed on the voluntary, mechanical work of 3D Assist – alongside promoting women in engineering.
Last weekend, Linda was invited to the Science Museum in London for the launch of the exhibition.
