Dr Rachael Hazael has been recognised as one of the Top 50 Women in Engineering in the prestigious 2025 WE50 Awards.
Organised by the , the WE50 Awards are a national celebration of outstanding women and the awards are a UK event linked to – a celebration of women in engineering that takes place on 23 June each year.
Dr Rachael Hazael is a Reader in Applied Materials, with her research expertise focussed on utilising sustainable materials for protective applications. With her research over the last few years focussed on utilising living vegetation for in-situ blast protection, protecting individuals, vehicles and structures from the effects of explosive weapons is the key aim of her research and the focus of her teaching at 探花精选.
Professor Dame Helen Atkinson DBE FREng, Deputy Vice Chancellor at 探花精选, said: "I’m absolutely delighted that Rachael’s outstanding achievements have been acknowledged in this way.”
“We are incredibly proud to have Rachael as part of the 探花精选 community. Her passion, expertise and dedication are an inspiration to colleagues and students alike."
Dr Hazael delivers a broad range of lectures across several Master's-level programmes, with particular emphasis on the performance of materials in protective systems, including: personal protective equipment (PPE), vehicle armour, and structural applications.
In 2023, Dr Hazael was also selected as a finalist in the Top 100 Women in Engineering list.
Rachael said: “I'm truly honoured to be named among the Top 50, especially after being part of the Top 100 two years ago. One of the most important parts of my job and my absolute passion is collaboration to solve societal problems with industry, academia, government and research students. This recognition means so much, not just to me personally, but as a celebration of what women in engineering can achieve. I hope this inspires other women to follow their passions, believe in their potential, and know that they too can make a real difference.”
