04/12/2025
At just 12 years old, Rebecca Young from Glasgow saw people shivering on the streets — and decided to invent something that could help. Driven by empathy, she designed a solar-powered backpack that unfolds into a heated blanket, giving warmth and dignity to those experiencing homelessness.
Her idea didn’t just stand out — it stunned the nation, winning the Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal, one of the UK’s top engineering awards, beating more than 70,000 other entries. With the help of engineering giant Thales, her invention became real: 30 working prototypes have already been delivered to Glasgow charities, with 120 more on the way.
Rebecca’s impact has exploded far beyond Scotland. She was named one of Time magazine’s first-ever “Girls of the Year”, honored not only for her creativity but for breaking stereotypes in STEM. And in a moment few inventors ever experience, LEGO immortalized her as a mini-figure, turning her idea into a symbol for young innovators everywhere.
Rebecca’s journey shows one powerful truth: when compassion fuels creativity, even a child’s idea can reshape the world.