“You’re getting a great start from being here at Brock” – Professor Dame Wendy Hall

World renowned computer scientist Professor Dame Wendy Hall gave a keynote speech at the Brockenhurst College STEM Awards recently about her life and career, summing up what it means to her to be a scientist.

She told the audience of students, parents and teachers about her early years, her natural ability for maths, her computer science research at the University of Southampton, and her association with Sir Tim Berners-Lee – co-creator of the World Wide Web.

Professor Dame Wendy opened by saying: “I love doing these sorts of things because I like to inspire the next generation.”

She then described her childhood in London in the 1950s, recalling that she passed her 11-plus examination, securing her place at a grammar school.

However, with her sights set on a medical career, her headmistress told her that the medical profession was not for women, and that she should apply to study Mathematics at Cambridge, she recalled.

Professor Dame Wendy went on to study at the University of Southampton instead, where she began her research during the advent of personal computers.

Her team subsequently invented the Microcosm hypermedia system in the 1980s, which was a forerunner to the World Wide Web.

Professor Dame Wendy also told the audience about her advisory roles, and about her meetings with high-profile figures including King Charles, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

About being a scientist, she told the audience:

“I have loved being a scientist – being a scientist just opens doors you can’t imagine…

“You feel you can change the world if you’re a scientist or an engineer – we are so important in this world today.”

She ended by outlining her ‘ABC-mantra’ about being a scientist, saying: “Be ambitious, be bold and be confident, and get people to help you do that, and you’ll have a wonderful time in life, and you’re getting a great start from being here at Brock.”