A first year electrical and electronic engineering student at Queen's University, has had a minor planet named in her honour after coming second in the world at the Intel Science and Engineering Fair held in Albuquerque, USA.

From Warrenpoint, Judy Black is one of only 10,000 people worldwide to have such a minor planet named after them.

Planet Judithblack was recently awarded to Judy as part of her prize for developing a new device which increased productivity at a local company by 77%.

Designed when on work placement with SCA in Warrenpoint, Judy invented a novel Corrugated Board Rejection System to automatically detect and remove faulty cardboard from the production line.

Judy's device is now an integral part of the production process at the SCA factory in Warrenpoint and has been passed to other SCA factories worldwide for consideration.

Judy is currently being sponsored through her degree in electrical and electronic engineering at Queen’s by NIE as part of the Power Academy Scholarship Scheme. She was entered into the Intel competition after taking part in the Nuffield Science and Bursary Scheme. While an A-level student at Sacred Heart Grammar School in Newry she won the Seagate Young Innovators award for her work.

Around 1,500 students from across the world compete annually in the Intel Fair. Judy competed in the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering category where she also picked up a cash prize of $1,500.

(JM)