A young student from Salford has won a Gold Award in the Primary Engineering MacRobert Medal for creating glasses with colour-changing lenses that could aid people with dyslexia.
During her time as a student at Light Oaks Junior School in 2024, Millie Childs took part in Primary Engineer, a national STEM competition that invites pupils aged 3-19 to identify a problem in the world and invent a creative solution.
As part of the competition, Millie designed Rainbow Glasses with interchangeable or adjustable lenses that can be used by people with dyslexia, allowing them more comfort when reading.
Her design was one of two that was awarded the gold medal in 2025 and was later chosen by engineering company Thales UK, and turned into a prototype.
Millie, 11, now a pupil at Co-Op Academy Swinton, said the experience of the competition and the possibility of helping dyslexic people is really exciting.
Her former teacher, Rob Entwistle, collected the award on her behalf at the ceremony in London. He said, “Watching the process from start to finish was incredible.
“To see something she had drawn, being invented and then come to life was very rewarding.”
A spokesperson for Primary Engineer said, “The Primary Engineer Competition is all about giving pupils the agency to identify real-world problems and engineer creative solutions.
“What a privilege to be part of the journey. Well done Millie!”
