Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe features two UCD students

Posted January 17, 2017

• LGBTQ+ activist is one of youngest to be recognised
• PhD researcher honoured for efforts to bring disruptive tech to developing world

UCD students Sam Blanckensee and Colin Keogh have been named in (opens in a new window)Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list of people “who will impact Europe for the next 50 years.”

The listing features 300 young leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs under the age of 30 who are transforming areas including business, technology, media and culture.

22 year-old activist Blanckensee was named in the (opens in a new window)Law and Policy and (opens in a new window)Youngest categories.

Pictured: Sam Blanckensee, Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe in Law and Policy and Youngest categories

He is National Development Officer at (opens in a new window)Transgender Equality Network Ireland and Education Officer at Irish Trans Student Alliance.

Forbes described him as “an outspoken voice for the trans community across Irish media and politics.”

Blanckensee was part of the lobbying effort that helped pass legislation to allow people to self-declare their gender and receive new birth certificates.

Humbled and slightly shocked to be on the (opens in a new window)@Forbes (opens in a new window)#30Under30 Europe Law and Policy and Youngest Lists (opens in a new window)https://t.co/nqw1PYlhJF

— Sam Blanckensee (@samwiseblank) (opens in a new window)January 16, 2017

He is a student in the UCD School of Veterinary Medicine and was LGBT Coordinator with (opens in a new window)UCD Students’ Union.

Blanckensee received a UCD President’s Award in 2014 for work advocating for the rights of transgender students inside and outside the UCD community.

PhD student Keogh was featured for his work towards “using low-cost disruptive technologies to help improve the world.”

He was named in the (opens in a new window)Science and Healthcare category.

Pictured: Colin Keogh, Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe in Science and Healthcare category

Keogh is a research engineer at UCD College of Engineering and Architecture and founder of (opens in a new window)Rapid Foundation.

It aims to put “technology such as 3D printers and low-cost electronics in the hands of people who need it most in developing countries.”

Absolutely delighted to be included on the (opens in a new window)@ForbesUnder30 (opens in a new window)#ForbesU30Europe list 2017 (opens in a new window)https://t.co/uWw2BN82mu

— Colin Keogh (@ColinJ_Keogh) (opens in a new window)January 16, 2017

The Rapid Foundation was a recipient of the 2016 (opens in a new window)Fritz Schumacher Award.

By: Jonny Baxter, digital journalist, UCD University Relations