DAMINI KUMAR
Damini Kumar, 29, inventor, Iver Heath, Bucks

Since a child Damini had been telling people that she would be an inventor. Her dream with hard work became a reality. Damini gained a degree in mechanical engineering from Imperial College of London and she went onto gain a MSc Masters in Engineering Product Design from London's South bank University.

One day whilst watching condensation run off the window pain onto the window-sill Damini wondered what stopped the water dribbling under the sill. She saw a groove on the sill which prevented this from happening and thought if this works on the window why could this not work to stop a tea pot from dripping? In 1998 Damini invented the world's first non drip tea pot the 'D-pot' and disproved years of scientific research into the ubiquitous problem of the dripping tea pot.

In 1999 Damini launched the first range of D-Pots at the BBC's Tomorrows World Exhibition. Not only was Damini the youngest exhibitor she also won an award for Commended International Invention of the Year, and in 2001 she went on to win the prestigious Young British Female of the Year Award for her invention. Damini also works with Women Into Science and Engineering (WISE) to encourage more young school girls into engineering and science. Damini now works freelance for a number of design companies and is working on her next invention.

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