A young pioneering engineer from UCD is in the driving seat to become a Nissan Generation Next ambassador after being named among the 20 finalists who have been put forward to the public voting stage of the popular competition. Colin Keogh (28), a research engineer in UCD and Engineers Ireland Young Engineer’s Society committee member, from Bray is just one step away from landing the keys to a brand new taxed and insured Nissan to drive for a year. He was among almost 1,000 people who applied to the innovative ambassador programme which helps people to follow their dream and to get ahead with the backing and support of Nissan. The competition will identify people who exemplify the drive to succeed in their chosen field will be given a brand new, taxed and insured Nissan to drive for a year. Colin works as an engineer in UCD and is determined to change the world by using science and technology to solve some of the world’s biggest problems. He utilises low cost disruptive technologies to make an impact on global issues and has already been named as one of Forbes 30 under 30 in Science & Medicine, along with one of Junior Chamber International’s Ten Outstanding Young People (TOYP) for 2017. “I believe that most problems can be solved via simple, technologically aided solutions, by anyone anywhere. My goal is to inspire, train and nurture innovation in everyone around the world, to empower them to create solutions to global issues,” said Colin. He co-founded The Rapid Foundation with Dr Shane Keaveney. It gives people in underprivileged areas access and training in disruptive technologies to allow them to help solve their own problems. Colin also co-founded the Printastic Project in UCD which is developing and promoting low cost waste re-purposing and recycling methods to enable local communities around the world to tackle the issue of marine plastic waste. You can vote in the Nissan Generation next competition now. Voting closes on 14 July and you can vote once every 24 hours. The top seven vote-getters get to become Nissan Generation Next ambassadors, while the judges at Nissan will select the final three ambassadors for 2017.