Podcast: visions of the future, a crowning ceremony and a wall of knowledge

In this edition: imaging innovations at the World Economic Forum, a 3D-printed crown for Queen Victoria and audio science stories on the Know It Wall.

The podcast is presented by Gareth Mitchell, a lecturer on Imperial's Science Communication MSc course and the presenter of Click Radio on the BBC World Service, with contributions from our roaming reporters.

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News: a spider silk violin and a science exhibition preview – A design engineering student has created a violin from a composite material impregnated with spider’s silk, giving it unique resonating qualities, and we look ahead to the Royal Society Summer Exhibition, where Imperial researchers will be presenting their work on ocean plastics and galactic physics.

Visions of the future – Four Imperial researchers spoke to a distinguished crowd at the World Economic Forum in China about their work at the forefront of imaging science – including better brain scans for diagnosis and surgery, and using lasers to understand chemical reactions and to map plant health for farming.

A modern crowning ceremony – Imperial’s Queen Victoria statue had been missing her crown for decades, until one professor decided to launch a competition for students to design and 3D print a new one. Queen Victoria was crowned again this month.

Wall of knowledge – Imperial and UCL students have launched Know It Wall – a place where academic research is brought to life as an audio article outlining scientists’ research, from blast injuries to Antarctic science and looking for life in the universe.