Researchers from the Department of Materials recently showcased their exciting work at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition.
Held from 2 July to 7 July, the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition invites researchers from universities and science institutions across the UK to display their research at the Royal Society’s free annual celebration of cutting-edge science.
Professor Neil Alford, Dr Daan Arroo, Dr Ryan Bower, and Dr Wern Ng from the Nanoscale Advanced Materials Engineering (NAME) programme grant in the Department of Materials at Imperial College London joined colleagues from the University of Manchester and the University of Leeds to showcase their exhibit "Engineering Atom by Atom". The exhibit was one of only 14 selected from across the UK, bringing the world of nano and atomic-scale engineering into the public eye.
Nanoengineering is the science of designing advanced materials with nanoscale precision and accuracy. Atoms behave differently at the nanoscale, interacting uniquely and displaying distinct properties that can be harnessed for various applications. It holds the key to solving some of society's biggest challenges, including increasing quantum computing power, harnessing energy more efficiently, developing room temperature masers for faster MRI scans and designing the next generation of anti-microbial surfaces to prevent the transmission of infections.
Visitors could experience VR that shrank them to the size of an atom and be implanted into materials with atomic precision. They could also design and engineer nanoscale materials in an interactive laboratory, bringing their creations to life in a giant light cube simulation. Additionally, visitors were challenged to examine a material without seeing it and observe an atomic force microscope (AFM) in action, as it characterised new materials directly from the lab.
The exhibit was incredibly popular and attracted interest from science enthusiasts of all ages. The team will continue their outreach efforts at various events over the next year.
Find out more about the Nanoscale Advanced Materials Engineering (NAME) programme grant: https://name-pg.uk/atomic_scale_engineering/
Check out the VR exhibit on YouTube: https://name-pg.uk/vr/
Visitors looking at the "Engineering Atom by Atom" exhibition
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Reporter
Kayleigh Brewer
Department of Materials
