Impactful Science

Meet the STFC and Johnson Matthey joint funded Fellows

We speak to the three STFC and Johnson Matthey joint-funded fellows on their roles supporting Johnson Matthey and their provision of technical expertise within the national facilities, including the Central Laser Facility, the CLF, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, and the Hartree Centre.

In this podcast, we are joined by ISIS Research Fellow Hamish Cavaye, CLF Research Fellow Sneha Banerjee, and Hartree Research Fellow, Tseden Taddese.

Find out more about their backgrounds, the role of a fellow and the value they add to Johnson Matthey and their respective facilities, and of course, what one thing from science fiction they wish could be possible today...

Higgs Centre: Innovation in the space and tech ecosystem - Part 2

In this podcast, Euan Harvey, a Business Development Manager at the Higgs Centre for Innovation, hosts four companies based in the Royal Observatory Edinburgh (ROE):

• Robocean (Niall McGrath, CEO)
• Singular Photonics (Mark Mooney, Senior Manufacturing and Application Specialist)
• Thistle Rocketry (David Roberston, CEO)
• Aphelion Industries (Jamie Snape, Founder)

Together they explore innovation and the experiences of entrepreneurs and employees at the space and technology ecosystems based at the Higgs Centre and within the Higgs and ESA incubation schemes.

Part 2 of the discussion is where we explore more about the impact of the projects and technologies discussed in Part 1.

Higgs Centre: Innovation in the space and tech ecosystem - Part 1

In this podcast, Euan Harvey, a Business Development Manager at the Higgs Centre for Innovation, hosts four companies based in the Royal Observatory Edinburgh (ROE):

• Robocean (Niall McGrath, CEO)
• Singular Photonics (Mark Mooney, Senior Manufacturing and Application Specialist)
• Thistle Rocketry (David Roberston, CEO)
• Aphelion Industries (Jamie Snape, Founder)

Together they explore innovation and the experiences of entrepreneurs and employees at the space and technology ecosystems based at the Higgs Centre and within the Higgs and ESA incubation schemes.

Part 1 of the discussion is where we meet the participants and discover more about the projects and technologies they are creating. We explore more about the impact in Part 2.

UKAEA & The Hartree Centre - Debunking the myths around fusion technology

In this podcast, we discuss all things fusion technology to unpack the common misconceptions associated with fusion, delve into its current state of development and assess the impact it can and is currently having.

We speak to Shaun De Witt, Head of High-Performance Data Analytics at the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), Sue Thorne, Team Leader and Computational Scientist at STFC’s Hartree Centre, and Adriano Agnello, a Senior AI Researcher also at STFC’s Hartree Centre.

The three experts discuss some of the key elements of fusion technology, debunking common myths, laying out complex elements in a more understandable way, but also explaining some of the more technical elements, including, "What is a tokamak?", and assessing the impact generative AI and machine learning on fusion technology.

Meet the Founders Series: Spotlight Pathology & Magnify B

In this 'Meet the Founders' episode, we speak to Simon Groom the co-founder and Chief Executive of MagnifyB, and Martin Fergie, Chief Technical Officer and co-founder of Spotlight Pathology.

Both of these businesses are members of the North West Digital Tech Cluster and are also participants of the initial cohort of the Digital Business Incubation Centre (Digital BIC).

The STFC Daresbury-based cluster is a program that offers business support workshops and peer networking for businesses to share best practices, experiences and opportunities for cooperation.

MagnifyB is an affordable, 24/7, AI-driven, software-as-a-service (SaaS) application, which offers virtual advice, peer-benchmarking, performance management and tailored learning to businesses with between 1 & 49 employees. Their aim is to become “Mission Control for Business Success”, measuring and improving the “fitness level” of businesses, combining key areas of support for any small business to increase business productivity, Profitability & Cashflow.

Spotlight Pathology is a university spin-out business, that grew out of a project developing image analysis algorithms in healthcare. They have now spun out the business to develop AI algorithms to analyse blood cancer tissue biopsies with a focus on lymphoma diagnosis.

In this podcast, the Digital Tech Cluster Manager, James Bedford, speaks to them about their company journey and how they have used, benefitted and grown within the Cluster program.

Meet the Founders Series: Madison Rose from Aspedan

In this episode from our new 'Meet the Founders' series, we speak to Madison Rose the Founder and CEO of Aspedan, a digital health start-up with a novel digital health app.

Aspedan's initial involvement with STFC came about through the 2023 Cross Cluster Proof of Concept call funding award. This STFC grant supports proof of concept projects from any area related to the STFC Clusters in Space, Energy, Health & Life Sciences, Quantum, and Digital Tech.

As part of their funded project, Aspedan were able to work with a North West Health Cluster member - Health Innovation North West Coast – based at Sci-Tech Daresbury. Health Innovation North West Coast are one of 15 health innovation networks across the UK, and work with businesses and organisations to support the spread of innovation within the NHS.

Innovation Clusters at STFC: Barbara Ghinelli and Phil Carvil

In this episode we hear Dr Barbara Ghinelli (Director of Innovation Clusters - STFC) and Dr Phil Carvil (Head of the North West Clusters - STFC) unpack the success of STFC's thriving innovation clusters in Space, Energy, Health, Digital and the emerging Quantum cluster across both the Harwell Campus and the North-West region.

What is a cluster? How have they developed at STFC?

Discover how the clusters facilitate innovation, the accelerate translation of science and technology into commercialisation and attract public and private investment.

Find out how clusters facilitate rapid transfer of knowledge from the UK world class service facilities into innovative products and services developed by industry.

From STEM to STEAM?

STEAM outlines the increasing importance of developing and harnessing a variety of skillsets into the scientific community, by integrating the 'A' of the arts into STEM. This episode's chair, Gemma Wilson, Harwell's Space Cluster Manager, is joined by Angela Ashill, an MLI blanket technician at RAL Space, Reda Simbelyte, a Graudate Virtual Reality Developer at the Campus Technology Hub, and Gina Czarnecki, a Public Engagement Officer at Sci-Tech Daresbury, as they discuss what multidisciplinary collaboration means for the future of the sector.