U-care: Deep ultraviolet light therapies
Lead Research Organisation:
Heriot-Watt University
Department Name: Sch of Engineering and Physical Science
Abstract
The unique properties of light have made it central to our high-tech society. For example, our information-rich world is only enabled by the remarkable capacity of the fibre-optic network, where thin strands of glass are used to carry massive amounts of information around the globe as high-speed optical signals. Light also impacts areas of our society as diverse as laser-based manufacturing, solar energy, space-based remote sensing and even astronomy.
One area where the properties of light open up otherwise-impossible capabilities is medicine. In ophthalmology for example, lasers are routinely used to perform surgery on the eye through corneal reshaping. This involves two different lasers. In the first step, a laser producing very short pulses of infrared light cuts a flap in the front surface of the eye to provide access. In the second step, another laser producing longer pulses of ultraviolet (UV) light sculpts the shape of the cornea and correct focusing errors. The flap is then folded back into place so that the cornea can heal.
The two very-different laser systems in that example illustrate an important point: the effects of light on human tissues are highly-dependent on the specific properties of both the light and the tissues involved. To sculpt the cornea, the laser wavelength of 193 nm is in the deep UV region of the electromagnetic spectrum, much shorter than the visible range (380 - 740 nm) we are familiar with. This is because (unlike visible light) it is very efficiently absorbed by the cornea, so that essentially all the energy of the light is deposited at the surface. Thus only a very thin layer of tissue (a few microns thick) is removed, or "resected", with each pulse of light, facilitating very-precise shaping of the cornea and accurate adjustment of its focusing properties.
193 nm light can be generated by an ArF excimer gas laser, a >40 year-old technology producing a poor-quality low-brightness beam of light. This is suitable for corneal reshaping, but not for a range of other important therapies requiring higher-quality deep UV beams. Unfortunately, alternative ways to generate such short wavelengths are non-trivial, resulting in complex and expensive laser systems not suitable for widespread clinical uptake.
U-care aims to address this gap by exploiting cutting-edge techniques in laser physics. We will develop new sources of deep UV light which will be highly compact, robust and low cost. We will develop ways to deliver this light precisely to tissues, and work to understand in detail the biophysical mechanisms involved. Our efforts will focus on new therapies that target some of the biggest challenges facing medicine: cellular-precision cancer surgery, and the emergence of drug-resistant "super-bugs". Importantly, U-care will involve engineers and physical scientists working in close collaboration with clinicians and biomedical scientists to verify that the therapies we develop are effective and safe. By doing so in an integrated manner, we will drive our deep-UV light therapies towards healthcare impact and widespread use in the clinic by 2050.
One area where the properties of light open up otherwise-impossible capabilities is medicine. In ophthalmology for example, lasers are routinely used to perform surgery on the eye through corneal reshaping. This involves two different lasers. In the first step, a laser producing very short pulses of infrared light cuts a flap in the front surface of the eye to provide access. In the second step, another laser producing longer pulses of ultraviolet (UV) light sculpts the shape of the cornea and correct focusing errors. The flap is then folded back into place so that the cornea can heal.
The two very-different laser systems in that example illustrate an important point: the effects of light on human tissues are highly-dependent on the specific properties of both the light and the tissues involved. To sculpt the cornea, the laser wavelength of 193 nm is in the deep UV region of the electromagnetic spectrum, much shorter than the visible range (380 - 740 nm) we are familiar with. This is because (unlike visible light) it is very efficiently absorbed by the cornea, so that essentially all the energy of the light is deposited at the surface. Thus only a very thin layer of tissue (a few microns thick) is removed, or "resected", with each pulse of light, facilitating very-precise shaping of the cornea and accurate adjustment of its focusing properties.
193 nm light can be generated by an ArF excimer gas laser, a >40 year-old technology producing a poor-quality low-brightness beam of light. This is suitable for corneal reshaping, but not for a range of other important therapies requiring higher-quality deep UV beams. Unfortunately, alternative ways to generate such short wavelengths are non-trivial, resulting in complex and expensive laser systems not suitable for widespread clinical uptake.
U-care aims to address this gap by exploiting cutting-edge techniques in laser physics. We will develop new sources of deep UV light which will be highly compact, robust and low cost. We will develop ways to deliver this light precisely to tissues, and work to understand in detail the biophysical mechanisms involved. Our efforts will focus on new therapies that target some of the biggest challenges facing medicine: cellular-precision cancer surgery, and the emergence of drug-resistant "super-bugs". Importantly, U-care will involve engineers and physical scientists working in close collaboration with clinicians and biomedical scientists to verify that the therapies we develop are effective and safe. By doing so in an integrated manner, we will drive our deep-UV light therapies towards healthcare impact and widespread use in the clinic by 2050.
Planned Impact
This project will achieve impact in a number of important areas:
Patients: We will develop new therapies utilising deep UV light for germicidal and cellular-precision tissue resection. These will improve patient care in some of the biggest challenge areas facing healthcare in the 21st century e.g. antimicrobial resistance and cancer surgery. Although this is an EPS research project, our Pathways to Impact is carefully designed to smooth the path to translation and eventual commercialisation, a goal which is essential for widespread clinical impact.
NHS: U-care will enable new technologies that can target infections in confined areas of the body and medical devices, with the potential to have a significant impact on the NHS. For example, the ability to sterilise catheters in-situ using light is perfectly aligned with the James Lind Alliance's Intensive Care Top 10 priorities, which highlighted a need to investigate "What is the best way to prevent, diagnose and treat hospital acquired infection (e.g. ventilator associated pneumonia, blood stream infections related to the use of invasive lines)". U-care will also develop new approaches to resecting tissues with cellular precision, with key applications in resecting cancers in the brain and upper respiratory tract of the ear, nose and throat. Some of these cancers have the worst treatment outcomes of all cancers, and U-care will provide a new treatment route, making previously inoperable cancers treatable.
UK Industry: Despite its' blue-skies, low technology readiness level (TRL) nature, U-care is strongly supported by relevant industry, with 8 industry project partners contributing >£628k of support (£263k in-cash, £365k in-kind - note the full contribution from all project partners is ~£1.4M). These partners, which include manufacturers of healthcare technology, laser sources and photonic components, recognise the potential of U-care to impact not only healthcare but also a wide range of UK high-tech high-value industries. A collaboration agreement will be put in place between all the collaborating institutes and project partners to ensure that key pieces of intellectual property can be protected and accessed, in order to ensure a smooth road to commercialisation.
UK PLC: U-care aims to maintain and develop the UK's lead in many areas, including cutting-edge EPS healthcare technologies, manufacturing technologies, and advanced instrumentation. Thus, the project will impact UK PLC by enhancing its standing and position in these important areas. The project will also train 20 (13 PhDs and 7 PDRAs) young multi-skilled, cross-discipline scientists and engineers, the key to a high-tech / value economy.
Academia: This project will benefit academic communities in many areas of EPS and beyond. To maximise our academic impact, we will disseminate project results (following suitable intellectual property protection) at international photonics and biophotonics conferences (CLEO-Europe, CLEO, Photonics West) and at biomedical conferences (Infectious Diseases, Intensive Care, Oncology, Neurosurgical Society of America (NSA) Annual Meeting). We will also publish our results in the most prestigious field-specific and multidisciplinary journals.
General public: U-care is a superb opportunity to enthuse the public about the importance of cutting-edge EPS research in next-generation healthcare. We will seek wide-ranging opportunities for impactful engagement with the public, and our public engagement strategist will ensure we have a strong online presence (Twitter, Facebook, project webpage). We will target events such as the Edinburgh Science Festival, deliver lectures at schools, and aim to exhibit at events such as the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition and also exhibit at Science Museums. The investigators of U-care have a multi-prize-winning record in public engagement, and we are well placed to ensure the maximum possible impact in this area.
Patients: We will develop new therapies utilising deep UV light for germicidal and cellular-precision tissue resection. These will improve patient care in some of the biggest challenge areas facing healthcare in the 21st century e.g. antimicrobial resistance and cancer surgery. Although this is an EPS research project, our Pathways to Impact is carefully designed to smooth the path to translation and eventual commercialisation, a goal which is essential for widespread clinical impact.
NHS: U-care will enable new technologies that can target infections in confined areas of the body and medical devices, with the potential to have a significant impact on the NHS. For example, the ability to sterilise catheters in-situ using light is perfectly aligned with the James Lind Alliance's Intensive Care Top 10 priorities, which highlighted a need to investigate "What is the best way to prevent, diagnose and treat hospital acquired infection (e.g. ventilator associated pneumonia, blood stream infections related to the use of invasive lines)". U-care will also develop new approaches to resecting tissues with cellular precision, with key applications in resecting cancers in the brain and upper respiratory tract of the ear, nose and throat. Some of these cancers have the worst treatment outcomes of all cancers, and U-care will provide a new treatment route, making previously inoperable cancers treatable.
UK Industry: Despite its' blue-skies, low technology readiness level (TRL) nature, U-care is strongly supported by relevant industry, with 8 industry project partners contributing >£628k of support (£263k in-cash, £365k in-kind - note the full contribution from all project partners is ~£1.4M). These partners, which include manufacturers of healthcare technology, laser sources and photonic components, recognise the potential of U-care to impact not only healthcare but also a wide range of UK high-tech high-value industries. A collaboration agreement will be put in place between all the collaborating institutes and project partners to ensure that key pieces of intellectual property can be protected and accessed, in order to ensure a smooth road to commercialisation.
UK PLC: U-care aims to maintain and develop the UK's lead in many areas, including cutting-edge EPS healthcare technologies, manufacturing technologies, and advanced instrumentation. Thus, the project will impact UK PLC by enhancing its standing and position in these important areas. The project will also train 20 (13 PhDs and 7 PDRAs) young multi-skilled, cross-discipline scientists and engineers, the key to a high-tech / value economy.
Academia: This project will benefit academic communities in many areas of EPS and beyond. To maximise our academic impact, we will disseminate project results (following suitable intellectual property protection) at international photonics and biophotonics conferences (CLEO-Europe, CLEO, Photonics West) and at biomedical conferences (Infectious Diseases, Intensive Care, Oncology, Neurosurgical Society of America (NSA) Annual Meeting). We will also publish our results in the most prestigious field-specific and multidisciplinary journals.
General public: U-care is a superb opportunity to enthuse the public about the importance of cutting-edge EPS research in next-generation healthcare. We will seek wide-ranging opportunities for impactful engagement with the public, and our public engagement strategist will ensure we have a strong online presence (Twitter, Facebook, project webpage). We will target events such as the Edinburgh Science Festival, deliver lectures at schools, and aim to exhibit at events such as the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition and also exhibit at Science Museums. The investigators of U-care have a multi-prize-winning record in public engagement, and we are well placed to ensure the maximum possible impact in this area.
Organisations
- Heriot-Watt University (Lead Research Organisation)
- University of Bath (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH (Collaboration)
- Lightpoint Medical (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- NHS Lothian (Project Partner)
- Aravind Eye Care System (Project Partner)
- Renishaw PLC (Project Partner)
- ICUsteps (Project Partner)
- M-Solv Ltd (Project Partner)
- BTG plc (UK) (Project Partner)
- Glass Technology Services (Project Partner)
- THE BRAIN TUMOUR CHARITY (Project Partner)
- GlobalSurg (UK) (Project Partner)
- University of Michigan (Project Partner)
- Ninewells Hospital (Project Partner)
- PowerPhotonic Ltd (Project Partner)
- Science and Technology Facilities Council (Project Partner)
- Coherent UK Ltd (Project Partner)
- King's College London (Project Partner)
Publications
Travers J.C.
(2021)
Advances in nonlinear optics in gas-filled hollow-core fibers
in Optics InfoBase Conference Papers
Brahms C.
(2021)
Effcient Generation of Bright Few-Femtosecond Deep Ultraviolet Pulses at 50 kHz Repetition Rate in a Compact System
in Optics InfoBase Conference Papers
Brahms C.
(2022)
Higher-order-mode soliton dynamics in gas-filled hollow capillary fibres
in Optics InfoBase Conference Papers
McArthur S.R.
(2022)
Ultrafast Laser Fabrication of Efficient Volume Bragg Gratings at Depth in Silica
in 2022 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, CLEO 2022 - Proceedings
Sabbah M.
(2022)
Frequency tuneable sub-15 fs pulses from a gas-filled hollow-core fiber pumped by a commercial Yb laser
in Optics InfoBase Conference Papers
Roldán-Varona P.
(2022)
Selective Plane Illumination Optical Endomicroscopy with Polymer Imaging Fibres
in Optics InfoBase Conference Papers
Brahms C.
(2022)
Higher-order-mode soliton dynamics in gas-filled hollow capillary fibres
in 2022 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, CLEO 2022 - Proceedings
Parker H.E.
(2022)
Selective Plane Illumination Fluorescence Endomicroscopy using a Polymer Imaging Fiber and an End-cap
in Optics InfoBase Conference Papers
Roldán-Varona P.
(2022)
Selective Plane Illumination Optical Endomicroscopy with Polymer Imaging Fibres
in 2022 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, CLEO 2022 - Proceedings
Brahms C
(2022)
Soliton self-compression and resonant dispersive wave emission in higher-order modes of a hollow capillary fibre
in Journal of Physics: Photonics
Cosgun TY
(2022)
Miniaturised gap sensor using fibre optic Fabry-Pérot interferometry for structural health monitoring.
in Optics express
Brahms C
(2022)
Efficient and compact source of tuneable ultrafast deep ultraviolet laser pulses at 50 kHz repetition rate
in Optics Letters
McArthur S
(2022)
Ultrafast laser inscription of efficient volume Bragg gratings deep in fused silica using active wavefront shaping
in Optical Materials Express
McShane E.P.
(2022)
Time-Correlated Single-Photon Counting Imaging to Locate Fibre-Optic Medical Devices Deep-in-Tissue
in Optics InfoBase Conference Papers
McArthur S.R.
(2022)
Ultrafast Laser Fabrication of Efficient Volume Bragg Gratings at Depth in Silica
in Optics InfoBase Conference Papers
McArthur SR
(2022)
Investigating focus elongation using a spatial light modulator for high-throughput ultrafast-laser-induced selective etching in fused silica.
in Optics express
Brahms C.
(2022)
Plasma effects during soliton dynamics driven with circular polarisation in gas-filled hollow-core waveguides
in 2022 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, CLEO 2022 - Proceedings
Kotsina N
(2022)
Spectroscopic application of few-femtosecond deep-ultraviolet laser pulses from resonant dispersive wave emission in a hollow capillary fibre.
in Chemical science
Brahms C.
(2022)
Plasma effects during soliton dynamics driven with circular polarisation in gas-filled hollow-core waveguides
in Optics InfoBase Conference Papers
Ross C.A.
(2022)
Ultrafast Laser Fabricated Fused Silica Fibre Preforms
in 2022 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, CLEO 2022 - Proceedings
Sabbah M.
(2022)
Frequency tuneable sub-15 fs pulses from a gas-filled hollow-core fiber pumped by a commercial Yb laser
in 2022 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, CLEO 2022 - Proceedings
Ross C.A.
(2022)
Ultrafast Laser Fabricated Fused Silica Fibre Preforms
in Optics InfoBase Conference Papers
Milne A
(2023)
Coherent Beam Shaping with Multicore Fiber Photonic Lanterns
Ross C
(2023)
Axi-Stack: a method for manufacturing freeform air-silica optical fibre
in Optics Express
Sabbah M
(2023)
Generation and characterization of frequency tunable sub-15-fs pulses in a gas-filled hollow-core fiber pumped by a Yb:KGW laser
in Optics Letters
Ehrlich K
(2023)
A miniature fiber optic ablation probe manufactured via ultrafast laser inscription and selective chemical etching
in APL Photonics
Roldán-Varona P
(2023)
Selective plane illumination optical endomicroscopy with polymer imaging fibers
in APL Photonics
Sabbah M
(2023)
Effect of rotational Raman response on ultra-flat supercontinuum generation in gas-filled hollow-core photonic crystal fibers.
in Optics express
Mears R
(2024)
Multi-core anti-resonant hollow core optical fiber
in Optics Letters
Siliprandi J
(2024)
Fiber-connectorized ultrafast-laser-inscribed K-band integrated optics beam combiner for the CHARA telescope array.
in Applied optics
Tye C
(2024)
Photon counting fibre optic distributed temperature sensing with a CMOS SPAD array
in Optics Express
Brahms C
(2024)
HISOL: High-energy soliton dynamics enable ultrafast far-ultraviolet laser sources
in APL Photonics
Harrington K
(2024)
High loss reveals gaseous chlorine in antiresonant hollow core fibres
Sabbah M
(2024)
Ultra-low threshold deep ultraviolet generation in a hollow-core fiber
in Optics Letters
Yerolatsitis S
(2024)
Controlling the transmission bandwidth of anti-resonant hollow-core fibers
Harrington K
(2024)
Optical absorption spectrum reveals gaseous chlorine in anti-resonant hollow core fibers.
in Optics express
McGarry C
(2024)
Low-loss, compact, fibre-integrated cell for quantum memories.
in Optics express
Travers J
(2024)
Ultra-low threshold deep-ultraviolet generation in hollow-core fiber
Harrington K.
(2024)
High loss reveals gaseous chlorine in antiresonant hollow core fibres
in Frontiers in Optics, FiO 2024 in Proceedings Frontiers in Optics + Laser Science 2024 (FiO, LS) - Part of Frontiers in Optics + Laser Science 2024
Travers J
(2024)
Ultra-low threshold deep-ultraviolet generation in hollow-core fiber
McGarry C
(2024)
Publisher's Note: "Microstructured optical fibers for quantum applications: Perspective" [APL Quantum 1, 030901 (2024)]
in APL Quantum
| Description | EPSRC Research and Partnership Hub in Microscale Science and Technology to Accelerate Therapeutic Innovation (MicroTex) |
| Amount | £10,758,466 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | UKRI143 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2025 |
| End | 03/2031 |
| Description | UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship |
| Amount | £1,326,800 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MR/X034615/1 |
| Organisation | Heriot-Watt University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2024 |
| End | 05/2028 |
| Title | Dataset for "Guidance of ultraviolet light down to 190 nm in a hollow-core optical fibre" |
| Description | The data archived here is the raw data for the characterisation of a hollow core anti-resonant fibre designed to guide in the ultraviolet wavelength range. Measurement of attenuation and bend loss were performed and the code used to process the raw data is also provided. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | NA |
| URL | https://researchdata.bath.ac.uk/id/eprint/1333 |
| Title | Dataset for "Optical absorption spectrum reveals gaseous chlorine in anti-resonant hollow core fibres" |
| Description | We have observed unexpected spectral attenuation of ultraviolet light in freshly drawn hollow core optical fibres, which we measure through a short length of fibre using a bentham monochromator and a broadband laser driven light source (EQ-99X). When the fibre ends are left open to atmosphere, this loss feature dissipates over time. The loss matches the absorption spectrum of gaseous (molecular) chlorine and, given enough time, the transmission spectrum of the fibre recovers to that expected from the morphological structure of the fibre. This dataset contains the spectral data output from the optical fibre that was analyzed to show this. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://researchdata.bath.ac.uk/id/eprint/1423 |
| Title | Dataset for Low-loss, compact, fibre-integrated cell for quantum memories |
| Description | This dataset includes data that are used to characterise a low-loss, fibre integrated cell. That is a segment of hollow core fibre connected to single mode fibre on both ends by means of a low-loss, graded index fibre interconnection. We have included data that shows loss spectra for this device, as well as characterising the loss due to coupling into higher order modes of the fibre by means of allowing the fibre to droop under its own weight, and a spatially and spectrally resolved ("S-squared") measurement of the hollow core fibre mode. Finally, we provide data that show it is possible to optimise transmission using this drooping of the fibre. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | NA |
| URL | https://researchdata.bath.ac.uk/id/eprint/1403 |
| Title | Dataset for Multi-core anti-resonant hollow core optical fibre |
| Description | The data in this repository contains the characterisation of fibres presented in the publication 'Multi-core anti-resonant hollow core optical fibre'. This includes microscope images of the fibres and the raw data files for the transmission, cutback and coupling measurements presented. These were taken to quantify the optical performance of the fibres, specifically the loss and inter-core coupling of light. Also included is the Matlab code used to process the data into the figure for the paper. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://researchdata.bath.ac.uk/id/eprint/1457 |
| Description | Collaboration with Edinburgh University |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Department | Edinburgh Genomics |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are developing the TCSPC imaging system. This will be translated to the QMRI for testing when appropriate |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partner at the Univ of Edinburgh will be developing cadaveric animal models to test the system, but this has been delayed very significantly by COVID |
| Impact | none yet, but we have a paper in the pipeline |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | Prof. Tim A. Birks |
| Organisation | University of Bath |
| Department | Department of Physics |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I have used the technology of ultrafast laser inscription to develop three-dimensional photonic structures for future applications in astronomy / space science / remote sensing and telecommunications. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Prof. Birks has been fully involved in the discussions of how the devices should be fabricated. |
| Impact | R. R. Thomson, T. A. Birks, S. G. Leon-Saval, A. K. Kar, and J. Bland-Hawthorn, "Ultrafast laser inscription of an integrated photonic lantern," Opt. Express 19, 5698-5705 (2011) R. R. Thomson, R. J. Harris, T. A. Birks, G. Brown, J. Allington-Smith, and J. Bland-Hawthorn, "Ultrafast laser inscription of a 121-waveguide fan-out for astrophotonics," Opt. Lett. 37, 2331-2333 (2012) |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Description | Girls into Physics and Engineering Events |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Drop in workshops run all over Scotland to inspire high school aged girls and educate them on careers and research in physics and engineering |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| Description | Girls into Physics and Engineering events |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Researchers from U-care hosted workshops at 'Girls into Physics and Engineering' events across Scotland talking to high school females about the potential career paths that can be taken in physics and engineering. Interactive activities were also taken along to explain the science behind our project and the potential future impact. We received great feedback from these events from the participants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | Glasgow Science Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Exhibit at Glasgow Science Festival in the Riverside Museum over 4 days. Drop-in table top activities with school groups and the general public attending. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Health Check BBC World Service Interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Prof Robert Thomson was interviews for Health Check on the BBC World Service as part of the Royal Society Summer Exhibition 2024. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct5t8r |
| Description | Orkney International Science Festival - Family day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The team were involved in a U-care exhibition stall at the Orkney International Science Festival in September 2023. A range of interactive activities were available to explain to the general public and science behind and purpose of our research. The event was very well attended with a national audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.u-care.ac.uk/team-u-cares-experience-at-orkney-international-science-festival |
| Description | Orkney International Science Festival - Robert Thomson talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A talk titled 'Fantastic Light - Incredible Industries' was given by Prof Robert Thomson at Orkney International Science Festival in September 2023 at the local cinema to the general public. The event was well attended and may questions were asked following the talk. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Robert Thomson visit to Balfron High School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Prof Robert Thomson participated in a careers event held at Balfron High School. During the event, Rob talked to groups of school pupils about his career journey since leaving school, the positive and negative aspects of his job, and what he thought he thought had been the key formative points in his career journey. Rob thoroughly enjoyed the visit and was genuinely impressed by the enthusiasm and interest shown by the pupils. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Flagship exhibit in the Royal Society for the general public, school groups, press, and prestigious soiree events with fellows of the Royal Society. Over 11,000 people attended the event over the week. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2024/summer-science-exhibition/all-exhibits/ |