Bright Lights and Dinosaurs
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences
Abstract
What do extinct birds, the first life on Earth, dinosaurs, and particle accelerators have in common? The advent of synchrotron-based imaging and x-ray microtomography has revealed a new and rapidly developing area of science that unites these diverse areas of research. The application of technology to unpicking the disjointed sentences that comprise the fossil record is now permitting scientists to reconstruct past worlds in high fidelity. Over the course of this Fellowship, Dr. Phil Manning aims to develop public engagement programmes at the University of Manchester by working between the School of Earth, Atmospheric & Environmental Science and The Manchester Museum to highlight synchrotron light sources and prehistoric life. The Bright Lights and Dinosaurs project aims to use his research on synchrotron-based imaging and x-ray microtomography of past life in order to help explain the methods and technologies used to study samples ranging from plants to dinosaurs. This unique and inspiring area of science is generating a whole new research area within the field of palaeontology.
This research is undertaken at the University of Manchester in collaboration with the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL, USA), Diamond (Oxford), and the Henry Moseley X-Ray Imaging Facility (HMXRI: University of Manchester). In the course of the proposed engagement, you might see Phil giving live lectures via the web at SSRL and/or Diamond, or even join him placing dinosaur brain-cases in the high-powered CT scanners of the HMXRI.
Bright Lights and Dinosaurs aims to engage with a large and diverse audience to help explain how chemistry can define the origins, synthesis, function, and subsequent alterations/modifications of both inorganic and organically derived molecules. The molecules that Phil and his team track down will come from some of the most iconic species to have walked, swam, crawled, slithered, slimed, flown, or jumped on Earth. Through a series of public lectures, museum-based events, school outreach visits, and media (web, augmented reality, etc.), this project is dedicated to raising the profile of key STEM subjects to core STFC audiences.
This synchrotron-based research has already grabbed the attention of the international media by being widely reported in over 1000 media outlets (Wogelius et al., 2011.Trace metals as biomarkers for eumelanin pigment in the fossil record. Science). It is clear that the public has a great interest in understanding both palaeontology and the techniques that are allowing scientists to look beyond the bare bones. The potential for these techniques to gently un-pick the chemistry of long extinct species is quite breath-taking.
You might have heard Phil talking about dinosaurs on the radio or seen him on TV documentaries, as he has explored the globe from China, Europe, North Africa, Australia, North and South America, and even the azure shores of the Isle of Wight in pursuit of dinosaurs and other extinct beasties. The BBC, Channel 4, Discovery Channel, History Channel, and National Geographic Channel often follow Phil's exciting exploits.
This research is undertaken at the University of Manchester in collaboration with the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL, USA), Diamond (Oxford), and the Henry Moseley X-Ray Imaging Facility (HMXRI: University of Manchester). In the course of the proposed engagement, you might see Phil giving live lectures via the web at SSRL and/or Diamond, or even join him placing dinosaur brain-cases in the high-powered CT scanners of the HMXRI.
Bright Lights and Dinosaurs aims to engage with a large and diverse audience to help explain how chemistry can define the origins, synthesis, function, and subsequent alterations/modifications of both inorganic and organically derived molecules. The molecules that Phil and his team track down will come from some of the most iconic species to have walked, swam, crawled, slithered, slimed, flown, or jumped on Earth. Through a series of public lectures, museum-based events, school outreach visits, and media (web, augmented reality, etc.), this project is dedicated to raising the profile of key STEM subjects to core STFC audiences.
This synchrotron-based research has already grabbed the attention of the international media by being widely reported in over 1000 media outlets (Wogelius et al., 2011.Trace metals as biomarkers for eumelanin pigment in the fossil record. Science). It is clear that the public has a great interest in understanding both palaeontology and the techniques that are allowing scientists to look beyond the bare bones. The potential for these techniques to gently un-pick the chemistry of long extinct species is quite breath-taking.
You might have heard Phil talking about dinosaurs on the radio or seen him on TV documentaries, as he has explored the globe from China, Europe, North Africa, Australia, North and South America, and even the azure shores of the Isle of Wight in pursuit of dinosaurs and other extinct beasties. The BBC, Channel 4, Discovery Channel, History Channel, and National Geographic Channel often follow Phil's exciting exploits.
Publications
Miyashita T
(2019)
Hagfish from the Cretaceous Tethys Sea and a reconciliation of the morphological-molecular conflict in early vertebrate phylogeny.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Description | 16/05/2012 School outreach event during International Radiation Protection Association's Congress |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | About 800 pupils attended a day out event on research and development activities at Scotland Universities. My team and I gave talks and interactive demonstration on X-ray imaging and detector technologies to about 100 pupils from across Scotland. A few teachers enquired about availability of the Medipix technology for schools |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
URL | http://www.irpa13glasgow.com/ |
Description | 22/01/14 "Girls into physics" even, St Matthews Academy |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | "Girls into physics" even at St Matthews Academy is organised by local schools to promote girls doing physical sciences. 120 girls from local schools participated the event and were shown the lecture on X-ray imaging followed by an interactive exhibition and Q/Q session The exhibit was liked very much by the feedback received and there were enquiries about installing similar systems into a school. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | 22/08/13 The Academy of Tomorrow's Wonders, Edinburgh |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | This is general public event organised by the Academy of Tomorrow's Wonders. Approximately 80 people attended the hands on exhibition on X-ray imaging and listened to how X-rays transformed the world. N/A |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
URL | http://academyoftomorrowswonders.wordpress.com/ |
Description | 24/01/2012 STFC and SE reception. ATC Edinburgh |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | About 100 attendees from STFC, SE and Scottish Parliament were presented the cutting edge X-ray detector technologies being developed at Glasgow University with visual representation in the form of interactive exhibit, poster board and Q/A session. Several high profile policy makers admitted that they were not aware of Medipix technology and what impact it makes to scientific fields beyond particle physics and its potential for industrial use. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
Description | 25/04/2012 SUPA International advisory committee meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | About 100 of advisory committee members of SUPA were presented the cutting edge X-ray detector technologies being developed at Glasgow University with visual representation in the form of interactive exhibit, poster board and Q/A session. Several policy makers acknowledged superiority of Medipix technology comparing to other available alternatives. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
Description | 25/11/13 STFC public engagement symposium, University of Birmingham |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | About 100 people participated in 2013 event. 15 people were demonstrated the X-ray setup and benefits of Medipix technology. There were 3 enquiries from university representatives on availability and options of purchasing and assembling similar exhibition set-up. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
URL | https://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/stfc-public-engagement-symposium |
Description | 28/02/13 Industry day, University of Glasgow |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | About 200 people attended the event of which 10 people were presented the cutting edge X-ray detector technologies being developed at our with visual representation in the form of interactive exhibit, poster board and Q/A session. There were enquiries about assessing the Medipix technology for industrial use. Once of these in fact helped us to understand potential of the Medipix for radio-pharmaceutical R&D. This later resulted in award of STFC Enterprise fellowship to me. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | 28/03/2012 Nuclear Supply Chain - Meet the buyer |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | About 200 professionals from Nuclear industry attended one day meeting on the nuclear decommissioning. Event was on 28/03/2012, Perth, Scotland Three company representatives requested details on the Medipix technology to assess its usability in nuclear sector. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
URL | http://www.nuclearsupplychain.com/events-and-conferences/past?start=60 |
Description | 29/08/2012 School outreach event @ HEP Summer school, St Andrews University. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | About 500 pupils teachers and member of public attended exhibition organised during HEP summer school. My team and I had a demonstration of Medipix technology for X-ray detection and imaging. This was in a form of small talk to ~15 people a time plus Q/A session. There were enquiries from teachers about accessibility of the Medipix technology for schools. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
URL | http://www.ph.ed.ac.uk/sussp69 |
Description | Glasgow Science Festival @ University of Glasgow |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The event at Glasgow University is attended by about 1500 people over the weekend. These are mainly families and occasional tourists. My team and I manage to talk and give iterative presentation with Q/A session to approximately 100 people per fay. Quite a few of people enquire about what sort of imaging we do as a group. in 2012 and 2013, I established two small research collaborations as a direct result of other scientists seeing what can be done using Medipix technology. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010,2011,2012,2013 |
URL | http://www.glasgowsciencefestival.org.uk/ |
Description | Nuffield Research Placement Award Ceremony |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | About 200 brightest students from all over the country participated in the final workshop of their summer placement showcasing their results. Over two summers we had 3 summer students from the program working with me on X-ray imaging and this has been presented to other students. Nuffield Research Placement Award Committee acknowledges the quality of research output by our students and agrees to more students for our group. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013 |
URL | http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/nuffield-research-placements |
Description | Open days, University of Glasgow |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | The public engagement Medipix exhibit is regularly showcased at University of Glasgow Open days attracting more students to do physics at University. Over two years of showcasing the exhibit, I got aware of 5 students who decided to do physics as their first degree because of conversation with me during the showcasing. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013 |
Description | School visits @ University of Glasgow |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Following number of public outreach events there multiple enquiries to the department about visiting the department. Students usually show high level of enthusiasm after these type of visits |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013 |