Engineering A New Energy

The United Kingdom is currently undergoing an energy crisis; and with increasing urgency, the future of energy production and the ways we can achieve net-zero societies worldwide are being studied. We are working on developing new nuclear technology that can increase reactor power, reduce environmental damage, minimise nuclear waste; and reduce the cost of the whole nuclear system. Seems too good to be true?

Aircrafts suffer from wear and tear just like any other machine. For safety, airframes are inspected regularly and damaged parts repaired or replaced. Currently, inspections are performed manually which is slow and expensive – new infrared technology will allow automatic inspections. Infra-red cameras can ‘see’ changes in temperature. Damage causes a change in the distribution of load and temperature in the airframe which can be seen by infrared cameras, i.e. by taking the temperature of the airframe. How we do this will be explained (and demonstrated).

Crystals have fascinated humans for millennia. Today, celebrities hail the healing effects of crystals, whilst many of us are simply drawn to the beauty of these sparkling gems. But apart from being exquisite natural wonders, what if crystals could help fight the climate crisis? My job is to make new materials to improve solar panels and I often grow beautiful crystals of my materials. From this, I have developed a deep interest in crystal structures and understanding why crystals form. In my talk, I hope to delve into the wonderful world of crystals and show how they can help save the planet.