© Pint of Science, 2025. All rights reserved.
Ever felt the frustration of losing your keys? Now, what if your keys were so small that they were invisible to the naked eye! For scientists, everyday can be spent studying things on a microscopic scale. So whether they need to take a closer look at something, or to detect DNA or pollution in the environment, scientists need to use powerful new technologies, including optical fibre sensors. Come and join us for a drink (size of your choice) to learn more about how these technologies work, and how they are being used by scientists in Norwich.
Firing electrons at plant science
Jake Richardson
(Cryo-electron Microscopy Support Specialist)
Imagine zooming in on an image but it doesn't get blurry - you just see more! Sounds ideal - well it is, but it is also tricky to do. First you need an electron microscope; these microscopes are really big, so that we can see things that are really small. Bacteria? Smaller! Viruses? Smaller! Proteins? Now that's a challenge! It is my job to make this work possible for researchers in Norwich and in my talk I will tell you more about how these microscopes work and the research they support.
Identifying plant diseases from the air
Mia Berelson
(PhD Student)
Just as we can fall ill, so can the plants we rely on for food. From wheat to strawberries, fungal infections threaten our crops. While farmers use chemicals to combat these fungi, they're becoming resistant. That's why it's crucial to develop new technologies for disease detection. Join me as I introduce an exciting method that involves capturing fungal DNA from the air to identify what diseases are present.
Optical fibre sensors: Beyond communication networks
Dr Miguel Hernaez
(Lecturer in Telecommunication and Electronic Engineering)
Nowadays, optical fibre has become very familiar to all of us. The fundamental role it has played in the phenomenal development of modern communications is well known, helping to improve the reliability, quality and speed of our networks.
However, there are other fields where optical fibre can make an important contribution. Did you know that it can be used to detect diseases, monitor pollutants or ensure the proper performance of energy storage devices?
Join us for this talk and discover the tremendous potential of fibre optic sensors!
However, there are other fields where optical fibre can make an important contribution. Did you know that it can be used to detect diseases, monitor pollutants or ensure the proper performance of energy storage devices?
Join us for this talk and discover the tremendous potential of fibre optic sensors!
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.