MyGlasgow News

Knighthood for groundbreaking UofG astrophysicist

A pioneering University of Glasgow researcher, who helped deliver the historic first detection of gravitational waves, has received a knighthood in recognition of his contribution to physics and astronomy.

James Hough, Research Professor in Natural Philosophy in the School of Physics and Astronomy, was made a Knight Bachelor of the British Empire by the Duke of Cambridgeduring a ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Thursday, 31 January.

UofG to share in Centres for Doctoral Training funding

The University of Glasgow is set to share in hundreds of millions of pounds of new investment in UK research skills. The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) announced significant new investment in Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) during an event at the London Stock Exchange on Monday, 4 February.

UofG researchers will take the lead in two Centres for Doctoral Training: one in Engineered Tissues for Discovery, Industry and Medicine, which will be known as lifETIME, and a second in in Future Ultrasonic Engineering, known as FUSE.

lifETIME, which also involves researchers from the University of Birmingham, the National University of Ireland Galway and Aston University, in addition to 50 partners from industry and academia, aims to train a new generation of life science leaders in the area of non-animal technologies (NATs) who can ensure the UK bioeconomy innovates and grows. They will create NATs that form the basis for drug screening, toxicology testing and regenerative medicine. A total of 84 students will have the opportunity to work with lifETIME, which will receive £6.7m in funding from EPSRC and a further €4.8m from Science Foundation Ireland.

FUSE brings together the University of Glasgow with the University of Strathclyde’s Centre for Ultrasonic Engineering and more than 35 external partners, including SMEs, making it the largest academic ultrasonic engineering unit in the world. It will train a cadre of 54 technical and managerial leaders to drive forward innovation in a sector vital for UK prosperity. FUSE will receive funding worth £5.8m from EPSRC with contributions worth £3.4m from external partners.

UofG scientists will also partner with other universities and industry partners in three additional Centres for Doctoral Training. They are:

• EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Photonic Integration and Advanced Data Storage (PIADS), a Queens University Belfast-led CDT partnership initially established with the University of Glasgow in 2014. The renewed partnership will now include the Irish Photonic Integration Centre in Cork and Dublin, itself a partner of Science Foundation Ireland.
• EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Software-Centric Lightweight Verification (SCaLe), led by the University of St. Andrews
• EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Industry-Inspired Photonic Imaging, Sensing and Analysis, led by Heriot-Watt University.

 

UofG social scientists awarded £1.15M over four years

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) has announced £27m of funding for Impact Acceleration Accounts (IAAs) at research organisations across the UK. The University of Glasgow will receive £1.15m.

Over the next four years, this second round of ESRC IAAs will help social scientists collaborate with businesses, policymakers and civil society, creating new opportunities for research to make a positive contribution to society and the economy.

Professor Sally Wyke, Dean for Research at the College of Social Sciences, said: “In Glasgow we are excited to begin work to make use of the second ESRC Impact Acceleration Account support. We will build on our experience during the first round of funding to work innovatively with businesses, with government and with civic society organisations in Scotland and internationally. We will also use the support to incubate new local businesses that use social science research to enhance and accelerate social good via enterprise.”

 

Nominations are open for the UofG World Changing Alumni Award 2019

Do you know a UofG graduate who has achieved something to shout about? The World Changing Alumni Award recognises the achievements of alumni who have graduated within the last 15 years and made a major contribution to the community, arts, science or business. Your nominee could have founded an organisation, launched a business, or led a campaign - success comes in all shapes and sizes.

We welcome nominations from anyone, you can even nominate yourself. Simply complete the online nomination form.

Here are some top tips to make your nominee stand out:

• Tell a good story to bring their work to life
• Show off the incredible impact they have made
• Use real facts and figures
• Include quotes from colleagues, managers and tutors
• Be concise and keep it simple

Nominations close on Thursday, 28 February. Our alumni community will then be able to vote online for their winner.

 

QuantIC imaging components make their international debut at Photonics West 2019

QuantIC, the UK Quantum Technology Hub in Quantum Enhanced Imaging, will be exhibiting its latest imaging prototypes and associated components at Photonics West, from 5-7 February 2019 in San Francisco. Now in its 25th year, the event is the largest and most influential annual photonics technologies showcase in North America with over 21,000 attendees, two exhibitions and 1,300 exhibiting companies.

Some of the QuantIC imaging components that will be on display for the first time include the Ge on Si SPAD, a low-cost detector that extends the wavelength range of the silicon detector into the infrared to improve imaging through fog and smoke, Indipix, a mid-infrared imager based on a unique indium antimonide technology that can detect specific gases and Wee-g, a compact ultra-stable Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) based accelerometer capable of measuring tiny changes in the gravitational field and find buried objects. The team will be available for technical discussions to explore potential new opportunities to collaborate and commercialise quantum imaging technologies.

Principal Investigator Professor Miles Padgett said: "QuantIC’s vision has been to exploit the potential of Quantum science and translate it into emerging technologies. The prototypes and components we’ve developed are the first steps to the further commercialisation opportunities with industry." Professor Padgett has also been invited to speak at Photonic West and will be presenting a paper on “Beating classical imaging limits with entangled photonics" on 5 February.

 

 

 

 

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First published: 4 February 2019