Future Makers

From discovery to application, our pioneering research delivers results with global impact, helping to transform society, drive the economy and change lives.

Future Makers in research and innovation

A subsurface flow revolution: geoenergy pioneer

The intricate complexities of the Earth's subsurface have long been a subject of fascination for scientists and engineers alike.

Redefining perceptions of ageing

Identifying the lifestyle and behavioural factors that protect or harm the ageing brain are at the core of Alan's research.

Scaling up assistive robotics

The integration of IoT and robotics in healthcare and assisted living is crucial for addressing the growing needs of an ageing population.

Reshaping the views of social interactions and autism

Understanding the experiences across the lifespan and promoting social inclusion are central to transforming wider perception of autistic people.

Path to Sustainable Energy

Precise estimation of energy demand in buildings plays a key role in shaping energy policies and establishing targets for carbon reduction. Despite this importance, a gap often exists in translating knowledge of building physics into actionable strategies.

A Geoenergy Revolution

Sustainable geosciences and subsurface engineering are pivotal for achieving net-zero emissions. The transition to sustainability relies on innovative solutions like CCS, geothermal, and hydrogen tech.

Harnessing hydrogen

In the drive to achieve net zero, it is fundamentally important to keep pushing the boundaries in search of clean energy sources and propel the hydrogen economy forward.

Scaling up hydrogen

Research focused on the development of new technologies to process and create hydrogen from different biomass waste products, to produce higher volumes than currently achievable.

Transforming construction

Award-winning research in sustainable construction is making a real difference for communities and a ground-breaking eco-brick is transforming construction waste.

Smart energy

To accelerate to a rapid decline in emissions, we need a holistic and smart systems approach to energy management, with dynamic research that highlights effective routes to net zero.

AI for Net Zero

Targeting hard-to-decarbonise industries such as steel, cement, and chemicals through specialist AI techniques intersecting scientific computing, material discovery and financial forecasting.

Driving social policy

Life-changing research, in one of the UK's top social and urban policy centres, tackling global issues around homelessness and extreme disadvantage.

Applying photonics universally

The application of photonics and astrophotonics has wide-ranging impact across laser manufacturing, fundamental physics, medicine and astronomy.

Pioneering decarbonisation

Leading research and innovation across the carbon capture and storage chain, to reduce global carbon dioxide emissions and meet our future energy demands.

Solving wicked problems

The complex dynamics of energy transition are at the forefront of the net zero challenge, we are pioneering transition engineering processes to drive innovation.

Healthy Human Robot Interaction

Improving clinical outcomes and physical rehabilitation with pioneering human computer interaction and human robot interaction for Health and Wellness.

Decarbonising transport

With transport accounting for a third of C02 emissions, the decarbonisation of transport is imperative, to transform the existing infrastructure into a cleaner, greener system.

Offshore robots

In the ORCA Hub, the next generation of remote telepresence robotics solutions are being developed to service the offshore renewable sector.

Advancing laser technologies

Propelling cutting-edge research into laser technologies and applications in manufacturing, cutting costs while increasing reliability, accuracy and precision.

Protecting human health

Working with governments and industry worldwide driving innovative research solutions into the safe use of nanotechnology to protect and improve human health

Securing communication

Developing practical quantum communication systems and imaging approaches to protect data security systems from global cyber attack.

Spotlight on quantum technologies

The Quantum Photonics Lab is at the head of a ‘quantum revolution', developing quantum light sources that exploit the bizarre properties of quantum mechanics.

Innovating global design

Innovating design practice on a global scale by exploring how communication works between design professionals and craft practitioners.

Ground-breaking AI

Ground-breaking artificial intelligence research with robots that can learn language and interact socially with pioneering applications across global industry.

Improving quality of Life

Making an impact in the medical and engineering sectors through novel surface engineering solutions that improve product quality and longevity.

Fashioning the future

Pioneering research into ‘psychotextiles' has the potential to transform product manufacturing, engineering, art and design - and mood.