In October the Henry Royce Institute’s Outreach team hosted a stand at the annual New Scientist Live event, which took place this year at the ExCeL London.
The stand saw fantastic attendance, with thousands of visitors engaging with Royce activities across the weekend. The event saw an incredible 26,000 plus attendees taking part.
Representing the Royce Partnership was a committed team of experts from a variety of professional and academic backgrounds, working together to bring materials science to life.
The Royce stand engaged audiences with hands-on activities and demonstrations that showcased the hidden properties of materials. Visitors were invited to explore several types of microscopes, each revealing fascinating details about materials used in everyday life and advanced technologies alike. Highlights included:
- Cutting-edge 2D materials: visitors learned about the composition and potential applications of these revolutionary materials.
- Corrosion-resistant metals: demonstrating the resilience of advanced metals in extreme conditions, including underwater environments.
- Intricate textiles: showcasing how materials science improves everyday fabrics and products.
- Battery and waterproof materials: offering insights into materials crucial for modern energy and sustainability.
- Biological specimens: providing a close-up view of natural structures through advanced imaging.
For many, the chance to handle and analyse actual lab samples was a unique and exciting glimpse into the world of materials science. Alongside the demonstrations, Royce experts engaged in discussions with visitors, sharing insights into career pathways and the broader significance of materials science for society.
Overall, the Royce stand achieved exceptional visitor engagement, with an estimated 3,000 people interacting with the team over the weekend. This immersive experience demonstrated the growing public interest in materials science and its applications in fields ranging from technology to sustainability.
Alice La Porta, who coordinated the stand, said:
“I am extremely proud to have coordinated the Royce Stand at New Scientist Live 2024, engaging with thousands of visitors during the weekend. Our interactive stand showcased the groundbreaking work in materials science and its vital role in society. A big thank you to our dedicated team of volunteers and partners for their passion for communicating materials science and for making our activities a great success!”
Collaboration with Queen Mary University of London
The successful weekend concluded with the Royce stand transitioning to Queen Mary University of London, a partner in Discover Materials, on the Monday. Their team continued the outreach activities aimed at young students on the designated school day, fostering a shared commitment to public engagement and education in science.
The team included Alice La Porta, Outreach Officer and event lead, who coordinated the activities, supported by Tom Hancocks, Training and Skills Manager. Winnie (Zheng Huang) and Michael Hills, who are both Application Scientists from Oxford and who also supported the stand across the weekend. Claire Smith, a new technician from Royce Cambridge, Xiangli Zhong, Senior Technical Specialist from the University of Manchester’s Department of Materials, also played a pivotal role in preparing SEM samples for the outreach activities. Sepideh Aliasghari, Royce Manchester Application Scientist, and two postdoctoral researchers from Manchester’s Department of Materials, Dora Capone and Vincenzo Buongiorno also helped to support the stand.