CPLAS researchers light up Imperial Lates

CPLAS researchers recently brought chemistry and physics to life at Light’s Colour Action and the Imperial Lates event, engaging audiences with hands-on and immersive experiences.

Dr Brian Tam and Kaat Laambract shared elements of the CPLAS Nanoglow exhibition, demonstrating how carefully designed nanomaterials can use sunlight to drive chemical reactions for a sustainable future. 

Meanwhile, Megan Grace-Hughes and Dr Diptiranjan Paital led Photon Beats alongside Dr Jess Wade (Imperial College London). Photon Beats is a silent disco experience where visitors danced to sounds recorded in research laboratories while learning about the behaviour of light and photons. Through movement and music, abstract concepts in photonics were transformed into a fully embodied experience, with participants becoming waves, particles, energy, colour, and light–matter interactions.

Photon Beats builds on the success of Quantum Disco, developed as part of Quantum Leaps, a project funded by STEM Learning. By combining sound, motion, and storytelling, Photon Beats aims to make complex scientific phenomena intuitive, memorable, and accessible, aligning with the CPLAS programme’s broader commitment to creative public engagement and innovative science communication.

Images: Brendan Foster & Imperial College London