CPLAS researchers take part in UK Nano Day

On September 10th, CPLAS researchers took centre stage at Nano for Humanity, an event hosted by the London Centre for Nanotechnology (LCN) at Imperial College London. As part of the annual Nano Day celebration, the event highlighted the transformative potential of nanoscience in areas such as healthcare, environmental sustainability, and the future of computing.

Nano Day, celebrated annually to raise awareness of nanoscience, featured a wide array of activities, including talks, live demonstrations, and interactive exhibits. Organizers emphasised that the day is about more than just laboratory research—it’s about demonstrating how nanotechnology is already making a real-world impact in our everyday lives.

The Nano for Humanity event underscored LCN’s interdisciplinary approach, with contributions from experts in Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Computing, Medicine, and Engineering. Among the event’s highlights was an interactive exhibition where attendees had the opportunity to engage directly with cutting-edge nanoscience research.

CPLAS postdoc Dr. Brian Tam presented his work on Plasmonic Photocatalysts, a promising innovation in the field of renewable energy. His research focuses on using nanotechnology to develop solar-driven water splitting, which has the potential to revolutionize sustainable energy production.

One of the standout exhibits was Quantum Pong, led by CPLAS postdoctoral researcher Dr. Simão Meneses João. The interactive display provided attendees with a fun, hands-on way to explore the concept of wave-particle duality in quantum science.

PhD students Dries Maurice and Henry Cossey also contributed to the event with their exhibit  Nanostructures and Light, discussing the implications of their research for solar energy and sensing technologies.

The day ended with a Nanodance, which was devised and led by CPLAS Research Project Manager Megan Grace-Hughes and Dr Vittorio Aita.

With hundreds of attendees eager to explore the nano-world, Nano for Humanity succeeded in showcasing the exciting and wide-reaching possibilities of nanoscience, inspiring both scientists and the public alike.