Engineering the Future Conference 2023

9 – 10am - Registration: Join us for tea / coffee and visit the poster boards showcasing the work of our researchers.

10 – 10.45am - Plenary: A welcome from the Head of School and a keynote talk that will be given by Azhar Quaiyoom in Lecture Theatre 1.

11am – 1pm - Technical sessions:

• Option 1: Engineering for health – hear from our researchers working in biomedical engineering as they provide an overview of their current projects. The morning session will focus on “technology push”, University academics describing their research in biomedical engineering while the afternoon session will focus on “clinical and industrial pull”, stakeholder groups presenting when they have worked with the University in order to make a step change to their work. (Alex Casson / Amir Keshmiri).
• Option 2: Robotics – this session will present the latest research on intelligent and cognitive robotics, as part of the new Manchester Centre for Robotics and AI. The talks will discuss the use of machine learning and AI methods in robot control, and their applications to nuclear robotics. (Angelo Cangelosi) .
• Option 3: Net zero – see how our work with external organisations has helped them deliver on emissions reduction commitments (Carly McLachlan).
• Option 4: Chemical engineering pilot plant – new perspectives and development to advance research and innovation on sustainable products – This session will provide an overview of activities on related to the successful operation of the chemical engineering pilot plant and new perspective for research, teaching and industrial innovation towards 2030. (Vincenzo Spallina).
• Option 5: Take a tour of our experimental facilities within the new Engineering Campus.

1 – 2pm - Lunch: Join us for lunch and explore the work of our Research Institutes and Departments as well as having the opportunity to meet with the Business Engagement team, our career service and the Innovation Factory.

2 - 4pm - Technical sessions:

• Option 1: Artificial intelligence – with a rapid rise of AI technology and its embedding into almost all fields and sectors, almost all research or innovation projects now have certain AI and data science elements, especially in engineering. This session will showcase recent developments and advances in a wide spectrum of engineering at Manchester, from ML-based CFD simulation and data-driven surrogate models, active controls with reinforcement learning, sensory data and signal processing, and AI-driven vision systems for inspection and diagnosis, to material design, process optimisation, as well as precision and sustainable agriculture. Fundamental research concerning AI explainability, reliability and ethics will also be briefly highlighted.
• Option 2: Subsurface energy – It is essential to diversify energy supply portfolio towards green energy to improve environmental impacts and reduce vulnerability of supply. Among different sources of energy, geosystems can provide energy sources such as geothermal energy, hydrogen storage and utilisation, CO2 storage and utilisation. This session aims to bring together researchers to demonstrate advanced subsurface energy engineering research which demonstrate the role of geosystems in supplying future energy, perspectives and challenges. (Vahid Niasar).
• Option 3: Engineering for quantum - from engineering quantum materials at the nanoscale to their exploitation within quantum computers, this session examines our research into quantum materials and quantum technologies (Jess Boland).
• Option 4: Virtual and augmented reality in engineering - Virtual and Augmented Reality are at the centre of the digital transformation of engineering. According to IDC, the Virtual and Augmented Reality market is currently around £15 billion and is expected to grow by 77% in 2023. Virtual Reality immerses engineers in a virtual environment using special software and hardware. Depending on the sector of engineering, specialists can plan, design, and conduct experiments in Virtual Reality. Augmented Reality allows engineers to superimpose a model on the physical world as a hologram. This creates new and more efficient ways to interact, evaluate and improve designs. (Lee Margetts)
• Option 5: Transition to a sustainable future through training and education (TRANSIT) - Developing innovative solutions is not enough to develop a cost-effective and sustainable energy future. We also need this innovation to reach the professionals who will be at the forefront of our net zero carbon transition. (Eduardo Martinez-Cesena)
• Option 6: Take a tour of our experimental facilities within the new Engineering Campus.

9 – 10am - Registration: Join us for tea / coffee and visit the poster boards showcasing the work of our researchers. 

10 – 10.45am - Plenary: Attend our keynote talk that will be given by Danielle George in Lecture Theatre 1.

11am – 1pm - Technical sessions:

• Option 1: Engineering coatings for corrosion control - this session will explore how advanced coatings can play a vital role in protecting infrastructure from corrosion. Speakers will discuss both the manufacture of coatings, their testing and digital surface manufacturing in the context of Industry 4.0. (Beatriz Mingo).
• Option 2: Sustainable futures - explore our interdisciplinary efforts to create a sustainable future, from improving the plastics circular economy to environmental resilience. (via Sustainable Futures).
• Option 3: Advances in mechanics of materials - The session will showcase several key developments in the modelling of mechanical and physical behaviour of materials, including welding and residual stresses, scaling theories in solid mechanics, geometric mechanics and physics of materials, digital engineering in the metaverse, and mechanics of bio-compatible materials for medical applications (Andrey Jivkov).
• Option 4: FutureMODSIM: part 1 - this session will showcase expertise at The University of Manchester in the area of modelling and simulation, with a particular focus on computational fluid dynamics. Following introductory talks, scientists and engineers at both The University of Manchester and Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Daresbury will present a series of lightening talks to showcase our expertise. We will then focus on business engagement and knowledge exchange, and host a panel discussion to highlight needs and opportunities in this sector.
• Option 5: Take a tour of our experimental facilities within the new Engineering Campus.

1 – 2pm - Lunch: Join us for lunch and explore the work of our Research Institutes and Departments as well as having the opportunity to meet with the Business Engagement team, our career service and the Innovation Factory.

2 – 4pm - Technical sessions:

• Option 1: Advanced engineering materials - this session showcases the diverse range of work on engineering materials at the University and the impact our research has had (Tim Burnett).
• Option 2: Decarbonising construction -  The session will present the latest research developments in low carbon and sustainable infrastructure materials, Low carbon engineering practice: design and construction, circular construction, whole life performance and policy and business models (Mithila Achintha).
• Option 3: FutureMODSIM: part 2 - this session will showcase expertise at The University of Manchester in the area of modelling and simulation, with a particular focus on computational fluid dynamics. Following introductory talks, scientists and engineers at both The University of Manchester and Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Daresbury will present a series of lightening talks to showcase our expertise. We will then focus on business engagement and knowledge exchange, and host a panel discussion to highlight needs and opportunities in this sector.
• Option 4: Electric transport systems: Design, test and monitoring – the use of electrical energy in transport systems continues to increase as we look to eliminate fossil-fuels and deliver the transition to a zero-carbon economy. This session will introduce some of the work taking place within the high voltage and power conversion laboratories in the School of Engineering at The University of Manchester to deliver these future systems (Ian Cotton).
• Option 5: The use of ChatGPT in assessments - Professor Andrew Stewart will be chairing a panel discussion on the issues and challenges around the use of ChatGPT and its successors in student assessments.
• Option 6: Take a tour of our experimental facilities within the new Engineering Campus.

Full session title: Advanced engineering materials: Showcasing the diverse range of work on engineering materials at the University, and its impact

Lead for session: Tim Burnett

This session will introduce the breadth of materials engineering being conducted at The University of Manchester and the impact it is having on UK society and industry.

We will begin with an introduction followed by three talks from expert speakers we will move onto a panel discussion with the speakers, inviting questions from the audience.

Lead for session: Andrey Jivkov

Other speakers: Keith Davey, Marco Domingoes, Lee Margetts, Mike Smith

The session will showcase several key developments in the modelling of mechanical and physical behaviour of materials, including welding and residual stresses, scaling theories in solid mechanics, geometric mechanics and physics of materials, digital engineering in the metaverse, and mechanics of bio-compatible materials for medical applications.

Lead for session: Hujun Yin

Other speakers: Julien Harou, Dongda Zhang, David Savruckis, Alex Skillen

With rapid rise of AI technology and its embedding into almost all fields and sectors, almost all research or innovation projects now have certain AI and data science elements, especially in engineering.

This session will showcase recent developments and advances in a wide spectrum of engineering at Manchester, from ML-based CFD simulation and data-driven surrogate models, active controls with reinforcement learning, sensory data and signal processing, and AI-driven vision systems for inspection and diagnosis, to material design, process optimisation, as well as precision and sustainable agriculture.

Fundamental research concerning AI explainability, reliability and ethics will also be briefly highlighted.

Full session title: Chemical Engineering Pilot Plant – New perspectives and development to advance research and innovation on sustainable products

Lead for session: Vincenzo Spallina

Other speakers: Bernard Trever Brown, Peter Koukoulas, Peter Martin

This session will provide an overview of activities on related to the successful operation of the chemical engineering pilot plant and new perspective for research, teaching and industrial innovation towards 2030.

The session will include the following speakers and topics:

• Vincenzo Spallina, Senior Lecturer: New perspectives for research and industry in sustainable chemical engineering in Manchester.
• Peter Martin, Senior Lecturer: Collaboration with industry in the chemical engineering Pilot Plant.
• Peter Koukoulas, Pilot Hall responsible and instrumentation engineer: Integrating chemical engineering with advanced control and instrumentation using PCS Neo Siemens.
• Bernard Trever Brown, Lecturer: the role of the chemical engineering pilot Plant in the undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes.

Leads for session: Mithila Achintha and Yong Wang

Other speakers: Lee Cunningham, Meini Su

The session will present the latest research developments in low carbon and sustainable infrastructure materials, low carbon engineering practice: design and construction, circular construction, whole life performance and policy and business models.

Full session title: Delivering net zero – a showcase and reflection on working with stakeholders and collaborating to drive change

Lead for session: Carly McLachlan

Other speakers: Aoife Foley (tbc), Alex Gallego-Schmid, Chris Jones, Alice Larkin, Eduardo Martinez-Cesena, Laurence Stamford, Ruth Wood

A wide-ranging showcase of how we have worked with partners to reduce emissions and improve resilience – from improving infrastructure resilience to decarbonising shipping and live music touring (and more). Our stakeholder partners will also contribute to this session reflecting on the projects specifically but also on the wider challenges for delivering net zero.

Lead for session: Ian Cotton

Other speakers: Sinisa Durovic, Qiang Liu, Sandy Smith

The use of electrical energy in transport systems continues to increase as we look to eliminate fossil-fuels and deliver the transition to a zero-carbon economy.

We will introduce some of the work taking place within the high voltage and power conversion laboratories in the School of Engineering at The University of Manchester to deliver these future systems.

The session will include the following speakers and topics:

• Ian Cotton: The development of high voltage electrical systems in aerospace and automotive applications
• Sandy Smith: Net zero aircraft – H2GEAR
• Qiang Liu: The role of insulating liquids in electric transport
• Sinisa Durovic: Monitoring of high power electrical systems

Lead for session: Beatriz Mingo

Other speakers: Michelle Curioni, Stuart Lyon, Allan Matthews, Aleksey Yerokhin

This session will explore how advanced coatings can play a vital role in protecting infrastructure from corrosion.

The session will include the following speakers and topics:

• Stuart Lyon: Corrosion protection for sustainability – watching paint dry
• Aleksey Yerokhin: Electrolytic plasma processing for corrosion protection of light alloys
• Michelle Curioni: Corrosion testing of protective coatings - novel approaches and open challenges
• Allan Matthews: Digital surface manufacturing to meet the Industry 4.0 challenges

Leads for session: Alex Casson and Amir Keshmiri

Hear from our researchers working in biomedical engineering as they provide an overview of their current projects.

The session will focus on 'technology push': University of Manchester academics describing their research in biomedical engineering. The aim is to showcase the wide range of different inter-disciplinary healthcare released research carried out at our Manchester Engineering Campus and the School of Engineering. There will be one speaker from each of the Manchester Engineering Campus and the School of Engineering Departments, with one additional slot for a clinical talk from a researcher based at Manchester NHS Foundation Trust. We plan for a number of speakers coming from different career stages. There will be a short panel discussion on the current and future health challenges at the end of the session. The session is expected to cover a range of clinical and mental/physical health areas.

Lead for session: Jess Boland

From engineering quantum materials at the nanoscale to their exploitation within quantum computers, this session will showcase the current research into quantum materials and quantum technologies within the School of Engineering, the Royce Institute and the Photon Science Institute.

Leads for session: Alistair Revell and Ben Rogers

Modelling and simulation is critical to UK research and enterprise underpinning industrial and research activity across disciplines and sectors world-wide. New modelling approaches with disruptive and emerging technologies promise to transform simulation capabilities, lifting society into a new digital golden age with previously intractable problems becoming increasingly solvable, driving innovation towards a more sustainable, prosperous and healthier society.

This session will showcase expertise at The University of Manchester in the area of modelling and simulation, with a particular focus on computational fluid dynamics. Following introductory talks, scientists and engineers at both The University of Manchester and Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Daresbury will present a series of lightening talks to showcase our expertise. We will then focus on business engagement and knowledge exchange, and host a panel discussion to highlight needs and opportunities in this sector. Industrial guests who would like to arrange a short consultation with one of our experts during the day are encouraged to contact us in advance, via Alistair Revell (alistair.revell@manchester.ac.uk).

Lead for session: Angelo Cangelosi

Other speakers: Bruno Adorno, Wei Pan, Simon Watson

This session will present the latest research on intelligent and cognitive robotics, as part of the new Manchester Centre for Robotics and AI. The talks will discuss the use of machine learning and AI methods in robot control, and their applications to nuclear robotics.

Full session title: Subsurface engineering in the context of energy transition and security: Describing how the subsurface will be vital in our energy future whether for storing hydrogen, carbon dioxide or for extracting thermal energy

Lead for session: Vahid Niasar

Other speakers: Masoud Babaei, Lin Ma

Energy as the most important element in modern life has been historically dependent on fossil fuels, as they are cheaper and easier to exploit compared to the other sources of energy. However, it comes with serious negative aspects: Fossil fuels are the major source for excessive atmospheric CO2 emission and they can be used as a tool to sabotage nations in political conflicts (e.g., Russia invasion into Ukraine).

It is essential to diversify energy supply portfolio towards green energy to improve environmental impacts and reduce vulnerability of supply. Among different sources of energy, geosystems can provide energy sources such as geothermal energy, hydrogen storage and utilisation, CO2 storage and utilisation. This session aims to bring together researchers to demonstrate advanced subsurface energy engineering research which demonstrate the role of geosystems in supplying future energy, perspectives and challenges.

The session will be aligned in three main themes:

• Geothermal energy
• Geological CO2 sequestration
• Hydrogen storage and utilisation

The session will include the following speakers and topics:

• Vahid Niasar: Knowledge transition in energy transition - multiphysics multiscale subsurface storage problems
• Masoud Babaei: Advances and challenges in geothermal energy, perspective for the UK
• Lin Ma: Advances in characterization of subsurface processes

Lead for session: Eduardo Martinez-Cesena

Other speakers: Mathaios Panteli, Brian Azzopardi, Aneta Petrovska-Rusomaroski and José Miguel Riquelme

Developing innovative solutions is not enough to develop a cost-effective and sustainable energy future. We also need this innovation to reach the professionals who will be at the forefront of our net zero carbon transition. This session will showcase key energy system innovations and how this innovation informs design and delivery of educational, retraining and social engagement programmes.

Lead for session: Lee Margetts

Other speakers: Marta Camps Santasmasas, Muhammad Omer

Virtual and augmented reality are at the centre of the digital transformation of engineering. According to IDC, the virtual and augmented reality market is currently around £15 billion and is expected to grow by 77% in 2023. Virtual Reality immerses engineers in a virtual environment using special software (an application) and hardware (the virtual reality headset). Depending on the sector of engineering, specialists can plan, design, and conduct experiments in virtual reality. Augmented reality allows engineers to superimpose a model on the physical world as a hologram. This creates new and more efficient ways to interact, evaluate and improve designs than sitting in front of a computer monitor.