Astronaut Michael Baker has flown in space four times, as pilot and mission commander of NASA’s iconic Space Shuttle. You’ll have the opportunity to learn about how vital international collaborations are in space, take a look at our pale blue dot from orbit, and have the chance to ask an astronaut those burning questions you’ve always had about living in space.
Glasgow Science Centre is grateful to the Scottish Space School and the University of Strathclyde for their support of this event.
Based in Edinburgh, Skyrora are a company building on Scotland’s long engineering heritage, but instead of launching ships, they launch rockets. Skyrora are using innovative ways to make space more sustainable, including making rocket fuel from unrecyclable plastic!
Join Derek Harris as he talks about working at Skyrora, launching rockets from Scottish soil, and even where you could get involved in Scotland’s burgeoning space industry.
We need more people to enter careers in digital healthcare to meet increasing demands. Explore the jobs of the future and find out about the key skills required. Where could a digital career take you?
Find out more from Skills Development Scotland: https://www.digitalworld.net/
Find out about the career path of Chris Keenan, Associate Dean of Mechanical Engineering at City of Glasgow College.
The Rolls Royce site at Inchinnan, Renfrewshire, produces aerofoils and turbine blades for aircraft engines.
Find out what it’s like to be an apprentice engineer and hear about the career journey and skills required.
Microbiologist, Dr Tracy White, works on developing environmentally friendly packaging, using natural waste products from the food and fisheries industry.
Find out more about her career path and current work as Head of Science at CuanTec.
I am Dr. Tracy White of CuanTec where I work as Head of Science. As a microbiologist by background, I lead and support CuanTec’s science team to develop an environmentally friendly way of creating high-demand products from fisheries waste.
CuanTec take the waste shell from fisheries and food processing and through a fermentation process are able to extract the structural component of the shell – chitin. This chitin which would often be lost to landfill has many potential uses within the food, medical, cosmetic, agriculture and environment sectors.
CuanTec are working to develop a home compostable packaging from the chitin extracted from waste shells. This would provide an alternative to traditional petrochemical based plastic packaging which can simply be composted at home, therefore reducing single use plastics from being discarded at landfill or subsequently entering our oceans.
By using natural waste products such as the shell waste of the shellfish processing industry we are able to make the maximum use of the harvest rather than only making use of the meat therefore increasing the sustainability of the fisheries sector. This will reduce both the environmental and economical impact of discarding food waste to landfill. By using these natural waste materials for the creation of high demand products we are able to offer retail a compostable alternative to petrochemical based single use plastic packaging. Therefore further reducing environmental impact of these traditional plastic packaging, which are often in use for a very limited time period, on our land and seas and associated wildlife.
The founder of CuanTec was driven by the need to find a use for the sheer volumes of waste food from the processing industry. Through research they were able to identify potentially valuable materials which could be extracted from the waste and used to create high-demand products. CuanTec was formed to develop this technology through a novel biologically derived process for chitin extraction and downstream produce creation.
CuanTec work with a number of collaborating partners including academia who are able to assist within the research and development of CuanTec’s processing and product development. We also work with various commercial partners from food processors interested in reducing their waste and making the maximum use of their harvest to retailers who are looking for greener alternatives to single use plastics.
Packaging is far more complex than you would first imagine. It is developed with key properties to protect the food during transit and storage. It has to be tough enough to withstand shipping and protect the food, it often prevents the food from drying out, or allowing oxygen to enter the packaging which would promote food-spoiling bacterial growth. These are all factors that have to be incorporated into the design of compostable packaging too. These are aspects that CuanTec are currently working to achieve by formulating packaging with other food ingredients to ensuring food quality is maintained while allowing for compostable alternatives to single use plastic packaging.
CuanTec are working towards increasing the scale at which we are able to handle food processing waste and extracting chitin. This will mean we have much more material to develop our compostable packaging. The resulting prototype packaging are subjected to testing to ensure it can protect our food during transportation and storage. Once we are happy with the packaging it will be put through rigorous regulatory testing and obtain approval for use on food products. We will then be able to make our home compostable packaging available for use to retail as an alternative to single use plastic packaging.
On leaving school I studied Marine Science where I learned about our seas and oceans from all aspects; physically, chemically, and biologically. I remember as a student being particularly blown away with the microscopic organisms that were present in the world around us. They may be small, we can’t see them with the naked eye, but they have a massive impact! They help regulate our climate; provide nutrients to larger creatures, supporting the food chain; and even playing important roles in the function of our own bodies.
Through scientific development we have been able to harness their potential in a whole range of applications from creating ingredients for medicines, helping to process food products, such as bread and cheese, to cleaning up waste or in CuanTec’s case, extract valuable products from waste.
I became fascinated by the marine environment as I grew up, and was lucky enough to get an undergraduate placement at the Scottish Association for Marine Science, who host the University of the Highlands and Islands Marine Science degree course. This course was very practical with loads of hands-on experience within the local coastal location of Oban on the west coast of Scotland. We were taught not only about the biology of our seas and oceans but also from a chemical and physical perspective as well. I was able to carry out some summer work looking at how bacteria found in the oceans can help to clean up oil pollution, giving some insight into oil remediation after a spill.
On leaving university I was able to work in my field of interest, in a pharmaceutical discovery company where I screened marine micro-organisms for new anti-infective properties that could be of use in antibiotics. After a few years I decided I wanted to learn some more and advance my skills and I managed to secure a PhD studentship at Queen’s University Belfast. My PhD research looked into the tools bacteria can use during infection and how different treatments could be used to target this attack on our systems.
Scientist don’t have all the answers!…but they’re an inquisitive bunch and are driven to find answers no matter how difficult the process can be.
Science is a case of trial and error and pushing back the boundaries of the unknown. When working at the cutting edge of scientific development there isn’t an instruction manual that can be followed, we rely on highly trained people to use their experience in guessing the best route forward to understand more about the unanswered questions on the world around us. This can lead to the highest of highs when you get a significant breakthrough but it can be tough having to go back to the drawing board to think of another way to figure out the answer to the particular problem we are faced with.
My job is different every day of the week, often thinking through challenges we haven’t figured out how to solve yet. I love working as part of a team, seeing various different scientists in action in a bid to come up with a way of solving a problem and finding a way of pushing our development forward. It can be a very rewarding experience when we find a solution to the problem at hand.
Resilience is a must! Being able to think outside of the box and consider new ideas is key to being an innovator. However to push those ideas forward to creating something of significance be that environmental, commercial, social, etc, takes resilience. There are the highest of highs when you are making great strides forward, but there are also lows when things don’t work or go according to plan. You must be resilient enough to pick yourself up and dust yourself down and come back at it with determination to succeed.
Automation uses technology in a process to minimise the human input needed. If there’s a dull, dirty or dangerous task to carry out, chances are robots could be the perfect solution to help automate the job.
Join Chanelle, an applications engineer from SP Automation and Robotics, to see how robots are helping to create safer and more productive work environments with innovative technology.
What’s a cobot you ask? A collaborative robot, or cobot for short, is a robot that can work alongside humans in a huge range of industries, from automotive and construction to food and drink.
Join Braden, a cobot applications engineer from SP Automation and Robotics, to find out more about this innovative technology.
The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) is working to help make Scotland a global leader in advanced manufacturing.
Meet Awais Munawar, who leads visualisation within the Digital Team at NMIS and tells us about how Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality could be used to transform industry. Plus, read how collaboration, creativity and problem solving are vital to this work.
My name is Awais Munawar, and I lead visualisation within the Digital Team at the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS). NMIS is a group of industry-led manufacturing research and development facilities. Our goal is to help make Scotland a global leader in advanced manufacturing.
My role involves creating Augmented and Virtual reality (AR/VR) solutions for industry. Augmented reality (AR) adds digital elements to an existing image or video. Examples of augmented reality experiences include Snapchat lenses and the game Pokemon Go. Virtual reality (VR) completely immerses the user and shuts out the physical world. Using VR devices such as HTC Vive, Oculus Rift or Google Cardboard, users can be transported into various real-world and imagined environments.
I’m currently developing a course to introduce AR/VR technologies to beginners, which we plan to release by June this year. I’m also in the process of using AR/R to showcase our brand new NMIS building, which will be finished next year.
AR/VR technologies are transforming industries by reducing costs and developing new revenue models. For example, companies can use VR to create new factory layouts, identify any issues, and communicate their plans to their teams before investing in equipment.
Imagine going into a new workspace where you need to fix an engine you have never fixed before. How would you do it? AR could guide you through the process with text or animation, and, when required, you could share your work through a camera with your colleague.
We collaborate with many organisations worldwide to carry out research that pushes the manufacturing industry further. We collaborate with different research technology organisations, universities and companies of all sizes.
Collaboration is vital for our work because we can tackle big challenges and create solutions that are accessible to a wide range of companies.
My digital team colleagues are working on some other technologies, including data analytics, 5G, robotics, sensing, measurements, and more.
There are a few challenges that I’m interested in solving, particularly finding ways for manufacturing companies to test production virtually and identifying ways to share secure information in real-time.
AR is often referred to as the interaction of digital content within the real world.
Typically, this would be done through cameras on mobile devices to track surfaces and place 2D or 3D content. With AR, you can experience both the digital and physical world. Not sure how the sofa will look in your living room? You could view a 3D sofa through AR!
AR could allow companies to train operators on a new job by overlaying text or animation to their surroundings to guide them through processes. It would also be used by companies to fix a problem quickly by offering support remotely. For example, a car could be fixed by someone who has never fixed it by giving them live support by an engineer through AR.
Currently, there is not much focus on how privacy and security are maintained during AR applications. For example, if you are using an AR application and someone walks in front of it, is the application recording him/her and the information saved on a server? Or, if someone walks into a factory and has access to the AR application, can they see all the factory information on it, or is it secure?
AR can enable humans to see the world as a large canvas that they could use to play, learn, solve problems and share their stories. For example, imagine a Pokemon Go styled game where instead of Pokemons, you can see historic images/animation of the environment. You could be walking by Finnieston Crane and use AR to truly appreciate its history.
Or maybe you have bought IKEA equipment, but you don’t understand the instructions, so you use your phone scan to see AR work instructions on assembling the equipment.
One last example – you can see important city information as you walk through the park without having any billboards/signs that could damage the environment.
AR will be genuinely transformative, and it needs everyone to be part of it to help develop its future.
Whenever any new technology is developed, it’s not available for a large consumer base due to high costs. However, as the technology matures, it becomes more accessible for everyone.
This is the same for AR – current technologies are accessible for industrial use since often AR technology is too expensive for the general population to purchase. However, this is slowly changing with AR glasses from NReal and Apple/Google releasing AR enabling improved software development environments for future applications.
I think AR combined with 5G and IIoT (industrial internet of things) will transform the future manufacturing industry by creating true digital twins that follow the product from creation to being sold and used.
I’m interested in visualisation technology because it’s a combination of multiple fields. It keeps you learning new things every exciting day.
AR/VR requires me to think about 3D art, software development, user experience, business value and more.
I had an interesting journey into my current field. When I was younger, I had no idea what I wanted to do. Following advice from a guidance teacher, I went into an engineering degree. However, I didn’t complete the degree due to a lack of interest in theoretical work.
For the next few years, I worked in multiple areas (catering, retail and more). When considering what to do for the future, I started an apprenticeship within an aerospace company.
This led me to completing a degree in engineering. Afterwards, I moved to lead a team building 3D-printed parts for geostationary satellites for communication.
My advice to anyone is to not panic at any stage of their career. Just keep learning new things and exploring fields that might interest you.
I wish people knew visualisation research is a creative field that requires both engineers and 3D designers who can create solutions that create a good user experience for the customer.
So, if you like engineering or art, there is a role for you in this field, and it would welcome people from a wide range of backgrounds.
To be innovative in this field, you need to be a creative person who can imagine what applications will be required in the future. It also helps if you have engineering/mathematical skills to build systems.
Find out how NASA are using AR for future exploration.
How can Scotland move to net zero in a way that is fair for all? Our Fairer Futures learning pack provides everything you need to engage your learners in discussion about our energy transition in the classroom or learning space.
In this discussion-based workshop, participants are challenged to design an energy and transport plan for Glasgow that supports the city’s transition to netzero emissions. To do this, they will explore different technologies, and understand the impact of their decisions on people’s lives.
Click the pages below to read in full-size; or use the button below to download.
For more Our World, Our Impact content, visit www.glasgowsciencecentre.org/our-world-our-impact/
Engineers often mend things that aren’t broken! They look at the things we use every day and think how they can be improved. They are creative problem solvers and this is where you come in! After you have found out more about engineering by interviewing an engineer or watching some of the Primary Engineer YouTube videos, it’s time to look for ways to improve the things we use every day!
Register on the Leaders Award website and when you are ready, send in your annotated drawing and letter explaining why an engineer should build your idea. All the entries will be taken to engineers to read and then you’ll be sent back a certificate with a grade.
You can do this project at home and in the classroom, so let your teacher know! The best ideas are celebrated in exhibitions and some are even chosen to be made by university partners.
What would you do if you were an engineer? Join in at www.leadersaward.com
Check out these links for some inspiration:
Ella Podmore, Materials Engineer for luxury British supercar maker McLaren Automotive
Alyssa Carson, Trainee NASA Astronaut
Alan Stewart, Head of Advance Manufacturing at the Weir Group
As part of their research response to COVID-19, the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research has set up a drug screening and repurposing hub, CVR CRUSH, to test already available drugs against SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19. Facility manager Dr Agnieszka Szemiel discusses innovative techniques, such as reverse genetics which allow the hub team to determine whether each drug might be effective against different variants for example. She also discusses what makes a good virologist, and the skills that are imperative to working effectively and safely in a high containment level laboratory.
Covid-19 has shaped our lives over the past year but what is a virus, how are vaccines developed, and what does it take to be a virologist? Emma Thomson, a professor of infectious diseases at the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, discusses how scientists have worked together more closely than ever before to implement innovative solutions that have helped to slow the spread of Covid-19. Find out the skills you need to be a successful virologist within a global scientific community that is dedicated to safe guarding public health.
