Tag: Heriot Watt University

Ideas of tomorrow on display at rare engineering show led by students

Engineering students at one of the country’s leading STEM‑focused universities are offering the public a rare chance to see the ideas shaping the world around us.

Hosted at Heriot-Watt University’s Edinburgh campus on April 01, the Civil Engineering Degree Show will feature real‑world projects developed by students across all years of learning.

The event centres on new thinking driving the future of transport, sustainable energy, coastal protection, Net Zero buildings and the water systems essential to everyday life.

The exhibition takes place on campus and is designed for anyone with an interest in how Scotland’s infrastructure develops, including industry, schools, local authorities and members of the public.

Rod Macdonald, Associate Professor at the School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society, who is leading the event said: “This is a unique opportunity for visitors to speak directly with the people who will design and deliver the infrastructure our communities depend on.”

“Our students are already thinking at the scale of Scotland’s major transport links, our future energy needs, our coastal resilience and the systems that support safe, sustainable living.

“It’s been incredibly inspiring working alongside them on their various projects and it’s great to see how they are all thinking beyond today, looking at what society will need decades from now, and translating that into innovative, practical designs.”

The show takes place from 2–6pm in the James Watt Centre Foyer, offering the public the opportunity to meet the students and academics behind the projects.

Eleven exhibitions will be on display, highlighting the breadth of civil engineering work at Heriot‑Watt, from early concept models to complex design projects tackling real‑world challenges.

Projects on display will explore how smarter cities and infrastructure could be designed in the future, while also addressing climate and sustainability challenges, the creation of energy‑efficient infrastructure, improved transport for growing populations and new ways to build communities that are resilient by design.

Shadi Mohamed, Associate Professor at the School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society added: “Each exhibition shows a different stage of learning, from first‑year students beginning design work to the final‑year teams completing Professional Design Projects that mirror real‑world industry challenges.

“Visitors will see how our students are planning for future transport, energy, coastal resilience, water networks and Net Zero buildings, all shown through models, visuals and direct conversations with the teams.”

Last year’s Degree Show included a standout project that explored how Edinburgh’s South Suburban Line could be reopened to passengers for the first time in more than sixty years, using low‑carbon tram‑train technology to better connect communities across the city.

The work drew strong public interest and showed how students at Heriot‑Watt apply their learning to real infrastructure challenges facing Scotland.

Events like the degree show reflect the practical approach that prepares graduates from Heriot‑Watt to step into roles with the technical confidence and real‑world experience needed to contribute from day one.

Students also benefit from practical learning opportunities such as ConStructEdScotland, where second years’ 3work alongside professional engineers and tradespeople to build full‑scale structures, gaining early insight into how designs become real projects.

The University’s approach prepares students to understand both local and global challenges, with an emphasis on sustainability, resilience and long‑term community benefit.

These strengths are supported by close relationships with partners such as the Civil Engineering Industry Advisory Committee, which includes representatives from AECOM, ARUP, Balfour Beatty, Halcrow, Jacobs, Buro Happold and WSP Group, ensuring teaching stays aligned with industry needs.

To learn more about the Degree Show, please visit:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/heriot-watt-university-civil-engineering-degree-show-2026-tickets-1983870264365

Tomorrow: Meet the Robots!

World’s top Human Robot Interaction (HRI) experts unite in Edinburgh

Experts using robots to help autistic children, support independent living, transform healthcare and improve people’s everyday lives will attend a major international conference with free public event.

Robots that help autistic children develop communication skills and tech to support people to live independently are just two of the 850 robotic technologies featuring at this year’s Human Robot Interaction Conference.

The conference centres on two defining questions for the field, including how robots can be woven into everyday life like workplaces, hospitals and homes without creating inequality or displacing the people they are meant to serve.

It will also explore how the technology itself can be made genuinely accessible, from intuitive design and affordability to interfaces that do not require an engineering degree to navigate.

The goal, researchers argue, is not simply smarter machines but machines that people genuinely want to use.

The world’s leading human-robot interaction researchers are gathering in Scotland for the first time, bringing some of the biggest names in robotics and technology to the capital including Amazon, Google, Honda and Meta. Edinburgh now joins a distinguished list of previous host cities spanning the US, Europe, Asia and Australia.

The conference comes as the Scottish Government increases investment in robotics and autonomous systems, with recent initiatives including the Robotics Adoption Fund and the Scottish RAS Cluster Pilot, both being delivered by The National Robotarium at Heriot-Watt University. Ministers have identified the sector as having transformational potential across healthcare, education, manufacturing and public services.

Among the technologies on show is QTrobot, an expressive social robot designed to help autistic children develop communication and social skills. Developed by LuxAI, a spinout from the University of Luxembourg, it uses interactive games, visual prompts and movement to create a structured, engaging learning environment.

Also being showcased is Reachy Mini, an open-source humanoid robot developed by French company Pollen Robotics. As part of their work, researchers are using robotics to explore how technology can handle everyday objects, navigate real environments and collaborate with people in homes, hospitals and workplaces.

From the USA,  Semio is a software startup defining the way people will live, work and play with robots in their everyday lives. Semio is showcasing its latest software that allows robot developers to rapidly create and deploy robot apps and allows robot end-users to easily access and use robot apps via natural communication, including both speech and body language.

Researchers and organisations working on socially assistive robotics will present insights into how robots are being deployed in therapy and special educational needs settings, exploring how technology can support teachers and therapists while reducing barriers to access.

A special session, supported by Meta, will look at how humanoid robots move from lab prototypes to living rooms and ask what people actually need and question how we build machines worthy of a place in our homes.

And as researchers pull back the curtain on methods like Wizard of Oz – an experiment in which people believe the robot is acting autonomously while being operated or partially operated by an unseen human – the session will explore the ethical and human costs of the wizards behind the machine.

Lynne Baillie, General Chair of HRI 2026 and a scientist at Heriot-Watt University, said: “Human-robot interaction focuses on how we design technologies that work for people in real situations. We are already seeing robots used to support learning, healthcare and independent living.

“Hosting HRI 2026 in Edinburgh is a significant moment for Scotland. It highlights the strength of robotics research taking place here and brings international expertise to share ideas, technologies and experiences. Scotland is already playing an important role in shaping the future of robotics.

“With the right investment and collaboration between government, universities and industry, we can remain at the forefront of developing technologies that transform society.”

Members of the public are invited to meet the robots and the researchers building them at a free event on Tuesday 17 March (16:30–18:00) at the EICC.

Visitors can explore live demonstrations, take part in hands-on activities and speak directly with scientists and engineers. The event is open to all with no booking required. More information can be found here.

The International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (HRI 2026) takes place at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) from 16 to 19 March and is sponsored by the Association of Computer Machinery (ACM) and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Bella: Breaking Barriers in Brewing

This International Women’s Day, Heriot-Watt University is celebrating the success of Bella Perez, a 2024 graduate of its MSc Brewing and Distilling programme. In less than two years, Bella has risen to become Head Brewer at 71 Brewing, joining a growing number of women working in the industry in Scotland.  

Although modern beer production has long been dominated by men, historically brewing was a woman’s responsibility. Beer was brewed in the home as a safe substitute for water. 

Bella’s appointment as Head Brewer is not only a personal milestone but is also part of brewing tradition:   

“People are often surprised to meet a woman head brewer,” she said. “But women belong here. We always have. International Women’s Day is a reminder of how important visibility is—and why creating space for other women matters.” 

Bella grew up in California. Childhood car journeys past the local Budweiser plant and the region’s thriving craft beer culture sparked her interest in brewing. In 2016, an international study trip confirmed her passion for fermentation science. This became her focus when she returned to UC Davis in California.  

After nearly a decade working across the US—at MillerCoors in Colorado, craft breweries in California, and as a shift lead brewer in Oregon—she looked to further her progression in an industry where women remain underrepresented in senior production roles. 

“I’d been working three jobs at one point and felt stuck,” she explained. “I loved brewing, but to move into upper management you need more than experience—you need technical proof of concept.” 

That next step arrived through a scholarship from the Michael James Jackson Foundation, which supports brewers from underrepresented backgrounds.

With a Cuban parent, Bella was eligible. The organisation funded her Master’s degree at Heriot-Watt University, home to one of the world’s most respected brewing and distilling programmes. Bella describes her time at Heriot-Watt as transformative. 

“It made all the difference. The Master’s gave me the scientific foundation, the research skills and the professional credibility I needed. Combined with my experience, it opened doors that simply weren’t available to me before.” 

Within months of graduating, she was appointed Head Brewer at 71 Brewing, a Dundee-based independent brewery known for innovation and global reach. Her role involves overseeing production, recipe development, quality, and sensory training for an international team – including seven Heriot‑Watt alumni.  

Professor Dawn Maskell is head of the International Centre for Brewing and Distilling at Heriot-Watt University. She said: “Each year, more women choose to study brewing and distilling at Heriot‑Watt, and their presence in our classrooms and laboratories is changing the face of the sector.  

“Seeing graduates like Bella move into senior production roles is a powerful reminder of why representation matters and why supporting women into technical leadership positions is so important for the industry’s future.” 

Today, Bella is part of a growing cohort of women shaping Scotland’s brewing. She is the driving force behind this Sunday’s inaugural Cailleach Festival, Scotland’s first beer festival dedicated to showcasing women working in production roles from across the country. 

By bringing together female leaders from breweries large and small, the festival aims to increase visibility, foster mentorship and challenge lingering assumptions about who makes beer.  

“For young women entering the industry, seeing someone who looks like you in a senior role can be transformative,” Bella said. “Representation shapes possibility.” 

Despite progress, Bella acknowledges the challenges women still face. Brewing remains physically demanding, technically complex and often male-dominated. “You need to be thick-skinned and creative.  

“It’s hands-on, heavy lifting, long days. But if you like getting your hands dirty, starting with a list of raw ingredients and turning them into something you’ve made yourself, brewing is definitely for you. It’s incredibly rewarding.” 

Bella is clear about the message she wants to share on International Women’s Day: “Don’t let the demographics of an industry tell you whether you belong. If you’re passionate, capable and determined, there is a place for you.  

“Brewing needs more women. Science needs more women. Leadership needs more women. Progress is never accidental. It comes from women supporting women—and from institutions like Heriot-Watt believing in our potential.” 

Heriot-Watt University’s internationally-recognised International Centre for Brewing and Distilling is a unique teaching & research facility. 

Follow this link to read how we are raising £35 million for our new Centre for Sustainable Brewing and Distilling. 

Heriot-Watt University appoints Professor Nola Hewitt-Dundas as Principal and Vice-Chancellor

Heriot-Watt University has appointed Professor Nola Hewitt-Dundas as its next Principal and Vice-Chancellor.

Professor Hewitt-Dundas joins Heriot-Watt from Queen’s University Belfast, where she serves as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Transnational Education) and Professor of Innovation Management and Policy. She is also an internationally recognised academic in innovation and science policy and currently serves as a non-executive Board member of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Professor Hewitt-Dundas will join the University on 1 September 2026, with Professor Richard A. Williams remaining in post as Principal and Vice-Chancellor until the end of September ensuring a smooth and effective transition.

Bruce Pritchard, Chair of Court at Heriot-Watt University, said: “I am thrilled to welcome Professor Hewitt-Dundas to the Heriot-Watt community. She is joining at an exciting time, as we embark on the realisation of Strategy 2035.

“Nola brings the vision, drive and leadership experience needed to lead Heriot-Watt into this next chapter. Her academic credentials, a strong alignment with our University’s values and a track record of delivering transformational change programmes makes her a perfect fit to lead the organisation in the coming years.

“We look forward to working with Professor Hewitt-Dundas to inspire and engage our staff, students, alumni and partners, and to shape a bold, sustainable and globally connected future for the University. I would also like once again to thank and pay tribute to Professor Richard Williams, who is leaving us at the end of September after a very successful 11 years in the role.”

Commenting on her appointment, Professor Hewitt-Dundas said: “I am honoured to be appointed as the next Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University. Heriot-Watt is a distinctive global university, renowned for its excellence in science, engineering and business, its strong industry connections, and its international reach.

“I look forward to engaging with colleagues across the University’s campuses to support our staff and students, deliver Strategy 2035, and build a sustainable and successful future together.”

Heriot-Watt University is a global institution with campuses in Scotland, Dubai and Malaysia, as well as a growing cohort of online learners.

The University is internationally recognised for its industry-focused education, research excellence, and real-world impact across science, engineering, business and the built environment.

Professor Hewitt-Dundas was appointed following a highly competitive international search. She brings extensive experience in senior university leadership, global engagement, governance, innovation and research.

She will be the first woman to serve as Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University, marking a significant milestone as the University celebrates the 60th anniversary of its Royal Charter.

Winter Welcome: Heriot-Watt University Christmas Concerts

If the winter gloom is getting you down, Heriot-Watt has two events guaranteed to raise your spirits with some festive cheer. 

Our ever-popular Christmas Carol Celebration is taking place at the Edinburgh campus on Friday, December 12th.  Come to the James Watt Centre at 5.30pm for an unforgettable evening of seasonal music and readings. 

Members of the University Choir will be accompanied by the University Orchestra. Complimentary mince pies and mulled wine (alternatives available) will be provided before the concert starts at 6.30pm.  

Matthew Brown, Heriot-Watt’s Director of Music, has promised a memorable evening: “The Christmas Carol Celebration is a highlight of our year, bringing together the community to share in the joy and beauty of the season through music. We can’t wait to welcome you.” 

Tickets are free and early booking is strongly recommended to avoid disappointment. Please secure your place through Eventbrite – and mark your calendar!  

If you can’t make the Christmas Carol Celebration, why not come to ‘A Christmas Carol’ on Wednesday December 10th at 7.30pm?

In the beautiful setting of St Cuthbert’s Church, Edinburgh, the Heriot-Watt Chamber Choir will entertain you with words and music based on the Charles Dickens classic.

Further details and tickets for ‘A Christmas Carol’ are available through

TicketSource. 

Ancient sediments reveal Earth’s hidden wildfire past

A total of 30 sediment samples were retrieved from Svalbard, the Norwegian Arctic archipelago.

Credit: Dr Franziska Blattmann

An international team of scientists, including a senior researcher at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, has uncovered new evidence of ancient wildfires that reshapes our understanding of Earth’s turbulent Early Triassic epoch, about 250 million years ago.

The findings, reported in Communications Earth & Environment, published by Nature Portfolio under the title Wildfire, ecosystem and climate interactions in the Early Triassic, challenge the long-standing belief in a global “charcoal gap”, a time interval with little or no evidence of fire following the world’s greatest mass extinction.

Traces in the dirt

For decades, the absence of charcoal in the geologic record led scientists to assume that wildfires had all but disappeared after the Permian–Triassic extinction, also known as the “Great Dying”. This was the most severe mass extinction in Earth’s history, resulting in the loss of up to 96% of marine species and 70% of terrestrial vertebrate species, primarily caused by massive volcanic eruptions.

This latest study sheds new light on this period, revealing microscopic chemical traces of charred vegetation preserved in sediments.

The team tested 30 sediment samples retrieved from Svalbard, the Norwegian Arctic archipelago better known today as home to the Global Seed Vault. Despite the harsh conditions, the island’s ancient rocks offered pristine material that had remained undisturbed for hundreds of millions of years.

Fire without charcoal

Instead of relying on visible pieces of charcoal, the team searched for molecular fingerprints of combustion known as polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These compounds form during the incomplete burning of plant matter and can persist in sediments long after more visible evidence disappears.

Dr Clayton Magill (above) is Associate Professor of Biogeochemistry at the Lyell Centre at Heriot-Watt University and a senior author of the study. “A lot of folks have not found the normal evidence of fire such as charcoal, ash, burnt fossils so the consensus was that fire wasn’t happening,” he said.

“What our colleague Dr Franziska Blattmann’s work showed is that even without the big pieces of evidence, the microscopic signals are still there. You just need to know where to look.”

The analysis revealed widespread PAHs consistent with burning fresh plant matter rather than volcanic coal deposits or contamination. This strongly suggests that wildfires were, in fact, shaping ecosystems during the Early Triassic, even when the fossil charcoal record seemed to say otherwise.

Modelling fire in deep time

The project, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, combined sediment analysis with cutting-edge climate and vegetation modelling.

Using an open-source model by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) named the General Circulation Model (MITgcm), the team successfully reconstructed how shifting climates, ecosystems, and fire regimes interacted in the aftermath of the mass extinction.

“It’s very easy to say, ‘If A occurs, then B will happen,’ but that can be ambiguous,” Dr Magill said. “By using models, we can run our data through theory and test whether it holds up. It doesn’t just say, ‘trust me’ – it shows you the evidence.”

The use of open-source models was especially important, Dr Magill added: “That’s a powerful tool in a world where not everyone has equal access to scientific resources and funding. Open science allows everyone to compete at the highest level.”

The 10-strong team of sedimentologists, palynologists, palaeontologists, physicists and geochemists was led by Dr Franziska Blattmann at the Faculty of Geoscience and Environment at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland.

Svalbard – Credit: Dr Franziska Blattmann

She and her colleagues had worked on the groundbreaking research since 2018 and said: “This study came together through the collaboration of a multidisciplinary team of scientists, working together even amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The research highlights how longstanding scientific questions can be advanced and how unexpected discoveries can emerge when collaboration is open, creative and supportive.”

Beyond filling in a 250-million-year-old puzzle, the research carries urgent lessons for the present. The Early Triassic was a time of extreme climate swings, ecosystem recovery, and environmental stress, all themes with echoes in today’s warming world.

Scottish Handball and Oriam launch pioneering sports scholarship

Handball players from around the world who could help to boost Scotland’s status in the sport are being invited to apply for a new scholarship programme that is thought to be the first of its kind in Europe, if not worldwide.

The new Handball Scholarship is being launched in a collaboration between the Scottish Handball Association – Scotland’s national governing body for handball – and Oriam, Scotland’s Sports Performance Centre, based at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.

The Handball Scholarship is an expansion of Oriam’s existing Sports Scholarship programmes, which help athletes to study at the same time as competing in high-level sport.

Handball is one of Scotland’s fastest growing team sports, with Scotland seeing a 500% jump in participation in the sport over the last two to three years, according to Scottish Handball. On an international level, the 2024 final of the European Men’s Handball Championship in Germany last year attracted 1.2 billion views.

This very fast and exciting sport involves two teams of seven players competing to score goals by throwing the ball past the goalkeeper into the opposing team’s goal.

Ewan Hunter, Chief Executive of Scottish Handball, said: “Handball is popular because it’s fast, exciting to watch and really easy to pick up.

The basic rules are very quick and simple to understand. And inclusivity is built into the sport, so boys and girls play together through primary school. We’re seeing very strong growth in handball at a grassroots level in Scotland and for the last couple of years, we’ve been focusing on developing pathways from there through into the higher levels of the sport.

“This scholarship programme is the next natural step on that journey and builds on our long relationship with Oriam.”

Scottish Handball has been a partner of Oriam’s since the centre opened in 2016 to help Scotland’s top athletes train and prepare for competition at the highest levels. Oriam is one of only a few venues in Scotland with a full-sized 40 by 20 metre indoor court for handball, and Scottish Handball hosts most of its major events here.

This includes Scottish Cup and Super Cup Finals, where the top two handball teams from England and Scotland in the Men’s Senior League and the Women’s Senior League compete for the British Champion title and European qualification.

Ross Campbell, Executive Director of Oriam, said: “This is an exciting expansion of our Sport Scholarship programmes that also deepens our partnership with the Scottish Handball Association. This allows us to work together to support handball athletes, not only from Scotland, but from across the world.

“The key aim of our scholarships is to help athletes perform both academically and in their chosen sport through access to our world class facilities and Oriam’s performance staff. All of these factors make this programme an exciting opportunity for athletes to be a part of.”

Katrina Gibbon, Performance Sport Manager at Oriam, explained the different elements of the Handball Scholarship in more detail. She said: “Athletes joining this programme will have access to specific technical training in handball and they’ll also have strength and conditioning sessions with our sports science team.

They’ll have weekly access to our hydro pool for recovery, alongside sports psychology support and access to physiotherapy through our Oriam Clinic. Oriam’s Athlete Lifestyle and Advocacy Co-Ordinator can also support athletes with any potential clashes between academic and sporting commitments.”

The partners say they are not aware of other programmes in the world of handball that combine academic study and athlete support in this way.

While handball is not played professionally in Scotland, as it is in other parts of Europe, the aim of the new scholarship is to continue building the sport at an amateur level.

“Handball will continue to be an amateur sport in Scotland for the foreseeable future,” Ewan said. “But we want to embrace that – and our hopes for this scholarship are really clear.

“We hope it cements the pathway for the development of handball at all levels. That means primary school, secondary school, community club, full club and age group level. We recognise that 99.9% of people who play sport in Scotland will not end up earning a living from the sport they play. But with this scholarship, you can still continue your development and growth as a handball player – without having to put your career or academic aspirations to one side.”

Athletes offered a scholarship will be able to show a strong track record in handball at an amateur club level or international age group level.

“We are looking for players who will add quality and value to the handball community here in Scotland,” Ewan said.

One of Oriam’s existing Sports Scholars, Rory Semple, has already played handball for Great Britain at Boys and Men’s age-group level.

Rory, 20, from Renfrewshire, started playing handball at Kelvinside Academy in Glasgow and is at Heriot-Watt in the third year of a degree in economics. “I started playing handball at school when I was 13 and through the years progressed to playing for Great Britain,” Rory explained.

“Now I’m playing at Heriot-Watt University and still at my club at Kelvinside in Glasgow, but playing under 20 at the Great Britain level.

“The Sports Scholarship at Oriam has been really helpful. It’s pushed me to absolutely smash my limits at physical training in the gym here. It gives me a great social balance as well because there are like-minded scholars my age here and we’re all competing at the same sort of level. The coaching staff are absolutely excellent too, so the support is 10 out of 10.”

Handball originated as a sport in the 19th century and has its roots in Europe, particularly in Germany and the Nordic countries, including Denmark, Sweden and Norway. The sport is played professionally in these countries and has also been one of the longest standing sports at the Summer Olympics.  02:07

The rules of the game include a ‘rolling substitution’ rule, meaning there’s no limit on substitutions during a game.

This means there’s “a space and place for anybody of any size, shape or physical fitness,” Ewan said.

Oriam’s facilities include multiple sports halls, outdoor pitches, an indoor tennis centre and a state-of-the-art gym. It also has a performance wing with facilities including a strength and conditioning gym, hydrotherapy pool, medical and rehabilitation suite and sauna.

Sports clubs and governing bodies who use Oriam as a training and performance hub include Scotland’s national rugby team, Heart of Midlothian Football Club and Scottish Squash.

British University and College Sport, the national governing body for higher education sport in the UK, ranked Heriot-Watt University 25th out of 127 institutions for the number of sports scholars it supported in 2023-24.

Oriam is a wholly owned subsidiary of Heriot-Watt and is funded by The Scottish Government, sportscotland – Scotland’s national agency for sport – and City of Edinburgh Council.

The centre is based on Heriot-Watt’s Riccarton campus to the West of Edinburgh and is around four miles from Edinburgh Airport. Other facilities on campus include the Marriott Bonvoy hotel, opposite the Oriam complex.

Scientists unlock new dimension in light manipulation

New era in photonic technology

Researchers at Heriot-Watt University have made a groundbreaking discovery paving the way for a transformative era in photonic technology.

For decades, scientists have theorised the possibility of manipulating the optical properties of light by adding a new dimension—time. This once-elusive concept has now become a reality thanks to nanophotonics experts from the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences in Edinburgh.

The team’s breakthrough emerged from experiments with nanomaterials known as transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) – a special glass capable of changing how light moves through the material at incredible speeds. These compounds are widely found in solar panels and touchscreens and can be shaped as ultra-thin films measuring just 250 nanometers (0.00025 mm),smaller than the wavelength of visible light.

Led by Dr Marcello Ferrera, Associate Professor of Nanophotonics, the Heriot-Watt research team, supported by colleagues from Purdue University in the US, managed to “sculpt” the way TCOs react by radiating the material with ultra-fast pulses of light. Remarkably, the resulting temporally engineered layer was able to simultaneously control the direction and energy of individual particles of light, known as photons, a functionality which, up until now, had been unachievable.

The discovery is directly linked to the possibility of processing data at a far greater speed and volume than what is currently available. It is expected to have transformative impact in several key areas such as optical computing and AI, integrated quantum technologies, and ultra-fast physics.

“It is difficult to grasp the advances we will experience in our daily lives as a result of this breakthrough,” explains Dr Ferrera.

“By using a nonlinear material to fully exploit optical bandwidth, companies and major organisations can process so much more information. This will hold huge benefits to the likes of data centres and advancing AI technology, among others, and will underpin exciting new technologies we cannot fully understand at this time.”

Commenting further on the potential future uses arising from this research, Dr Ferrera said: “Society is thirsty for bandwidth.

“If we are aiming at making a virtual meeting a fully immersive 3D experience, this would demand enormous computational power and processing speed, which only ultra-fast all-optical components can provide. The material properties we are investigating here could increase computational speed by several orders of magnitude, enabling handling much greater volumes of information at a fraction of current energy expenditure.

“What science and technology is trying to do is emulate the human brain but by using electronic hardware. The materials we are working on are the ingredients towards this goal that can lower the energy consumption of these computational units, reducing costs and increasing processing power.”

Dr Wallace Jaffray, a postdoctoral research associate and Sven Stengel, a doctoral researcher, have been working alongside Dr Ferrera on the cutting-edge research at Heriot-Watt University.

The core of their breakthrough lies in the ability to manipulate TCOs to control the speed at which photons travel. This newfound capacity effectively adds a ‘fourth dimension’, enabling extraordinary light transformations, including amplification, the creation of quantum states, and new forms of light control.

Dr Ferrera continues: “Searching for a material that can drastically change under low-energy illumination in an ultra-fast manner has been the quest for the Holy Grail in all-optical technologies since the invention of laser.

“This new class of time-varying media is the biggest leap forward towards the perfect optically controllable material in decades enabling a large variety of novel and exciting effects that scientists all over the world are rushing to attempt. This is a new age in nonlinear optics which targets full light-control without the need of slow electric signals.”

The findings have been published in the peer reviewed journal, Nature Photonics.

Vladimir M. Shalaev, a Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University, who assisted in the research said: “These low-index transparent conductors have brought a real revolution within the field of integrated nonlinear optics, allowing for the effective and energy-efficient manipulation of optical signals on unprecedentedly short time scales.”

Alexandra Boltasseva, a Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University, added: “Our common research effort demonstrates that with these materials we can finally use the variable of time for engineering the optical properties of compounds beyond what is currently possible by using standard fabrication processes.”

Dr Ferrera was recently awarded a share of £6.5m from the UK-Canada Quantum for Science Research Collaboration to advance his research over the next two years.

Expo City Dubai and Heriot-Watt University collaborate to create UAE Robotarium

Scotland and the United Arab Emirates are collaborating to launch the first Robotarium in the Middle East, driving innovation in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI).

The new UAE Robotarium is being created through a strategic partnership between Heriot-Watt University Dubai and Expo City Dubai, an innovation-driven, people-centric community and a platform for groundbreaking ideas that benefit both people and the planet.

Inspired by the successful model of the UK’s National Robotarium, located at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, the UAE facility will unite leaders from academia, industry, and government. Together, they will accelerate breakthroughs in robotics and AI, incubate startups, develop and commercialise cutting-edge technologies, and demonstrate the practical applications and benefits of automation in urban life.

A major focus of the collaboration is talent development. To support this, Expo City Dubai will sponsor new PhD research positions at Heriot-Watt’s Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence.

To formalise the partnership, Heriot-Watt University and Expo City Dubai have agreed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish UAE Robotarium. The agreement was signed by Najeeb Mohamed Al-Ali, Executive Director, Expo City Dubai Authority, and by Professor Dame Heather McGregor, Provost and Vice Principal of Heriot-Watt University Dubai.

Najeeb Mohamed Al-Ali, said: “We are delighted to collaborate again with Heriot-Watt University to establish the UAE’s first Robotarium, cementing Expo City Dubai’s position as an incubator for innovation, a testbed for solutions and a platform for groundbreaking ideas.

“This world-class research centre will attract the best talent to drive transformative solutions that benefit communities and improve the quality of urban living, fully supporting Dubai’s Economic Agenda (D33) and the UAE’s position as a global innovation pioneer.”

Following the signing ceremony, Professor Dame Heather McGregor said: “We look forward to working with Expo City Dubai to drive AI and robotics research.

“For 20 years, Heriot-Watt University has been a leading British higher education institution in the UAE, emphasising our commitment to academic excellence and research. We are proud to support the UAE’s bold vision and contribute to strengthening the country’s leadership in automation and advanced technologies.”

The signing ceremony was attended by His Excellency Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade; Richard Lochhead MSP, Scotland’s Minister for Business; Edward Hobart, British Ambassador to the UAE, and Professor Gillian Murray, Deputy Principal for Business and Enterprise at Heriot-Watt University.

Commenting on the new partnership, Professor Gillian Murray, Deputy Principal for Business and Enterprise at Heriot-Watt University, said: “The success of the UK’s National Robotarium has demonstrated the immense impact that a dedicated centre for robotics and AI can have in accelerating innovation, fostering enterprise, and driving economic growth.

“The UAE Robotarium will build on this proven model, creating a world-class hub where cutting-edge research translates into real-world applications. Through this partnership with Expo City Dubai, we will empower startups, scale businesses, and support industry in developing and commercialising transformative technologies.”

“This initiative will not only strengthen the UAE’s position as a global leader in AI and automation but also forge deeper collaboration between the UK and the UAE.”

In 2023, the UAE Government and Scottish Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the two regions aimed at enhancing non-oil bilateral trade and promoting collaboration in advanced technology, innovation, education and research. Plans to replicate the UK Robotarium in the UAE are a result of continued engagement between the UAE and Scottish Government after Expo 2020 Dubai.

Following the signing ceremony, Business Minister Richard Lochhead said: “This is a milestone moment for Heriot-Watt and recognition of its global reputation for scientific excellence. 

“Scotland is well-known for its skills in innovation and tech development and our academic institutions are respected around the world. 

“This development is a great example of how Scottish expertise can make a global difference and deepens our economic relations with an important international partner.”

By 2031, the UAE aims to become one of the world’s leading nations in artificial intelligence, as set out in the government’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031. The country’s National Innovation Strategy also aims to establish the Emirates as a global hub for research and innovation, while the UAE Industrial Strategy – known as Operation 300bn – is focused on developing the country’s industrial sector.

The partners said the UAE Robotarium will further these ambitions by advancing the nation’s knowledge-based economy and promoting global competitiveness in AI and robotics.

3D imaging breakthrough could mean step change for security and defence applications

Scientists have developed a detection system that could vastly improve the accuracy of human facial and activity recognition at long distances and through obstructions like fog, smoke or camouflage.

The researchers say their sensitive light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system can generate high-resolution three-dimensional images with double the efficiency of similar LiDAR systems being developed by other research groups, and at least 10 times better image resolution.

At 325 metres – the length of around three soccer pitches – researchers were able to 3D image the face of one of their co-authors in millimetre-scale detail.

The same system could be used to accurately detect faces and human activity at distances of up to one kilometre – equivalent to the length of 10 soccer pitches – the researchers say.

The research is published in the optics and photonics journal Optica and is a collaboration between the Single-Photon Group at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, led by quantum photonics expert Professor Gerald Buller, using equipment developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) at California Institute of Technology and by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States, and by the James Watt School of Engineering at the University of Glasgow in Scotland.

Lead author Dr Aongus McCarthy is a specialist in optical and optomechanical design and a Research Fellow at Heriot-Watt’s Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences (IPaQS).

He said: “The results of our research show the enormous potential of such a system to construct detailed high-resolution 3D images of scenes from long distances in daylight or darkness conditions.

“For example, if someone is standing behind camouflage netting, this system has the potential to determine whether they are on their mobile phone, holding something, or just standing there idle. So there are a number of potential applications from a security and defence perspective.”

The system uses pulses of laser light to measure the distances to objects in a scene. The team’s breakthrough involved being able to measure the time it took for a laser pulse to travel from the system to the object and back with an accuracy of approximately 13 picoseconds – a picosecond being one million millionth of a second. This timing is around 10 times better than the researchers had been able to do previously. 

“The timing is really phenomenal,” Dr McCarthy explained. “It allows us to measure variations in depth very, very accurately – on a millimetre scale – which means we can distinguish between closely separated surfaces at very long distances.”

The system could lead to ‘step change improvements’ in applications such as facial and human activity recognition, and the imaging of scenes through ‘clutter and atmospheric obscurants,’ the researchers say.

A key advantage of the system is being able to accurately measure distances in broad daylight – when scattered light from the sun typically has a negative impact on the measurement process. By using a laser wavelength greater than can be seen by the naked eye – at 1550 nanometres – the daylight background is significantly reduced. This wavelength is also ideal for very high transmission in the atmosphere and in optical fibres.

Another advantage is that the laser output of the system is low power and ‘eye safe’ – meaning the laser beams from the system are safe to look at from any distance.

The researchers tested their system at three distances they could see from their rooftop laboratory. These were a neighbouring rooftop 45 metres away, a location on the ground 325 metres away and a distant radio mast exactly one kilometre away. It was at the 45 metre and 325 metre locations that research co-author Gregor Taylor posed while his colleagues scanned his head. 

Dr McCarthy said he would now like to test the system over much longer distances: “Could we recognise a vehicle type at 10 kilometres, whether it’s a car or a van or a tank? These kind of distances would be of real interest.”

Dr McCarthy said the system could also be used to monitor the movement of buildings or rock faces to assess subsidence or other potential hazards.

The team built the system using a highly advanced detector developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which are well known for their groundbreaking scientific and technological research.

This detector, called a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD), has to be cooled to a very low temperature of approximately minus 272 degrees Celsius – or 1 Kelvin – the base unit of thermodynamic temperature measurement.

It then becomes ‘superconducting’ and has no resistance to electrical current flow until a photon of light lands on it.

The special ‘cryocooler’ fridge that cooled the team’s detector to the low temperature to carry out their research was another crucial component of the research.

This compact cooling system was designed and developed by the Quantum Sensors group of Robert Hadfield, Professor of Photonics at University of Glasgow’s James Watt School of Engineering.

The research was funded and supported by the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the European Research Council (ERC), the DARPA DSO Invisible Headlights program, the NASA ROSES-APRA program, and the Alliance for Quantum Technologies INQNET framework.

The research paper is entitled, High-resolution long-distance depth imaging LiDAR with ultra-low timing jitter superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors.