Edition 05
Once again, we have a formidable array of world-leading research showcasing the strength and diversity of the research carried out at the Faculty of Science and Engineering of The University of Manchester.
One area of key expertise is the use of advanced mathematical modelling techniques to tackle practical problems of relevance in everyday life. Advanced optimisation techniques are used to propose an innovative approach to aid negotiations towards climate change mitigation that can drastically cut electricity cost and carbon emissions worldwide. Neural networks, which are efficient computational models that mimic the architecture of the human brain, are used to explore new optimisation strategies for decision-making and hard optimisation problems, and as automatic biometric verification systems to identify impostors at airport security checkpoints from their footstep signals. Advanced mathematical techniques are also used to solve an outstanding problem in abstract algebra, and devise efficient strategies for financial portfolio management.
Graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice, is used to realise ultrathin membranes for use in purification and filtration applications, and for high resolution imaging and mapping.
Fundamental work in chemistry underpins the development of new mendable materials whose mechanical properties can be varied and tuned to the intended applications by varying their chemical composition, identify a new chemical reaction that paves the way to the development of new catalytic cycles, and exploits bacteria to synthetise copper nanoparticles for use in catalysis.
Innovative sensors and automatic vision systems are used to automatically sort non-ferrous metals, such as copper and aluminium, in industrial waste for more efficient recycling, while microfluidics is used for innovative and cost-effective study of corrosion in nuclear power stations. Graphics processing units (GPU), which are electronic circuits specialised in the manipulation of images originally designed for game consoles, are used to solve complicated numerical fluid dynamics simulations.
New experimental studies advance our understanding in key areas that span from of the dynamics of glaciers to searches for dark matter, the transport of bacteria, fungal spores and pollen in Antarctica, and rock dynamics for hydrocarbon recovery and geothermal energy applications.
We hope you enjoy reading these and the other studies in ‘In Abstract’. Keep a look out for the next edition in Summer 2018!