Date/Time: Thursday 18 March 2025, 5.30pm

Venue: Curtis Auditorium, Herschel Building, Newcastle University

Three early-career researchers from the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering at Newcastle University, explore new ideas through their cutting-edge research.

Two of the students have been selected by a judging panel of experts. The third student will be chosen by you. Read more about the shortlisted entries below and cast your vote for the lecture you would like to see. Voting closes at 12.00pm (noon) on Thursday 27 February and the winners will be announced on Friday 28 February.

Shortlisted Entries:

1. Forgotten Carbon in the Countryside by Nicholas Allen, Natural & Environmental Sciences

To avoid more extreme weather unleashed by climate change, we know we need to reduce carbon emissions, but more than ever we need to take carbon out of the atmosphere. Trees have always been the obvious candidate, but what about the network of hedgerows found in the UK which have been there for Millenia? In this talk I will recount my PhD work of harvesting, drying and weighing hedges to create an equation so they don’t have to be harvested again. The new ability to estimate hedge carbon will unlock funding, allowing them to play a more important role in combating climate change. 

2. Beyond Batteries: A New Material Family for Solid Electrolytes in Fuel Cells by Oscar Ballantyne, Natural and Environmental Sciences

Fuel cells are a crucial technology currently in an exciting stage of development. As modern lithium-ion batteries approach their efficiency limits, fuel cells are poised to aid in solving the energy crisis. This is achieved by efficient generation of energy through clean methods, producing little to no carbon waste. My project is about new materials for solid electrolytes in fuel cells that allow them to operate at lower temperatures, which is essential for a cost-effective and greener alternative to current battery technology.

3. Climate Change, Ships and Uncertainty Analysis by Gabriela Grasu, School of Engineering

For several years, the damaging effects of the climate change continue to impact our planet. As an island nation, Great Britain is proud of its maritime heritage and now is the time to lead once again but for the shipping sector decarbonisation. The research and teaching activities at Newcastle University led by the Engineering School aim to support the International Maritime Organization ambitious goal for a greenhouse gas emission free international shipping by 2050. This lecture will take you to a journey for discovering the role and importance of the uncertainty analysis in ship design optimisation and sustainable technologies implementation.

4. Digital Sailmate: Enhancing Safety through Low-Cost Stability Monitoring in Artisanal Fishing by Nathan Smith, School of Engineering

Offshore fishing remains one of the most dangerous occupations worldwide, particularly for artisanal fishers in developing countries. With an estimated global mortality rate of over 100,000 fishers annually, insufficient vessel stability leading to capsizes is a key aspect of this safety crisis.

This talk links the problem of fishing boat safety due to stability loss to the opportunity presented by low-cost consumer-level digital technology. By providing accessible information about vessel stability, we enable fishers to make more informed decisions about operational safety. Here, we explore how low fidelity data can be used to measure and monitor vessel stability using a prototype device, presenting both model and full-scale testing in Lamu, Kenya.