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It’s been another remarkable year for the Faculty of Science and Engineering. Across all of our departments, colleagues have led groundbreaking research, launched innovative initiatives, and earned prestigious awards. As 2024 draws to a close, we showcase just a few of the many great stories that have shaped our year.
January
To start the year, astronomers found a mysterious object in our Milky Way. The unknown object, which was located around 40,000 light years away, is heavier than the heaviest neutron stars known and yet simultaneously lighter than the lightest black holes known. It could be the first discovery of the much-coveted radio pulsar – black hole binary
Later in the month, two University of Manchester professors, Professor Anthony Green and Professor Rahul Nair, were recognised in the prestigious 2024 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists. The pair were named among the three Laureates in recognition of their research that is transforming medicine, technology and our understanding of the world in the field of Chemical Sciences and Physical Sciences & Engineering, respectively.
February
March
March saw the Faculty of Science and Engineering’s marketing team successfully launch a new podcast, Big Sisters in STEM, which aims to amplify marginalised voices in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) industry. Episode one was launched to more than 1000 listeners and has since been listened to in almost 60 countries. By May 2024, BSIS became the most listened podcast of The University of Manchester and is rated five stars across podcast platforms.
The University was also named an Academic Centre of Excellence (ACE-CSR) in recognition of its internationally leading cyber security research. And new research found that reduced snow cover and shifting vegetation patterns in the Alps, both driven by climate change, are having major combined impacts on biodiversity and functioning of ecosystems in the high mountains.
April
In April, Dr Dean Lomax identified the fossilised remains of what could be the largest known marine reptile. The fossilised remains measured more than two metres long and was identified as belonging to the jaws of a new species of enormous ichthyosaur, a type of prehistoric marine reptile. Estimates suggest the oceanic titan would have been more than 25 metres long.
Manchester scientists also started to develop a world-first Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) that integrates cutting-edge imaging and spectroscopy with artificial intelligence and automated workflows (AutomaTEM). The development will accelerate innovation in materials applications for quantum computing, low power electronics, and new catalysts to support the energy transition.
Also in April, six scientists in the Faculty of Science and Engineering were awarded highly prestigious European Research Council (ERC) advanced grants designed to provide outstanding research leaders with the opportunity to pursue ambitious, curiosity-driven projects that could lead to major scientific breakthroughs.
May
In May, scientists made an exciting breakthrough in quantum computing. They produced an enhanced, ultra-pure form of silicon – thought to be the world’s purest silicon – that allows construction of high-performance qubit devices – a fundamental component required to pave the way towards scalable quantum computers. The finding could define and push forward the future of quantum computing.
Also in May, the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Catalyst (IBIC) was launched, Professor Michael Garrett, Director of Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society in recognition of his “invaluable contributions to science” and scientists released the first set of scientific data captured with the Euclid telescope.
June
In June, two Professors in the Faculty were recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours. Professor Ian Hall was awarded an OBE for his services to public health, to epidemiology and to adult social care, particularly during Covid-19, while Professor Paul Howarth was awarded a CBE for his significant contribution and service to the nuclear industry and to UK research and development (R&D).
Scientists also unlocked a new design for a robot that could jump twice the height of Big Ben – higher than any other jumping robot designed to date. Applications of the robot range from planetary exploration to disaster rescue to surveillance of hazardous or inaccessible spaces.
July
July was a bumper month for health research. Scientists in the Department of Earth and Environment Sciences discovered a way to control mutation rates in bacteria, paving the way for new strategies to combat antibiotic resistance. In the Institute of Biotechnology, researchers developed a new approach to store and distribute crucial protein therapeutics without the need for fridges or freezers, significantly improve accessibility of essential protein-based drugs. They also uncovered a more efficient and sustainable way to make peptide-based medicines, showing promising effectiveness in combating cancers.
August
During summer, scientists published findings from their study investigating triggers of explosive volcanic eruptions. For the first time, they were able to effectively simulate how bubbles grow in volcanic magma, shedding new light on one of nature’s most astonishing phenomena.
A project that aims to advance research software practices across the UK, was awarded a record £10.2 million in funding.
September
September was all about ocean waves. The M4 wave energy converter, developed by Professor Peter Stansby was successfully launched in Albany, Australia. The device is designed to harness the power of ocean waves to generate electricity, representing a significant step forward for renewable energy technology.
Scientists also discovered that ocean waves could be far more extreme and complex than previously imagined. They found that waves can reach heights four times steeper than what was once thought possible and could have implications for how offshore structures are designed, weather forecasting and climate modelling.
October
October was an exciting month as we celebrated the 20th anniversary of graphene; the Nobel Prize-winning ‘wonder material’, which was first isolated by Professor Sir Andre Geim and Professor Sir Kostya Novoselov.
In the same month, the Department of Maths was gifted a unique mathematical object known as a Gömböc – the first known physical example of a new class of shapes called mono-monostatics. The Gömböc has the unique serial number 1824, in honour of the University’s 200th anniversary, which has been celebrated throughout 2024.
November
In November, Professor Carly McLachlan attended a sustainability event at Buckingham Palace, hosted by King Charles III to talk about her work in sustainable live music. She attended the event as part of a delegation representing the Act 1.5 and Accelerator City initiative, alongside Robin Kemp, Head of Creative at Culture Liverpool; and four-time grammy award winning musician Nile Rodgers.
The University also partnered on two new projects – one in cyber security and one in nuclear robotics – each supported by a £5million grant by the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Place Based Impact Acceleration Account (PBIAA) scheme.
Ending the month, scientists unlocked the secrets of one of the most remarkable seed dispersal systems in the plant kingdom – the squirting cucumber.
December
To end the year on a high, the University’s Great Science Share for Schools was granted UNESCO Patronage for the second year in a row. Its sibling programme Engineering Educates was also endorsed by UNESCO’s Ocean Decade for its recent challenge ‘Motion in the Ocean’. And a new study from the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology describes a novel biological method to convert mixed municipal waste-like fractions – including food scraps, plastics, and textiles – into valuable bio-products.
