AIRS-NFM Residential 2023

These meetings are science-based, focussing on exchanging knowledge to further progress the research programme.

From left to right: Pam Allen, Gareth Leech, Neil Cockbain, Roy Logsdon, Malcolm Joyce, Andrew Parker, James Taylor, Xiandong Ma, Stephen Marshall, Paul Murray, Manuel Bandala, Patrick Chard

EPSRC Responsive Manufacturing Showcase

Following up on a very successful event we held last year, AIRS-NFM hosted another EPSRC Responsive Manufacturing Showcase, that took place at the University of Strathclyde, Technology and Innovation Centre (TIC) on Friday 13^th October.

10 projects funded through the responsive manufacturing call attended which brought investigators and researchers to join us in discussing their research with a view to identifying new synergies and opportunities for collaboration.

IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium 2023

Members of the AIRS-NFM research group travelled to Vancouver, Canada, in early November for the 2023 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium. Professor Malcolm Joyce and Dr Andrew Parker from Lancaster University, and Dr Jaime Zabalza from the University of Strathclyde attended to represent the work of the research group and network with international colleagues.

IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium 2023

Jaime gave a talk, entitled ‘Hyperspectral Imaging based Characterization and Identification of Sintered UO2 Fuel Pellets’, and Andrew presented a poster, ‘Passive gamma-ray analysis of UO2 fuel rods using SrI2(Eu) scintillators in multi-detector arrangements.’ The presentations were well received. The opportunity to discover recent advances by peer research groups was valuable and is already shaping technical aspects of the AIRS-NFM project.

AIRS-NFM Quarterly Meeting

The AIRS-NFM Quarterly Meeting took place at Westinghouse Springfields on Friday 26th January 2024.

These meetings are held quarterly and are very well attended with our partners on the programme from Westinghouse Springfields Fuels Ltd (WSF), National Nuclear Laboratory NNL, and Mirion Technologies (CANBERRA). The next meeting will take place in April.

AIRS-NFM Residential, North Lakes Hotel, Penrith

This was the third Residential taking place at the North Lakes Hotel, Penrith on 6th-7th June 2024. These meetings are science-based, focussing on exchanging knowledge to further progress the research programme.

From left to right: James Taylor, Stuart Bennett, Stephen Marshall, Xiandong Ma, Patrick Chard, Manuel Bandala, Pam Allen, Paul Murray, Neil Cockbain, Dave Goddard, and Malcolm Joyce.

EPSRC UKRI Responsive Manufacturing Residential

As a follow-up to last year’s very successful EPSRC UKRI Responsive Manufacturing Call for Proposals Showcase, Professor Malcolm Joyce and Professor Paul Murray, thought it would be a great opportunity to try and get everyone together in September 2024 at Lancaster. We invited Investigators and researchers from each of the successful projects to join us. We also had representation from the EPSRC, Dr Natalie Jones, Head of Regional Engagement North West England, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, UK Research & Innovation.

IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium - Florida 2024

Members of the AIRS-NFM research group travelled to Tampa, Florida, in late October for the 2024 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium. Professor Malcolm Joyce and Dr Andrew Parker from Lancaster University, and Professor Paul Murray and David Dunphy from the University of Strathclyde attended to represent the work of the research group and network with international colleagues. Andrew gave a talk, entitled A prototype multi-instrument quality assurance system for responsive nuclear fuel manufacturing, which was well received.

CENSIS Technology Summit - Glasgow 2024

Researchers from the AIRS-NFM project attended a showcase of technology at the CENSIS Technology Summit in Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall in November 2024. A prototype turntable for manipulating nuclear fuel pellets in order to allow 360° data acquisition was highlighted as part of the University of Strathclyde’s Centre for Signal and Image Processing display.

IEEE Whispers - Finland 2024

Members of the AIRS-NFM research team travelled to Helsinki, Finland, in December 2024, to present some of our findings to the wider hyperspectral community and engage with researchers in other application areas. Dr Andrew Parker from Lancaster University gave a talk, entitled A prototype multi-instrument quality assurance system for responsive nuclear fuel manufacturing, and David Dunphy presented a poster, entitled Developing a cost-effective multispectral imaging system for real-time nuclear fuel pellet inspection.