The Faculty of Science and Technology has hosted a Global Collaboration Event for colleagues from Sunway University in Malaysia, Lancaster University Leipzig and Lancaster University researchers to develop collaborative research ideas focusing on how their research can contribute to a secure and sustainable future. This event represented a first in bringing Lancaster researchers together with those of two of our international partner campuses for this research-focused event, and all proposals featured at least two campuses working together. Colleagues from the three campuses worked together on different research ideas. After a dynamic and intense series of challenges and activities across three days, four significant research proposals covering a range of topics including the development of waste products for power, development of new sustainable building materials, linking air pollution monitoring to human health and energy smart AI.

All research projects brought together colleagues from across different disciplines and featured innovative new approaches under the broad theme of the event. These proposals all have scope for the future and were each awarded seed-corn funding to get their ideas off the ground. The hope is that these will all lead to larger proposals for funding in the future. Each proposal made the best use of knowledge, skills and existing resources at all campuses, but bringing these together.

Visitors said they enjoyed their time on campus, which was the first time for many, enjoying a tour of Engineering 1 and 2, as well as visiting the Data Immersion Suite during their visit. Many members of Lancaster staff contributed during the event, ensuring that our visitors had a successful and enjoyable.

Event organiser Professor Kirk Semple, Director of International Research, said: “This is the first time we have brought colleagues from Sunway, Leipzig and Lancaster together to work together on developing research collaborations. They have worked very hard over the two and a half days with huge amounts of enthusiasm and good will. The event has been ‘noisy’, full of good humour and hugely enjoyable – exactly how research collaborations should be!”

“I look forward to the outcomes from this workshop and, with the seed-corn funding, I am optimistic that this will lead to something greater.”

Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Professor Peter Atkinson said: “This was a great first event for Sunway, Leipzig and Lancaster University colleagues to develop proposals around creating a secure and sustainable future. I do not think I have ever seen such an innovative arrangement where a UK-based University hosts a conference involving itself and two of its partners/campuses to tackle a wide range of global challenge level problems. Well done to Professor Kirk Semple for organising this. Also, thanks for the many colleagues across the Faculty, that made the event a big success. I look forward to seeing what comes next from these exciting collaborations."