2016-2017
Exploring the potential of self-healing circuits to address e-waste in
Researcher: Dr. Sanjiv Sambandan, Lecturer, Department of Engineering Mentor: Dr. Jessica Ocampos Electronic printed circuit boards are ubiquitous in a world populated with digital and information technology. With few local recycling options, the aging or failure of these electronic boards contributes significantly to the generation of electronic waste (e-waste). With global population growth and an…
Investigating the adoption of a new way of dyeing fabric
Researchers: Dr James Ajioka & Dr. Orr Yarkoni, Colorifix Mentors: Natsai Audrey Chieza & Daisy Ginsberg Dyeing is a surprisingly dirty business. Whether they are chemically synthesized or naturally sourced, dyes have a profound impact on the environment. Dye production involves either refining of petrochemicals for chemical synthesis precursors or the extraction of natural pigments…
Identifying the market challenges of using solar photocatalysis to purify
Researchers: Mike Coto and Dr. Vasant Kumar, Materials Science and Metallurgy Mentor: Dr Ian Willis Ten percent of the world’s population lacks access to clean drinking water. Although governments, development agencies, and non-profit organizations have made significant investments in water infrastructure, water scarcity and contamination remains widespread in developing countries. This causes both socioeconomic and…
Investigating the areas of greatest need by developing a new
Contact: Dr. Hannah Sore, Chemistry Mentor: Dr. Julian White The need for new medicines is enormous; one area where the demand is critical is develop novel drugs to combat multidrug resistant bacteria as this is predicted to lead to an extra 10m deaths by 2050. However, the pharmaceutical industry is facing a downturn in drug…
Investigating the best applications for a freestanding film or easily
Contact: Dawid Janas, Cnergytec (& formerly Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy) Mentor: Dr. Julian White Carbon nanomaterials have shown great promise for applications requiring high performance in terms of electrical, thermal, mechanical and optical properties. However, the inability to form macroscopic assemblies with the desired properties has always been a major impediment to achieving their full…
Investigating the market need for the production of hydrogen from
Contact: Dr. Erwin Reisner & David Wakerley, Department of Chemistry Mentor: Dr. Mark Priest, Harrogate Partners The technology is captivatingly simple, allowing the production of pure hydrogen from biomass at room temperature. Using a patented catalyst which is activated by sunlight, lignocellulose and other biomass can be converted directly to high-purity hydrogen gas, with only a…
Early markets for a new family of chemicals – from
Contacts: Professor Oren Scherman, Dr. Silvia Vignolini & Dr. Yang Lan, Department of Chemistry, & Dr. Erika Eiser, Department of Physics Mentor: Adrian Swinburne, Quintaxion A vast array of common products rely on a family of chemical particles known as colloids. From ice cream and mayonnaise, to washing liquid and hair dye, to paints and suncream, the…
Establishing sustainable community cloud infrastructures in the developing world
Researcher : Dr. Arjuna Sathiaseelan, Cambridge Computer Lab Mentor : Dr. Jessica Ocampos, Camnexus There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that access to digital modes of communication strengthens social safety nets, improves social and economic efficiencies and creates new opportunities. Yet three billion people across the world do not have access to…
Global health applications of cell-free extracts for rapid, low-cost, paper-based
Researcher : Dr. Fernan Federici, Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge and Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile Mentor : Richard Hammond, Cambridge Consultants In vitro synthetic biology uses cell-free extracts from bacteria or other organisms to which DNA sequences encoding genetic circuits with useful functions are added and expressed. For example, a molecular sensor for Zika…