Be Inspired
Beyond the Lab
Science is not an isolated pursuit — it both influences and is enriched by creativity, curiosity, and community. This section explores the creative ways NanoDTC intersects with art, storytelling, and society.
From outreach and education to creative collaborations and public engagement, discover how our researchers bring ideas to life beyond the lab — and how you might be inspired to do the same.
Story Lab 2042
Imagining the Future Through Science Fiction
In October–November 2022, NanoDTC students and associates took part in StoryLab — a creative workshop using science fiction as a tool to imagine what nanotechnology research might look like 20 years from now.
Working in groups, participants explored visionary ideas through drawing and storytelling, developing speculative technologies that captured their imaginations. These storyboards were then transformed into striking visual posters for a final exhibition during the NanoFutures event (24–25 November 2022).
The concepts on display included:
Custom-designed enzymes to remove microplastics from open water
Quantum technologies designed to benefit all sectors of society
Green electricity generation in cities using algae and edible perovskite paints
Nanochemical fabrics that clean the air as you wear them
StoryLab was conceptualised and curated by Karishma Jain, James Norton (na/films), and Stephan Hofmann. All poster artwork was created by James Norton, based on original drawings from NanoDTC students.
Graphic Science
From Thought to Graphic
Over summer 2021 we held two workshops, led by local artist James Norton, exploring the importance of diagrams in science and trying some hands on drawing ourselves to create comic books based on research projects.
Finding Maggie - Now in 3D!
Ms Maggie P, the magnetic nanoparticle, is extremely hard to capture on camera. Will our researchers manage to find her? Read more here!
– George Lewis, Mohammed Alawami, Tarig Mustafa, Ashleigh Ruane and Giovanni Oakes
Sally the space solar cell
Sally the solar cell journeys into space and her encounters with the antagonists (the proton pirates).
– Ryo Mizuta, Eduardo Camarillo-Abad, Aoife Gregg and Arvind Pujari
Beauty is in the eye of the bee-holder
Why are the bees in this story not able to see the flowers to pollinate? It is all to do with the nanoscale features on the flower surface.
– Robin Horton, James Steele and Oliver Powell
Ion Transport Highway
A traffic jam in a battery causing it to charge too slowly. What did our researchers find the reason to be?
– Alice Merryweather, Anna Scheeder, Alice Dearle, Joonatan Laulainen and Daniel Scott
Nanovignettes
Science in Motion
NanoVignettes is a creative series of short films that bring cutting-edge NanoDTC research to life through inventive and accessible visual storytelling.
Each micro-film was the result of a unique collaboration between NanoDTC students and MA-level artists. Working in pairs, the scientists introduced the artists to their research and lab environments, while the artists interpreted these encounters through their own creative lenses. The resulting films reflect shared understandings — and productive misunderstandings — across disciplines, exploring science through diverse forms of dialogue, imagery, and imagination.
The collaborations spanned media and experience, involving artists from Central Saint Martins, Norwich University of the Arts, and Cambridge School of Art at Anglia Ruskin University, alongside three professional artists and one sixth-form student. The films use everything from drawing and animation to 3D constructions to communicate complex scientific ideas in fresh and playful ways.
NanoVignettes was developed and produced by artist Melissa Pierce Murray and NanoDTC alumnus Philipp Koehler.
The series featured online as part of the NanoDTC’s Mind the Nano Gap exhibit at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, 2–8 July 2018.
Expand the sections below to view:
Between Light and Matter
Scientist's Statement
“Optofluidic hollow-core photonic crystal fibres (HC-PCF) allow light to be guided at the centre of a microfluidic channel, maximizing its interaction with liquids and particles. This system offers unique opportunities to study photochemical reactions by absorption spectroscopy in order to improve the efficiency of the photocatalytic reaction necessary to generate alternative fuels.”
Philipp Koehler, c2015: Optofluidics – NanoPhotonics Centre
Artist
Melissa Pierce Murray uses materials ranging from plasma-cut steel and carved wood to ice, glass, and bubble-wrap. With either handheld objects which reveal an intrigue of abrading and shaping, or large-scale sculptural installations with powerful and dynamic lines, she creates physical metaphors which equally evoke emotional states and forces of immense landscapes. Edgy, alluring, playful, or awkward, her works are not so much to be viewed as to be encountered, inviting a reflective or felt response. Melissa has a BA in English Literature and Physics, and an MA in Fine Art
Beyond Lithium-Ion Batteries
Scientist's Statement
“By investigating the relationship between the crystal structure and the atomic makeup of a material, and its chemical and physical properties, we create new materials with improved properties for use in the next generations of batteries”
Joshua Lewis, c2015: Dutton Group
Artist
I am currently studying a MA in Fine Art at Norwich University of the Arts. I am learning to record my own systems of interpreting the world through painting and sculptural work focused on: expression, process, materiality, experimentation, construction,
simplification, form, mass, truth, scale, and space.
Bottled Sunlight
Scientist's Statement
“Converting sunlight into renewable and storable fuels is a key challenge in modern society. In nature, plants use the sun’s energy to create sugars and oxygen from CO2 and water in a process called photosynthesis. However, this energy is not readily available for human use. The Reisner group aims to mimic this process using light absorbers, semiconductors, and catalysts that can break the bonds in water and CO2 to form chemical fuels such as hydrogen and carbon compounds. This process is called artificial photosynthesis, and represents a sustainable route to solar fuels.”
Charles Creissen, c2014 & Katarzyna Sokol, a2014: ReisnerLab
Artist
As a figurative artist based in Norwich, UK, Tom’s work focuses on the development of draftsmanship and painting. Using drawing skills as a base, he strives to weave the old and new techniques of learning into his practice – a contemporary viewpoint from a traditional base.
Converting Dark States to Bright States
Scientist's Statement
“Recently, a new class of highly efficient organic LEDS made of carbene metal amides (CMA) were identified by the Optoelectronics Group at Cambridge. The molecular structure of carbene metal amides can be divided into two parts: the amide donor and the carbene acceptor, that are separated by a metallic bond. This metallic bond allows the molecule to rotate so that electrons in non-emissive ‘dark’ states can go to emissive ‘light’ states. The transition in the energy levels is being further investigated by the group to understand the molecular mechanism of the CMA molecules. This research could help produce better OLEDs for flexible displays and could be used as a new efficient light source.”
Artist
The video is about about how CMA as an molecule functions and interacts with OLEDs. Special thanks to Dawei for helping me to understand the notion of CMA OLEDs. Reggy Liu is a fine artist and creative director with a practice incorporating drawing, painting, screen printing, photography, film, digital art, sculpture, and installation. Liu works in harmony between art, fashion, and science – social psychology, physics, facial cognition, special and colour cognition. She’s exploring her work through thinking, making, and recreating.
Cooperation at the Microscopic Scale
Scientist's Statement
“Hannah’s PhD research combines her physical sciences training with her fascination for the natural world. Interested in the importance of cooperation in microbial ecology and the biotechnological potential of algae, her main focus is the nutrient exchange between algae and bacteria. Hannah uses experiments and mathematical modelling to explore the intertwined growth and nutrient dynamics that exist in algal-bacterial mutualisms. Hannah is based in the Physics Department’s Biological and Soft Systems research group, supervised by Dr Ottavio Croze. Her project involves collaboration with Professor Alison Smith’s group in the Department of Plant Sciences and Dr Rachel Foster at Stockholm University.”
Hannah Laeverenz Schlogelhofer, c2015: Biological and Soft Systems
Artist
Cass Baumberg is interested in painting, mixed-media illustration, and graphic design. She experimented with lino and drypoint printing, then created her own process – flattening crafted wire artefacts and printing directly from them. Through hanging the wire pieces in front of their likenesses in print, she explored ways of collapsing a 3-dimensional form into a 2-dimensional image. Cass is a sixth-form student studying Biology, History, Spanish, and Maths, and enjoyed relating her scientific interests to her artwork through this project. She intends to study biology at university which she hopes will also inspire her future art.
Delivering Medicine Through Cages
Scientist's Statement
“The Adsorption & Advanced Materials Group aims to design and develop novel nanoporous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for various applications ranging from more efficient gas storage to less toxic drug delivery for cancer therapy. The research highlighted here is specifically demonstrating the use of biocompatible MOFs to hold and deliver large amounts of insoluble or unstable therapeutics to targeted locations in the body as a form of autonomous therapy. We developed strategies to extend drug release over time and to demonstrate proof-of-concept efficacy and cellular uptake using super-resolution microscopy in vitro.”
Michelle Teplensky, a2016: Adsorption & Advanced Materials | Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
Artist
Integrating a background in biochemistry and the humanities, my interdisciplinary art practice explores cultural narratives. Through experimental installations, performance, and photography, I aim to interact with individuals and propagate a sense of intellectual freedom. In particular, I am interested in the relationships between humans, the natural environment, and technology. It is often implicated that an intervention on a personal level is required to change cultural perspectives concerning significant environmental problems. Can art, science, and technology, as paradigms of human identity, enable this “intervention” – one that cultivates compassion for other living systems and a sense of stewardship for the Earth?
Flawless
Scientist's Statement
“The descaling of nano-materials is fast approaching the absolute physical limit. 2-D materials like graphene have already reached it, being only one atom thick. This thickness gives them a long list of incredible properties that promise applications all over research and industry. We focus on the growth of 2-D materials using heat, gases, and a catalyst in a process called chemical vapour deposition, employing in-situ techniques to understand the growth mechanisms for further optimisation. By making the material ‘flawless’ over a large area, these amazing properties can be exploited on an industrial scale.”
Oliver Burton, a2017: The HOFMANN group
Artist
Melissa Pierce Murray uses materials ranging from plasma-cut steel and carved wood to ice, glass, and bubble-wrap. With either handheld objects which reveal an intrigue of abrading and shaping, or large-scale sculptural installations with powerful and dynamic lines, she creates physical metaphors which equally evoke emotional states and forces of immense landscapes. Edgy, alluring, playful, or awkward, her works are not so much to be viewed as to be encountered, inviting a reflective or felt response. Melissa has a BA in English Literature and Physics, and an MA in Fine Art
From Waste to Energy
Scientist's Statement
“It is predicted that there will be more plastic than fish by weight in the oceans by 2050. Our research is trying to address this enormous issue by making something useful – hydrogen – from waste. In order to do so, we utilize nanotechnology – in particular, tiny spheres known as quantum dots. These quantum dots act as photocatalysts, using the energy in sunlight to break down both waste and water to generate hydrogen. This system works with a variety of waste, including biomass and plastic, thereby producing pure hydrogen from abundant resources in a sustainable and economic way.”
Taylor Uekert, c2016: ReisnerLab
Artist
Jacqui Jones is a graduate artist whose work responds to environmental issues. Working in a variety of media, she creates artwork and interactive installations that consider these themes in ways that are powerful and thought-provoking.
She recently undertook a research project at the University of East Anglia to develop work with biodegradable plastics, and used these materials in the creation of her Cambridge Science Festival film.
The bottles in the film suggest human forms, evoking many levels of interpretation, ubiquitous disposable plastic containers, consumption, and the human impact of pollution on our fragile ecosystems.
How to Tickle a Cell
Scientist's Statement
“Mechano-biology describes the phenomenon that biological systems are sensitive and responsive to their mechanical environments. This research is aimed at probing this behaviour by using piezoelectric polymer materials that are manufactured into nano-structures and integrated into devices. It is hoped this work will lead to developments towards a ‘lab-on-a-chip’ in the field of mechano-biology.”
Mike Smith, a2015: Kar-Narayan Group
Artist
Creating art is like a therapy that I treat myself with in order to cope with my surroundings. Sometimes, I would like to consider what I do as simply trying to read out hidden patterns. The NanoVignettes had offered me an opportunity to do just that: to understand and to interpret research in nanoscience in the way that I see it. This was both a challenge and a joy to me. I chose animation as a response to this project, as I wanted to reinvent the pure impression that I had with the research when Mike first described it to me. The animation is how I perceived his research; it was also our attempt to promote understanding of the process within one or two viewings
– Tin Tran (statement above) Storyboard/Character Design
Mai Nguyen & Anh Huynh Animators
Making Brighter Green LEDs
Scientist's Statement
“By investigating the relationship between the crystal structure and the atomic makeup of a material, and its chemical and physical properties, we create new materials with improved properties for use in the next generations of batteries”
Joshua Lewis, c2015: Dutton Group
Artist
I am currently studying a MA in Fine Art at Norwich University of the Arts. I am learning to record my own systems of interpreting the world through painting and sculptural work focused on: expression, process, materiality, experimentation, construction,
simplification, form, mass, truth, scale, and space.
Ted Byard: TED BYARD | tedbyard
Pathway through the Jungle
Scientist's Statement
“Optofluidic hollow-core photonic crystal fibres (HC-PCF) allow light to be guided at the centre of a microfluidic channel, maximizing its interaction with liquids and particles. This system offers unique opportunities to study photochemical reactions by absorption spectroscopy in order to improve the efficiency of the photocatalytic reaction necessary to generate alternative fuels.”
Philipp Koehler, c2015: Optofluidics – NanoPhotonics Centre
Artist
Melissa Pierce Murray uses materials ranging from plasma-cut steel and carved wood to ice, glass, and bubble-wrap. With either handheld objects which reveal an intrigue of abrading and shaping, or large-scale sculptural installations with powerful and dynamic lines, she creates physical metaphors which equally evoke emotional states and forces of immense landscapes. Edgy, alluring, playful, or awkward, her works are not so much to be viewed as to be encountered, inviting a reflective or felt response. Melissa has a BA in English Literature and Physics, and an MA in Fine Art
Redesigning DNA
Scientist's Statement
“By investigating the relationship between the crystal structure and the atomic makeup of a material, and its chemical and physical properties, we create new materials with improved properties for use in the next generations of batteries”
Joshua Lewis, c2015: Dutton Group
Artist
I am currently studying a MA in Fine Art at Norwich University of the Arts. I am learning to record my own systems of interpreting the world through painting and sculptural work focused on: expression, process, materiality, experimentation, construction,
simplification, form, mass, truth, scale, and space.
Ted Byard: TED BYARD | tedbyard
Restructuring the Rainbow
Scientist's Statement
“Optofluidic hollow-core photonic crystal fibres (HC-PCF) allow light to be guided at the centre of a microfluidic channel, maximizing its interaction with liquids and particles. This system offers unique opportunities to study photochemical reactions by absorption spectroscopy in order to improve the efficiency of the photocatalytic reaction necessary to generate alternative fuels.”
Philipp Koehler, c2015: Optofluidics – NanoPhotonics Centre
Artist
Melissa Pierce Murray uses materials ranging from plasma-cut steel and carved wood to ice, glass, and bubble-wrap. With either handheld objects which reveal an intrigue of abrading and shaping, or large-scale sculptural installations with powerful and dynamic lines, she creates physical metaphors which equally evoke emotional states and forces of immense landscapes. Edgy, alluring, playful, or awkward, her works are not so much to be viewed as to be encountered, inviting a reflective or felt response. Melissa has a BA in English Literature and Physics, and an MA in Fine Art
Smart Fabric
Scientist's Statement
“By investigating the relationship between the crystal structure and the atomic makeup of a material, and its chemical and physical properties, we create new materials with improved properties for use in the next generations of batteries”
Joshua Lewis, c2015: Dutton Group
Artist
I am currently studying a MA in Fine Art at Norwich University of the Arts. I am learning to record my own systems of interpreting the world through painting and sculptural work focused on: expression, process, materiality, experimentation, construction,
simplification, form, mass, truth, scale, and space.
Ted Byard: TED BYARD | tedbyard
The Mystery of the Flickering Solar Cell
Scientist's Statement
“Optofluidic hollow-core photonic crystal fibres (HC-PCF) allow light to be guided at the centre of a microfluidic channel, maximizing its interaction with liquids and particles. This system offers unique opportunities to study photochemical reactions by absorption spectroscopy in order to improve the efficiency of the photocatalytic reaction necessary to generate alternative fuels.”
Philipp Koehler, c2015: Optofluidics – NanoPhotonics Centre
Artist
Melissa Pierce Murray uses materials ranging from plasma-cut steel and carved wood to ice, glass, and bubble-wrap. With either handheld objects which reveal an intrigue of abrading and shaping, or large-scale sculptural installations with powerful and dynamic lines, she creates physical metaphors which equally evoke emotional states and forces of immense landscapes. Edgy, alluring, playful, or awkward, her works are not so much to be viewed as to be encountered, inviting a reflective or felt response. Melissa has a BA in English Literature and Physics, and an MA in Fine Art
Video Credits:
Produced by Melissa Pierce Murray and Philipp Köhler for the EPSRC CDT in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology at the University of Cambridge.
Creative Director: Melissa Pierce Murray
Filming and Post Production: Philipp Köhler
Opening Sequence Music: Elizabeth Blackwell