Experts Matter. Find Yours.

Richard Turner Conducts Workshop on Florida’s Shallow-Water Echinoderms

Richard Turner, professor emeritus of biological sciences, ran the Florida Association of Aquatic Biologists’ Fall 2024 Marine Taxonomy Workshop in November alongside Janessa Fletcher from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Over four days, they taught attendees how to identify Florida’s many shallow-water echinoderms. Florida’s coastal areas host more than 210 species of shallow-water echinoderms, which are seafloor animals such as starfish, sea urchins and sand dollars. They are often a dominant presence in marine ecosystems, Turner said. The workshop included six presentations that broke down the characteristics of each individual species followed by a chance to examine and practice identifying both Turner’s and Fletcher’s collections of specimens. Attendees came from a variety of workplaces, including environmental consulting firms, museums and state agencies responsible for identifying seafloor animals collected in surveys and for conducting dietary studies of marine fish. The workshop, which happened at University of Tampa Marine Science Center, was organized by Florida Tech alum David Karlen ‘93. While Turner wasn’t his advisor, he said he hired Karlen to help study echinoderms that were collected off the east coast of Florida during Project SEAMAP in the 1980s. If you're interested in learning more about shallow-water echinoderms like starfish, sea urchins and sand dollars or a reporter looking to speak with Richard Turner - simply contact  Adam Lowenstein, Director of Media Communications at Florida Institute of Technology at adam@fit.edu to arrange an interview today.

Researchers Seek Understanding of Early Life on Earth Following Chilean Expedition

In a discovery that may further our understanding of the early evolution of life on Earth, a research team, including associate professor Andrew Palmer and master’s student Caitlyn Hubric, identified Chile’s deepest and most northern cold seeps—openings in the ocean floor that emit gases and fluids— about 100 miles off the Chilean coast and thousands of feet below the surface. This most terrestrial of discoveries may also yield insights that could benefit future space exploration, Palmer said. Palmer, who runs the astrobiology and chemical ecology lab at Florida Tech, and Hubric, who has studied with him for the last three years, represented the university on Schmidt Ocean Institute’s (SOI) expedition through the Atacama Trench. The trench is a nearly 5-mile-deep oceanic trench in the eastern Pacific Ocean that has remained at the same latitude for the last 150 million years, suggesting an extremely stable and potentially ancient ecosystem. The trench’s seeps, found at a depth of 2,836 meters (9,304 feet), provide chemical energy for deep sea animals living without sunlight, according to SOI. Seeps like this one can help astrobiologists understand how life developed on Earth and how those survival strategies and chemical conditions might sustain life on other planets. Palmer and Hubric were members of the expedition’s microbiology team and were specifically searching for biosignatures. That meant looking out for novel microbes and chemical signatures, like proteins or carbohydrates, which may have existed in the region for millions of years. The benefits of their research extend beyond life on Earth. They could also shape future space exploration. A big part of why they’re investigating water ecosystems is because of the popularity around Saturn’s moon Enceladus and Jupiter’s Europa, Hubric said. She said it’s not a perfect analog, but it’s close enough that they can look for patterns in how life’s chemical processes might operate at these sites. “We hope that some of the questions we answer here find will help us in future endeavors when we do finally go explore the solar system,” Hubric said. Back on campus after the expedition, which ran from May 24 to June 6, they’ve started working to solve those questions by both identifying molecules that guide the search for life and by understanding the limitations of the instruments that can detect metabolites, or early signatures of life, Palmer said. “If [the instruments] can’t successfully identify traces of life on Earth, where we know there’s lots of life, how are they going to be successful in a place where it’s less likely than a needle in a haystack?” Palmer said. “It’s the bigger question of, what do we need to do in order to be successful in the search for life?” For Palmer and Hubric, research has only just begun. They’ll test water and sediment samples and the filtrate that they’ll remove from their water filters and investigate for microbes of interest. Searching for novel metabolisms will be an even more extensive process, Palmer said. “It’s weird doing something where you won’t be able to see the results for weeks or months,” Palmer said. “This is just the beginning.” Looking to know more about the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s (SOI) expedition through the Atacama Trench and Dr. Palmer's research? Then let us help. Dr. Andrew Palmer is an associate professor of biological sciences at Florida Tech and a go-to expert in the field of Martian farming. He is available to speak with media regarding this and related topics. Simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview.

Industry and researchers call for action to tackle climate impact of organic, carbon-based chemicals

Call led by members of Supergen Bioenergy Hub, based at Aston University They highlight that carbon-based chemicals cannot be decarbonised but can be defossilised They want a transition to renewable carbon sources such as biomass, recycled carbon, and carbon dioxide. Director of Supergen Bioenergy Hub, Professor Patricia Thornley Industry experts and university researchers have joined together to ask the government to address the climate impact of organic, carbon-based chemicals. While demand for fossil fuels as energy is expected to fall in the coming decades, the petrochemicals sector is set to grow significantly according to experts and is set out in a 2018 report by the International Energy Agency. Members of the Supergen Bioenergy Hub which is based at Aston University and the Biomass Biorefinery Network believe the issue has yet to receive proper attention and is calling for a strategy that addresses this key component of our greenhouse gas emissions. They want a move to a more circular economy, managing supply and demand levels and transitioning away from fossil feedstocks which are raw materials required for some industrial processes. In their paper Carbon for chemicals How can biomass contribute to the defossilisation of the chemicals sector? they highlight that carbon-based chemicals cannot be decarbonised but can be defossilised through a transition to renewable carbon sources such as biomass, recycled carbon and carbon dioxide. Many products in modern society contain carbon such as pharmaceuticals, plastics, textiles, food additives, cosmetics, and cleaning products. These chemicals are derived from fossil feedstocks, so they are classed as petrochemicals. As a result, they contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Carbon is embedded in organic chemical products and released when they break down at end-of-life, for example through incineration. To address the emissions from carbon in chemicals and accelerate the development of bio-based chemicals, the group want a cross-party consensus to support a sustainable chemical system. Director of Supergen Bioenergy Hub, Professor Patricia Thornley, said: “We need to consider the UK’s future feedstock and chemicals production and use, and how it relates to net zero, agriculture, environment, economy, trade, and just transition policy objectives. There are opportunities here for the UK to lead the way on sustainable chemical production, but we need to carefully plan a roadmap for the transition, that delivers opportunities around jobs and the economy as well as sustainable greenhouse gas reductions. “There is a definite role for biomass here. But it is essential that any future use of biomass in the chemicals sector is underpinned by rigorous, trusted, and enforceable sustainability governance to build confidence, deliver sustainability benefits, and minimise negative impacts. That requires improvements in sustainability governance and regulation. “We think there are real economic and trade opportunities by the UK accelerating sustainable chemicals. At the moment bio-based chemicals, and chemicals derived from other renewable carbon sources, are not being expanded in the UK because there are no explicit incentives that prioritise them over fossil-based production.” The group argues that the UK has significant academic and industrial research expertise to underpin the development of sustainable bio-based products and could be a global leader in bio-based products and sustainability governance. They believe that to date little of this has manifested as UK-based scale-up and manufacturing, whilst there are numerous examples of UK-led research being scaled up elsewhere. The paper was delivered at a webinar on 7 August. Notes to Editors Carbon for chemicals How can biomass contribute to the defossilisation of the chemicals sector? https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/output/carbon-for-chemicals-how-can-biomass-contribute-to-the-defossilisation-of-the-chemicals-sector-policy-briefing/ Author: Joanna Sparks (formerly Aston University) With contributions from: Cristiane Scaldaferri (formerly Aston University), Andrew Welfle (University of Manchester), Patricia Thornley (Aston University), Ashley Victoria (University of Leeds), Caspar Donnison (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory), Jason Hallett (Imperial College London), Nilay Shah (Imperial College London), Mirjam Rӧder (Aston University), Paul Mines (Biome Bioplastics), David Bott (Society of Chemical Industry), Adrian Higson (NNFCC), Neil Bruce (University of York) 2018 International Energy Agency report https://www.iea.org/reports/the-future-of-petrochemicals https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/ The Supergen Bioenergy Hub works with academia, industry, government, and societal stakeholders to develop sustainable bioenergy systems that support the UK’s transition to an affordable, resilient, low-carbon energy future. The Hub is funded jointly by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) under grant EP/Y016300/1 and is part of the wider Supergen Programme. www.bbnet-nibb.co.uk The Biomass Biorefinery Network (BBNet), a phase II Network in Industrial Biotechnology & Bioenergy funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC-NIBB) under grant BB/S009779/1. The aim of the Biomass Biorefinery Network is to act as a focal point to build and sustain a dynamic community of industrial and academic practitioners who work together to develop new and improved processes for the conversion of non-food biomass into sustainable fuels, chemicals and materials. About Aston University For over a century, Aston University’s enduring purpose has been to make our world a better place through education, research and innovation, by enabling our students to succeed in work and life, and by supporting our communities to thrive economically, socially and culturally. Aston University’s history has been intertwined with the history of Birmingham, a remarkable city that once was the heartland of the Industrial Revolution and the manufacturing powerhouse of the world. Born out of the First Industrial Revolution, Aston University has a proud and distinct heritage dating back to our formation as the School of Metallurgy in 1875, the first UK College of Technology in 1951, gaining university status by Royal Charter in 1966, and becoming the Guardian University of the Year in 2020. Building on our outstanding past, we are now defining our place and role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (and beyond) within a rapidly changing world. For media inquiries in relation to this release, contact Nicola Jones, Press and Communications Manager, on (+44) 7825 342091 or email: n.jones6@aston.ac.uk

Climate change research trailblazer elected to prestigious list of AAAS Fellows

University of Delaware professor Rodrigo Vargas has been elected as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) — one of the largest scientific societies in the world and publisher of the Science family of journals. The new class of AAAS Fellows includes 502 scientists, engineers and innovators across 24 disciplines, who are being honored for their scientifically and socially distinguished achievements. Vargas, professor of ecosystem ecology and environmental change in UD’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, is recognized "for distinguished contributions to carbon dynamics across the terrestrial-aquatic interface, development of environmental networks, novel data analysis tools and his leadership in creating a more diverse scientific workforce." Deborah Allen, who retired from UD in 2019 as a professor of biological sciences, was also names as a fellow. She was cited “for transformational contributions to STEM education nationally and internationally, particularly for developments in problem-based learning and faculty development.” Vargas is an ecosystem ecologist who studies how nature-based solutions can help address global environmental change in both terrestrial and coastal ecosystems, Vargas uses a variety of research methods, including data mining, machine learning, remote sensing, measurements of greenhouse gas fluxes and modeling techniques for forecasting applications.

Aston University to train the UK’s next generation of decarbonisation experts

Consortium led by the University is to receive almost £11 million to open doctoral training centre Will focus on use of biomass to replace fossil fuels and removal of CO2 “…part of the UK’s biggest-ever investment in engineering and physical sciences doctoral skills”. Aston University is to train the next generation of scientists tasked to remove greenhouse gases from the environment. A consortium led by the University is to receive almost £11 million to open a doctoral training centre which will focus on leading the UK towards net zero. The centre, based at Aston University, will bring together world-leading research expertise and facilities from the University of Nottingham, Queens University Belfast and the University of Warwick and more than 25 industrial partners. The funding has been announced by the UK science, innovation and technology secretary Michelle Donelan. The centre is to receive almost £8 million of government money while the remainder will be made up through match funding and support from industry and the four universities. The government has described it as part of the UK’s biggest-ever investment in engineering and physical sciences doctoral skills, totalling more than £1 billion. The Aston University centre will focus on the use of biomass to replace fossil fuels and removal (or capture) of CO2 from the atmosphere, with the potential to create new sources of fuels and chemicals. Integration of these two areas will lead to significant cost and energy savings. Called NET2Zero, the centre will train PhD students across the full range of engineered greenhouse gas removal techniques including direct air capture, CO2 utilisation (including chemical and material synthesis), biomass to energy with carbon capture and storage, and biochar. The students will work in the centre’s laboratories exploring the conversion of feedstock into alternative energy, improving conversion processes and measuring how the new technologies will impact the economy. Supported by a range of relevant industrial, academic and policy partners the centre will equip students to develop the broad range of skills essential for future leaders in decarbonisation. NET2Zero will be led by Professor Patricia Thornley, director of Aston University’s Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI). She said: “I am delighted that this centre for doctoral training has been funded. The climate emergency is so stark that we can no longer rely on demand reduction and renewables to meet our decarbonisation targets. “If we are to have greenhouse gas removal options ready in time to be usefully deployed, we need to start now to expand our knowledge and explore the reality of how these can be deployed. This partnership of four leading UK universities with key industrial and policy partners will significantly augment the UK’s ability to deliver on its climate ambitions.” “We are absolutely delighted to be working with our partners to deliver this unique and exciting programme to train the technology leaders of the future. Our students will deliver research outcomes that are urgently needed and only made possible by combining the expertise and resources of all the centre’s academic and industry partners.” Science and technology secretary, Michelle Donelan, said: “As innovators across the world break new ground faster than ever, it is vital that government, business and academia invests in ambitious UK talent, giving them the tools to pioneer new discoveries that benefit all our lives while creating new jobs and growing the economy. “By targeting critical technologies including artificial intelligence and future telecoms, we are supporting world class universities across the UK to build the skills base we need to unleash the potential of future tech and maintain our country’s reputation as a hub of cutting-edge research and development.” Centres for doctoral training have a significant reputation in training future UK academics, industrialists and innovators who have gone on to develop the latest technologies. The University of Nottingham’s Dr Eleanor Binner said: “We are absolutely delighted to be working with our partners to deliver this unique and exciting programme to train the technology leaders of the future. Our students will deliver research outcomes that are urgently needed and only made possible by combining the expertise and resources of all the Centre’s academic and industry partners.” Her colleague Professor Hao Liu added: “We look forward to providing our best support to the NET2Zero CDT, including using our past and existing successful experience in leading other centres, to make this an exemplar.” Overall, there will be 65 new Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) centres for doctoral training which will support leading research in areas of national importance including the critical technologies AI, quantum technologies, semiconductors, telecoms and engineering biology. The funding is from a combination of £500 million from UK Research and Innovation and the Ministry of Defence, plus a further £590 million from universities and business partners. Notes to Editors EPSRC and BBSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Negative Emission Technologies for Net Zero (NET2ZERO) Led by: Professor Patricia Thornley, Aston University The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is the main funding body for engineering and physical sciences research in the UK. Our portfolio covers a vast range of fields from digital technologies to clean energy, manufacturing to mathematics, advanced materials to chemistry. EPSRC invests in world-leading research and skills, advancing knowledge and delivering a sustainable, resilient and prosperous UK. We support new ideas and transformative technologies which are the foundations of innovation, improving our economy, environment and society. Working in partnership and co-investing with industry, we deliver against national and global priorities. The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) invests in world-class bioscience research and training on behalf of the UK public. Our aim is to further scientific knowledge, to promote economic growth, wealth and job creation and to improve quality of life in the UK and beyond. Funded by government, BBSRC invested £451 million in world-class bioscience in 2019-20. We support research and training in universities and strategically funded institutes. BBSRC research and the people we fund are helping society to meet major challenges, including food security, green energy and healthier, longer lives. Our investments underpin important UK economic sectors, such as farming, food, industrial biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. About Centres for Doctoral Training A CDT trains doctoral students with each centre focused on a specific theme or topic. Most CDTs will support five cohorts (a new cohort starting each academic year) with a cohort supporting an average of thirteen students. Fourteen of the centres will have four cohorts rather than five. EPSRC supports doctoral students through three training routes (Doctoral Training Partnerships, ICASE awards and CDTs), and in the last 30 years has supported over 50,000 doctoral students. About Aston University For over a century, Aston University’s enduring purpose has been to make our world a better place through education, research and innovation, by enabling our students to succeed in work and life, and by supporting our communities to thrive economically, socially and culturally. Aston University’s history has been intertwined with the history of Birmingham, a remarkable city that once was the heartland of the Industrial Revolution and the manufacturing powerhouse of the world. Born out of the First Industrial Revolution, Aston University has a proud and distinct heritage dating back to our formation as the School of Metallurgy in 1875, the first UK College of Technology in 1951, gaining university status by Royal Charter in 1966, and becoming The Guardian University of the Year in 2020. Building on our outstanding past, we are now defining our place and role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (and beyond) within a rapidly changing world. For media inquiries in relation to this release, contact Nicola Jones, Press and Communications Manager, on (+44) 7825 342091 or email: n.jones6@aston.ac.uk

New Aston University spin-out company will develop novel ways to treat non-healing wounds

EVolution Therapeutics (EVo) has been founded on the work of Professor Andrew Devitt into the causes of inflammatory disease A failure to control inflammation in the body, usually a natural defence mechanism, can cause chronic inflammation, such as non-healing wounds Non-healing wounds cost the NHS £5.6bn annually, so there is a vital need for new treatments. Aston University’s Professor Andrew Devitt, Dr Ivana Milic and Dr James Gavin have launched a new spin-out company to develop revolutionary treatments to treat chronic inflammation in patients. One of the most common inflammatory conditions is non-healing wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers, which cost the NHS £5.6bn annually, the same cost as managing obesity. Such wounds are generally just dressed, but clinicians say there is a vital need for active wound treatments, rather than passive management. The spin-out, Evolution Therapeutics (EVo), will aim to create these vital active treatments. Inflammation in the human body helps to fight infection and repair damage following injury and occurs when the immune system floods the area with immune cells. Normally, this inflammation subsides as the damage heals, with the immune system signalling to the immune cells to leave. However, in some cases, the usual healing mechanism is not triggered and the inflammatory response is not turned off, leading to chronic inflammation and so-called inflammatory diseases. EVo is based on Professor Devitt’s work on dying cells in the body, known as apoptotic cells, and how they contribute to health. Dying cells release small, membrane-enclosed fragments called extracellular vesicles (EVs), which alert the immune system to the death of cells, and then trigger the body’s natural repair mechanism and remove the dead cells. It is estimated that 1m cells die every second. Professor Devitt and his team have identified the molecules within the EVs which control the healing process and are engineering new EVs loaded with novel healing enzymes, to drive the body’s repair responses to actively heal wounds. Much of the research has been funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) with additional support from the Dunhill Medical Trust. Professor Devitt, Dr Milic and Dr Gavin received Innovation-to-Commercialisation of University Research (ICURe) follow-on funding of £284,000 to develop the vesicle-based therapy with EVo. Most recently, in December 2023, Professor Devitt and Dr Milic were awarded £585,000 from the BBSRC Super Follow-on-Fund to develop engineered cells as a source of membrane vesicles carrying inflammation controlling cargo. The team, together with Professor Paul Topham, also received funding from the National Engineering Biology Programme (£237,000) to support polymer delivery systems for vesicles. EVo is one of the 12 projects being supported by SPARK The Midlands, a network which aims to bridge the gap between medical research discoveries of novel therapeutics, medical devices and diagnostics, and real-world clinical use. SPARK The Midlands is hosted at Aston University, supported by the West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator (WMHTIA), and was launched at an event on 31 January 2024. Professor Devitt, EVo chief technical officer, said: “Inflammation is the major driver of almost all disease with a huge contribution to those unwelcome consequences of ageing. We are now at a most exciting time in our science where we can harness all the learning from our research to develop targeted and active therapies for these chronic inflammatory conditions.” Dr Gavin, EVo CEO, said: “The chronic inflammation that results in non-healing wounds are a huge health burden to individuals affecting quality of life as we age but also to the economy. Our approach at EVo is to target the burden of non-healing wounds directly to provide completely novel approaches to wound care treatment. By developing a therapy which actively accelerates wound healing, we hope to drastically improve quality of life for patients, whilst reducing the high cost attached to long term treatment for healthcare systems worldwide.”

Aston University receives £10m from Research England to establish the Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence

Image shows how tiny water channels control how water enters and exits cells through their membranes The Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence (AIME) will be set up with a £10m grant from Research England AIME will be led by Professor Roslyn Bill from Biosciences and Professor Paul Topham from Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry The globally unique institute will use biomimetic polymer membranes for applications such as water purification and drug development Aston University will establish the Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence (AIME), a globally unique, cross-disciplinary institute to develop novel biomimetic membranes, after receiving a major grant of £10m from Research England. AIME will be led by Professor Roslyn Bill, from the School of Biosciences, with co-lead Professor Paul Topham from the department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry (CEAC). Membranes, both biological and synthetic, are hugely important in many sectors. For example, the world’s top ten selling human medicines all target proteins in biological membranes, while synthetic polymer membranes are used in the US$100bn/year water purification industry. The team behind AIME believes that the full potential of membranes will only be realised by an interdisciplinary group spanning biology, physics and chemistry that can investigate membranes holistically. Professor Bill, a European Research Council (ERC) Advanced grantee leads Aston Membrane Proteins and Lipids (AMPL) research centre of excellence that studies the structure and function of membrane proteins and associated lipids. Professor Topham leads Aston Polymer Research Group (APRG), which investigates the nanoscale behaviour of block copolymers (a type of polymer with a structure made of more than one type of polymer molecule) and polymer technologies for membranes. AMPL and APRG have already begun collaborative research and AIME will bring together the complementary expertise of both research clusters into one institute. AIME will initially comprise the eight researchers from AMPL and APRG. Alongside the co-leads Professor Bill and Professor Topham, will be Dr Alan Goddard, Professor Andrew Devitt, Professor Corinne Spickett, Dr Alice Rothnie, Dr Matt Derry and Dr Alfred Fernandez. It plans to recruit three further academics, six tenure-track research fellows, three postdoctoral research assistants (PDRAs), six PhD students, a research technician and a business development manager. Importantly, AIME will work with many existing Aston University colleagues to build a comprehensive research community focused on all aspects of membrane science. The new AIME team will focus on the development of bioinspired, highly selective polymer structures for applications in water purification and waste remediation, nanoparticles loaded with therapeutic molecules to treat disorders ranging from chronic wounds to neurological injuries, and the purification of individual membrane proteins with polymers to study them as drug targets. The vision is for AIME to become a ‘one-stop shop’ for interdisciplinary, translational membrane research through its facilities access and expertise, ideally located in the heart of the country. Professor Bill said: “The creation of AIME is ground-breaking. Together with Aston’s investment, E3 funding will deliver a step-change in scale and the rate at which we can grow capacity. We will address intractable scientific challenges in health, disease, and biotechnology, combining our world-class expertise in polymer chemistry and membrane biology to study membranes holistically. The excellence of our science, alongside recent growth in collaborative successes means we have a unique opportunity to deliver AIME’s ambitious and inclusive vision.” Professor Topham said: “We are really excited by this fantastic opportunity to work more closely with our expert colleagues in Biosciences to create advanced technology to address real world problems. From our side, we are interested in molecular engineering, where we control the molecular structure of new materials to manipulate their properties to do the things that we want! Moreover, we are passionate about a fully sustainable future for our planet, and this investment will enable us to develop technological solutions in a sustainable or ‘green’ way.” Professor Aleks Subic, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Aston University, says: “Our new Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence (AIME) will be a regional, national, and international research leader in membrane science, driving game-changing research and innovation that will produce a pipeline of high-quality research outcomes leading to socioeconomic impact, develop future global research leaders, create advanced tech spinout companies and high value-added jobs for Birmingham and the West Midlands region. Its establishment aligns perfectly with our 2030 strategy that positions Aston University as a leading university of science, technology and enterprise.” Steven Heales, Policy Manager (Innovation) at the West Midlands Combined Authority, said: “WMCA is delighted to see Research England back the Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence. This will enable Aston University’s excellent academics and research community to work closely with businesses to make advances in membrane technology and applications. “In 2023 the West Midlands Combined Authority agreed a Deeper Devolution Trailblazer Deal with Government, which included a new strategic innovation partnership with Government. Projects like AIME are exactly the kind of impact we expect this new partnership to generate, so watch this space.” Lisa Smith, chief executive of Midlands Mindforge, the patient capital investment company formed by eight Midlands research-intensive universities including Aston University, said: “This grant is an important vote of confidence in the Midlands scientific R&D ecosystem. AIME will play an important role in the future research of pioneering breakthroughs in membrane science and enable the world-leading research team at Aston University to develop solutions to real world problems. We look forward to closely working with the Institute and nurturing best-in-field research being undertaken at Aston out of the lab and into the wider society so it can make a positive impact”. Rob Valentine, regional director of Bruntwood SciTech, the UK’s leading developer of city-wide innovation ecosystems and specialist environments and a strategic partner in Birmingham Innovation Quarter, said: "As a proud supporter of the Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence (AIME), I am thrilled at the launch of this groundbreaking initiative. AIME exemplifies Aston University's commitment to advancing cutting-edge interdisciplinary research and further raises the profile of the region’s exemplary research capabilities and sector specialisms. AIME's vision of becoming a 'one-stop shop' for translational membrane research, strategically located at the heart of the country, aligns perfectly with our strategy at Bruntwood SciTech. We are committed to working with partners, including Aston University, to develop a globally significant innovation district at the heart of the UK where the brightest minds and most inspiring spaces will foster tomorrow’s innovation.” Membrane research at Aston University has also recently received two other grants. In November 2023, Professor Bill received £196,648 from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council’s Pioneer Awards Scheme to understand how tiny membrane water channels in brain cells keep brains healthy. In December 2023, a team led by AIME team-member Dr Derry received £165,999 from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to develop biomimetic membranes for water purification. For more information about AIME, visit the webpage.

Aston University scientist showcases research to convert rice straw into bioenergy for Philippines’ rural communities

• Rice straw could be a fuel of the future in rural Philippines • Across Asia 300 million tonnes of rice straw go up in smoke every year • New proposals includes scaling up harvesting system with straw removal, biogas-powered rice drying and storage and efficient milling. An Aston University bioenergy researcher has been explaining how rice straw could be a fuel of the future in rural Philippines. Dr Mirjam Roeder who is based at the University’s Energy & Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI) is collaborating with the UK company Straw Innovations Ltd, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and Koolmill Systems Ltd to showcase their research. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) states that rice is the number one food crop globally and 91% of it is produced and consumed in Asia. As a crop it is responsible for 48% of global crop emissions and for every kilogram of rice, a kilo of straw is produced. Across Asia 300 million tonnes of rice straw go up in smoke every year when burnt after harvest, releasing emissions and air pollutants that triple risks of increased respiratory diseases and accelerate climate change. To raise awareness of sustainable uses for rice straw Dr Roeder has travelled to the sixth International Rice Congress in Manila, Philippines to explain the potential of the emerging technology. Rice straw is an underdeveloped feedstock and can be collected and digested to produce biogas, unlocking sustainable straw management options and renewable energy for farmers using anaerobic digestion (AD) from rice straw. Dr Roeder has been working with Straw Innovations on their UK Innovate project demonstration facility in the Philippines, the Rice Straw Biogas Hub, which is scaling up a complete harvesting system with straw removal, biogas-powered rice drying and storage, together with efficient milling. Craig Jamieson, Straw Innovations said: “The International Rice Congress is only held every four years and is a key event for coordinating and tracking progress in rice research. “Our partnership with Aston University and SEARCA adds independent, scientific rigour to the work we do and amplifies our message to government policy makers. We are grateful to Innovate UK for their ongoing support through the Energy Catalyst Programme, which is accelerating our development.” At the conference Dr Roeder has been explaining how independent environmental and social research can increase farmer incomes, equality of opportunity, food security and decarbonisation benefits. She said: “Engaging with stakeholders and working in partnership across organisations is vital to the successful adoption of new technologies. I am delighted to have had the opportunity to host an event with our project partners at this prestigious conference, bringing the cutting-edge research of using rice straw for clean energy to the forefront of the rice research community and supporting the pathway to net zero.” Dr Glenn B Gregorio, Center Director of SEARCA, added: "We are gaining insights into the environmental impact of rice straw utilisation and implementing policies to unleash its potential to empower us to make informed decisions that are instrumental to climate change mitigation and decarbonisation," Professor Rex Demafelis, University of the Philippines, is also working with SEARCA and is leading the project on life cycle analyses and measurements of rice straw greenhouse gas emissions. He said: “Rice straw is a valuable resource, and we are grateful to be part of this team which seeks to harness its full potential and promote circularity, which would ultimately contribute to our goal of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.” ENDS The Supergen Bioenergy Hub works with academia, industry, government and societal stakeholders to develop sustainable bioenergy systems that support the UK’s transition to an affordable, resilient, low-carbon energy future. The Hub is funded jointly by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and is part of the wider Supergen Programme. For further information contact Rebecca Fothergill and Catriona Heaton supergen-bioenergy@aston.ac.uk Follow us on Twitter @SuperBioHub Visit our website at supergen-bioenergy.net Visit our YouTube Channel to watch the video on Carbon Balance FAO: RICE PRODUCTION IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION: ISSUES AND PERSPECTIVES - M.K. Papademetriou* (fao.org) https://www.fao.org/3/x6905e/x6905e04.htm About Aston University For over a century, Aston University’s enduring purpose has been to make our world a better place through education, research and innovation, by enabling our students to succeed in work and life, and by supporting our communities to thrive economically, socially and culturally. Aston University’s history has been intertwined with the history of Birmingham, a remarkable city that once was the heartland of the Industrial Revolution and the manufacturing powerhouse of the world. Born out of the First Industrial Revolution, Aston University has a proud and distinct heritage dating back to our formation as the School of Metallurgy in 1875, the first UK College of Technology in 1951, gaining university status by Royal Charter in 1966, and becoming The Guardian University of the Year in 2020. Building on our outstanding past, we are now defining our place and role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (and beyond) within a rapidly changing world. For media inquiries in relation to this release, contact Nicola Jones, Press and Communications Manager, on (+44) 7825 342091 or email: n.jones6@aston.ac.uk

Florida Tech Scientist to Study Deep-Space Agriculture After Planetary Society Grant Award

No matter where humans travel, sustenance remains a necessity. Finding a bite to eat during a visit to New York, for example, is no problem. When the destination is a bit farther away, such as Mars, the options are not as plentiful there or on the long journey to get there. That’s where Florida Tech’s Andrew Palmer comes in. He and other scientists are exploring ways to feed our explorers, and a new competitive grant from the Planetary Society will fund work that examines the two most likely ways to produce food during travel to these far-flung spots: in soil or something like soil, or in water. Palmer and his team were awarded a $50,000 Science and Technology Empowered by the Public (STEP) grant, the Planetary Society recently announced. Their project: “Evaluation of food production systems for lunar and Martian agriculture.” For the next year, they will grow radish microgreens, lettuce and tomatoes in identical environmental conditions with one major exception: one batch will be grown hydroponically, and another will be grown in regolith – like lunar or Martian soil. The aim of the experiment is to characterize and compare the two methods, both of which have merits and shortcomings. “It may be that a combination of these approaches, tailored to the diverse needs of different crops, is the best way to provide sustainable and productive agriculture,” Palmer said. “Until now, there have been no direct comparison studies between hydroponic and regolith-based systems for any crop targeted for space applications. We are excited to address this knowledge gap.” The team, which includes experts in plant physiology and biochemistry as well as space agriculture and systems efficiency analysis, will test their hypothesis that faster growing crops like microgreens will be better suited for hydroponic systems even in the long term, while slower-growing crops like tomatoes may favor a regolith-based production system. Palmer and his co-investigator, Rafael Loureiro from Winston-Salem University, are joined by collaborators J. Travis Hunsucker and Thiara Bento from Florida Tech, Laura E. Fackrell at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Jéssica Carneiro Oliveira at Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Care to delve a little deeper? Palmer and a second STEP grant recipient, Dartmouth College professor Jacob Buffo, spoke to the Planetary Society senior communications advisor Mat Kaplan about their respective projects. The segment with Palmer begins at the 23:57 mark and the piece is linked above. Looking to know more about what it will take to feed our deep-space explorers? Then let us help with your questions and coverage. Dr. Andrew Palmer is an associate professor of biological sciences at Florida Tech and a go-to expert in the field of Martian farming. He is available to speak with media regarding this and related topics. Simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview.

Going green: Solar and wind power remain the best alternatives to fossil fuels

Find video for use here.  In the U.S., more and more individuals, and even corporations, are making it a priority to go green in an effort to reduce the nation's dependence on fossil fuels. Studies have proven carbon dioxide is a main contributor to human-caused climate change, so we're tapping into natural elements more often to reduce the use of fossil fuels. From solar farms to solar panels on houses and wind turbines, it’s tough not to find efforts to go green, and that’s a move in the right direction, according to Jessica Reichmuth, PhD, professor in the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Science and Mathematics at Augusta University. She said we’re heading in the right direction, but more can be done. “We are taking the right steps, but I’m not sure if we will be entirely able to be green energy, but we definitely need to be more green than we are today,” said Reichmuth. “Fossil fuels will eventually run out and are a non-renewable resource.” Homeowners and municipalities are tapping into solar panels most often as a green resource. Some concerns include the costs involved and the fact that in most cases, the panels are permanently attached to a house. Reichmuth points to California as an example of a state trying to ease that burden. Some people who are moving into rental houses and know they aren’t going to be there for a long period of time can have a company attach removable panels. There are other companies jumping into the business of leasing solar panels as well. Even small panels the size of a binder located in a backyard can make a big difference in producing a noticeable amount of electricity. These are great steps, said Reichmuth, but more progress can still be made. “We are at a point within society with green technology that we know and understand how to make solar panels, the infrastructure is there to support them, we just need a movement to get them so they’re used everywhere,” Reichmuth said. Wind turbines remain a big source of discussion. Yes, they provide an alternative electric source, but at what cost? A big negative is the possibility of bird strikes. “Birds will learn to navigate around wind turbines. They are not built in a way that they are impervious to long-distance migration.” Hydroelectricity and geothermal energy are two other green sources of energy. There are not a lot of areas in the U.S. that offer geothermal resources, and as far as hydroelectricity goes, there’s still concern in Reichmuth’s eyes. “I think it would be great to see if dams are going to be used for hydroelectricity, but not as a water containment system. There are portions of the U.S., especially in the southwest, that are dealing with water issues because we have dammed them. Hydroelectricity is good if the dam is used specifically for that purpose and not water containment.” Renewable energy, cost savings and ESG are top of mind for corporations, governments and populations as we look to the future, and if you're a journalist covering this topic, then let us help. Jessica Reichmuth is available to speak with media. Simply click on her icon now to arrange an interview today.