STFC announces seven new projects aimed at solving environmental challenges
18 Jun 2013 10:33 AM
STFC is pleased to announce the awarding of £1.5M to fund seven exciting multidisciplinary projects under the challenge led CLASP Programme to meet specific challenges in the Environment sector. These projects plan to produce tangible results in a 3-5 year period and bring STFC researchers together with other academic disciplines and industry through new collaborations to solve real environmental challenges.
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Gas leak detection in petrochemical industry - utilising micro-FTS developed for space applications (compact Fourier-transform spectrometer (FTS)) based on a unique static optical configuration, which has no moving parts and is inherently stable and robust, providing a compact and inexpensive solution to chemical identification for industrial applications and use in harsh environments.
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Instrument development to treat cryptosporidium in drinking water – building upon research undertaken to develop multicore fibres and 3D fan out devices for astronomy applications.
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Using new hand held spectroscopy device to detect pollution in water - utilising micro-FTS developed for space applications (compact Fourier-transform spectrometer (FTS)) based on a unique static optical configuration, which has no moving parts and is inherently stable and robust, providing a compact and inexpensive solution to chemical identification for industrial applications and use in harsh environments.
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Developing a hybrid technology to treat water contaminants using electron beams used in the development of particle accelerator technology.
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Using a ‘virtual observatory’ to improve the monitoring of tropical forests building upon AstroGrid software for large scale modelling techniques.
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Improving weather forecasting through the use of high power mm wave radar remote sensing to predict cloud formation.
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Measurement of greenhouse gases using LIDAR and building on STFC funded systems integration expertise developed for satellite & astronomy research.
A new CLASP Energy call for 2013 with a £1.5M fund has been announced and STFC is holding an Information & Networking day on 2nd July at the Science Museum allowing potential applicants to find out more on the focus for the call and meet new collaborators. Details of the free event and registration are found here.
Notes to editors
CLASP project calls
STFC runs an annual Challenge Led Applied Systems Programme (CLASP) call for proposals with each call focussing on a Grand Challenge area where new technology emerging from STFC’s research base can be applied through collaborative work with other researchers and industry to meet challenges aligned to the Futures programme; Energy , Environment, Healthcare and Security.
The winning projects this year are:
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Prof I. Thompson (Oxford), Mr P. McIntosh (STFC Labs) & Dr T. Scott (Bristol)
Development of a hybrid technology for treating recalcitrant water contaminants: assessing electron-beam potential.
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Dr G. Ferrier (Hull) & Dr H. Mortimer (STFC Labs)
Development of a low cost, field portable, Imaging Fourier Transform Interferometer for gas leak detection in the Petrochemical industry.
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Dr R. Thomson (Heriot-Watt), Dr T. Binks(Bath) & Dr R. Henderson (Edinburgh)
Development of an Instrument for Rapidly Detecting Cryptosporidium in Drinking Water.
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Prof A. Lawrence(Edinburgh) & Dr A. Grainger(Leeds)
Utilizing Virtual Observatory Technology to Improve the Frequency and Coverage of Tropical Forest Monitoring (ASTROTROP).
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Dr A. Cross(Strathclyde) & Dr G. Smith(St Andrews)
Novel Gyro-TWA Amplifier for High Power mm-wave Radar Remote Sensing.
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Dr P. Scholefield (NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology) & Dr H. Mortimer (STFC Labs)
Development of a UV Miniaturised Fourier Transform Spectrometer (MicroFTS) for the Detection of Dissolved Organic Carbon in Water.
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Prof J. Moncrieff(Edinburgh),Mr D. Henry(UK ATC) & Dr J. Thompson(NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology)
A Differential Absorption LiDAR for Measurement of Greenhouse Gases.