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Images of Research 2021 Gallery

Click on the images to view a larger version as well as a short description of the research and its intended impact.

Empowering people

<span class=heading><b>A Stroke of Genius</b> by Maisie Keogh</span><br />Tackling stroke rehabilitation research while working from home during the pandemic led to great innovation in design. Aiming to develop affordable support tools for stroke patients, researchers used everyday objects and a great deal of resourcefulness to test their methodology. Reducing the chance of further delays once in-person trials resume, this work mirrors the ethos of the project in bringing therapies to within everyone’s reach.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Maisie Keogh</span>

<span class=heading><b>Coughing to coffin: coalfield lessons</b> by Samuel Grainger</span><br />Many diseases, including miner’s lung, developed from breathing in tiny coal particles, less than a 1/6th of the width of a human hair, over a person’s lifetime. These historical lessons provide a useful gauge in our studies of the cumulative effects of exposure to fine particulate matter that is present in our towns and cities. Understanding the long-term effects of air pollution, we can better inform policy to reduce it.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Samuel Grainger</span>

<span class=heading><b>Fisher’s rights are human rights</b> by Philile Mbatha</span><br />“I hope to see the ocean restore itself to what it was”, says fisherman Simlindile Gxala. Small-scale fishers in South Africa are struggling to make a living and, despite their inter-generational expertise, they remain excluded from ocean decision-making. The Strathclyde-led One Ocean Hub is working with small-scale fishers to establish a coastal justice network, to support recognition of their human rights with a view to contributing to more inclusive ocean governance.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Jacki Bruniquel</span>. <span class=small>Collaborators: Taryn Pereira, Dylan McGarry, Jackie Sunde, Anna James, Buhle Francis</span>

<span class=heading><b>Helping mums form healthy habits</b> by Tracy Morse</span><br />In rural Malawi, Eliza wears a bright bib that helps to remind her mum to wash her hands with soap before she feeds her. Aimed at reducing disease transmission, the Hygienic Family trial – a programme of activities and prompts – was developed and delivered in partnership with the University of Malawi WASHTED Centre and community members. The intervention has so far reduced diarrhoea by over fifty percent.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Tracy Morse</span>. <span class=small>Collaborators: Kondwani Chidziwisano, Rossanie Malolo, Mindy Panulo</span>

<span class=heading><b>Journeys through homelessness and hope</b> by Dimitar Karadzhov</span><br />This illustration captures the difficult, uncertain and often fragmented and dis-empowering transition from homelessness to stable housing – the foundation for dignified healthy lives. Persons who are homeless and have a mental illness often experience persistent health and social inequalities severely affecting their life chances. Our research explores the role of housing and social services in empowering those individuals to achieve recovery and realise their full potential as active citizens.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Ian Hutchison</span>. <span class=small>Collaborators: Ian Hutchison (helped with the concept and created the animation))</span>

<span class=heading><b>Loss of My Navigator</b> by Laura Del Carpio</span><br />"He’s the navigator of your vessel, not the captain"- a participant reflects on their experience of adjusting to life after the loss of their ‘navigator’. Thirteen inspiring young people across Scotland have shared their stories with researchers at Strathclyde, to help improve our understanding of the challenges young people face following the death of a loved one. These findings will help inform approaches to supporting young people following a bereavement.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Laura Del Carpio</span>. <span class=small>Collaborators: Dr Susan Rasmussen</span>

<span class=heading><b>Rewarding routines: food for thought</b> by Kondwani Chidziwisano</span><br />The effects of diarrhoea can be life-threatening in places like Malawi, where 40 percent of children under two suffer from it. Working with communities through our effective hygiene practice programme, we are educating people like Mary (pictured with her daughter Ruth) how to store and reheat food safely, to prevent contamination that often occurs in leftover food. Our interventions have so far cut the incidence of dangerous diarrhoea in half.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Kondwani Chidziwisano</span>. <span class=small>Collaborators: Tracy Morse, Rossanie Malolo, Mindy Panulo</span>

<span class=heading><b>Tackling the mental health pandemic</b> by Nicola Cogan</span><br />With additional layers of responsibility, and mental and physical hardships, Covid-19 has been the ultimate test of emotional resilience in our health and social care workers. Our research aims to better understand the psychological needs of frontline staff in Scotland – asking them how the pandemic has impacted their mental wellbeing – to determine how to best support them as we move into the ‘recovery’ phase of the pandemic.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Dr Andrew Smith</span>. <span class=small>Collaborators: Gillian MacIntyre, Gary Tanner, Karen Deakin, Lisa Morton, Chloe Moore, Zoe Beck, Heather Archbold, Lisa McInnes, Bethany Griffith, Samantha Smith, Isabel Saez-Berruga</span>

<span class=heading><b>The Balancing Act</b> by Mhairi Patience</span><br />Physical activity, sitting and sleep (24-hour movement behaviours) are crucial for physical and mental health. For adolescents with type 1 diabetes, standard adolescent changes combined with the required 24-hour management of the condition, creates unique challenges. Strathclyde research aims to inform clinical guidance to enable adolescents with type 1 diabetes to achieve the optimum balance of movement behaviours and lead healthier, happier lives. <br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Mhairi Patience</span>

<span class=heading><b>Untangling the Microcosmic Web</b> by Liam Rooney</span><br />Antimicrobial Resistance threatens our ability to treat infections using current antibiotics. Around 70% of antibiotics are produced by web-like Actinomycete bacteria like this one, Streptomyces coelicolor. At Strathclyde, we are developing new ways to image these bacteria to better understand how they produce antibiotics and how they can be used to generate new medicinal compounds.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Liam Rooney</span>

Protecting our planet

<span class=heading><b>Carving out remote possibilities</b> by Jade McMorland</span><br />Scotland is committed to becoming a net-zero society by 2045 with energy key to achieving this target. Offshore wind turbines allow us to harvest energy from remote locations, but are difficult and costly to maintain. Through investigation of different turbine forms and design of their optimal maintenance strategies, we aim to make offshore wind as cost-efficient as possible, benefitting supplier, customer and the environment.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Jade McMorland</span>

<span class=heading><b>Harvesting nature’s healing power</b> by Richard Lord</span><br />Historic metal mining has contaminated land, rivers and sediments across the planet, but plant growth can reduce their impact by preventing contaminated soil from spreading by wind or erosion. At our experimental field trial on an abandoned lead-zinc mine in NE England, we are testing different grasses and waste materials as soil amendments, to try to stabilise the soil without contaminating the plants themselves.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Richard Lord</span>. <span class=small>Collaborators: Ben Nunn (subject in photo)</span>

<span class=heading><b>How does your biofilm grow?</b> by Ronald Turner</span><br />Bacteria can attach themselves to materials in the form of a ‘biofilm’, with effects ranging from beneficial to harmful. In this 3D microscopy image, we see black ‘holes’ in the biofilm, caused by a novel antimicrobial that has restricted formation of the coating. Understanding biofilm growth has many practical applications, from effective design of bio-corrosion resistant nuclear waste storage containers to optimising antimicrobials for the treatment of disease.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Ronald Turner</span>

<span class=heading><b>Purging pollutants: restoring our waterways</b> by Oluwagbemi Aladeokin</span><br />Daily discharge of domestic and industrial pollutants render wastewater potentially dangerous to life. Our research aims to develop a novel system that will enable industry to remove contaminants from wastewater before it is released, ensuring their compliance with increasingly stringent standards and ultimately protecting the environment and the lives that depend on it.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Oluwagbemi Aladeokin</span>

<span class=heading><b>Reflecting on Urban Stormwater</b> by Erin Corbett</span><br />Traditional urban drainage lacks resilience against the impacts of climate change and increasing urbanisation, leading to greater risk of flooding, water scarcity, and the release of harmful pollutants. Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) simultaneously treat contaminated stormwater and reduce its volume, protecting the aquatic environment and even creating the possibility of stormwater re-use. Our research examines how SUDS design can be optimised to provide the best possible stormwater treatment. <br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Erin Corbett</span>

<span class=heading><b>Take my breath away </b> by Anna MacDonald</span><br />Plastic waste produced by modern life is polluting our land and oceans, and it is now known that degrading plastic is also contaminating the air we breathe. We are studying microplastic particles in our atmosphere to understand how much we are exposed to and to identify the main sources. This will help prevent future environmental contamination and improve knowledge on how our obsession with plastic could be damaging our health. <br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Anna MacDonald</span>. <span class=small>Collaborators: The lungs made of plastic were made by Anna MacDonald but the final image would not have been possible without Phillip Edge. He is responsible for editing the photo and creating a worthy entry. My supervisors Dr. Deonie Allen and Dr. Steve Allen also contributed with ideas for the image and the written text. </span>

<span class=heading><b>The disturbed sleep</b> by Elisa Morgera</span><br />A spiritual cleansing ritual of the isiZulu Zionist takes place in South Africa, where many consider the ocean as the resting place of their ancestors. Due to mounting pressures for deep-sea oil and gas exploration, the sacred sea floor is under threat. The Strathclyde-led One Ocean Hub explores how human rights, the arts, social and marine sciences can contribute to the protection of the oceans and the heritage of indigenous people.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Kelly Daniels</span>. <span class=small>Collaborators: Dylan McGarry, Kira Erwin, Kerry Sink, Mpume Mthombeni</span>

<span class=heading><b>The Impact of Unseen Waves</b> by Michael Orji</span><br />Internal solitary waves move through oceans causing disturbance both at the surface and below in the subsea. They are vital for coral reef ecosystems, but can cause havoc for offshore structures. Our research looks at how we might predict these waves and give early warning when they occur, as well as how to design better offshore structures that can withstand their effects.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Michael Orji</span>. <span class=small>Collaborators: Emmanuel Idowu</span>

<span class=heading><b>The problem with space pollution</b> by Wail Boumchita</span><br />Space debris is increasing around the Earth with the potential to knock out satellite communications. By studying the gravitational influence of debris on satellites (orbital resonance) we aim to assist space agencies, informing the development of an instrument to control the orbital progression of space debris and plan its effective removal.
<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Wail Boumchita</span>

<span class=heading><b>Transforming industrial wastelands</b> by Marta Kalabov�</span><br />Degrading industrial waste releases abundant, potentially toxic elements into surface waters (top). Our research explores tufa (a freshwater limestone, bottom) as an aid in cleaning dirty water in derelict industrial landscapes (center) - specifically, the simple yet versatile chemical reactions which lead to the formation of new minerals capable of consuming the contaminants. Such processes offer a nature-based, long-term and cost-effective restoration method for sites such as former steelworks and mining districts.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Marta Kalabov�</span>

<span class=heading><b>Tunnelling to climate solutions</b> by Bruna Lopes</span><br />With the increasing need to reduce carbon emissions to tackle climate change comes an increasing need for nuclear power, and therefore assurance that nuclear waste is securely disposed of. As part of a group of institutions working on safe containment, Strathclyde researchers are developing a non-intrusive technique to monitor the stability of barriers that would surround waste, in a mock deep geological disposal facility, at Tournemire Underground Research Laboratory (pictured).<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Bruna Lopes</span>

<span class=heading><b>When you see it...</b> by Mewantha Aurelio Kaluthantrige Don</span><br />The robot watches with dismay as an asteroid crashes into Earth, yet we can only see an unclear reflection of the event unfolding in the puddle. Unfortunately, current spacecraft technologies are not able to identify asteroids fast enough due to optical distortions. With the support of the European Space Agency, we are developing Artificial Intelligent algorithms for spacecraft systems to efficiently and precisely determine these threatening bodies.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Mewantha Aurelio Kaluthantrige Don</span>

Prosperous world

<span class=heading><b>Building bridges: early years education</b> by Xunrou Shen</span><br />
This image depicts the ideal partnership between nursery and family; a bridge that enables parental involvement in early childhood education to ensure children thrive. Our research is exploring the perspectives of young children, parents, practitioners and administrators to understand factors that influence parent involvement and identify any barriers. Outcomes will inform creation of a sustainable model of partnership that aims to provide a fully connected learning experience that most benefits young children.
<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Xunrou Shen</span>

<span class=heading><b>Deflating the Balloon</b> by Alexandra Wren</span><br />The ballooning of the aorta (an aneurysm) can be fatal. The safest way to treat this is by putting a stent-graft in via keyhole surgery. However, this only works for patients with larger arteries, such as men. At Strathclyde, we are developing a computational tool which will be used to improve the design of these medical devices to help make them available to a wider group of patients.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Alexandra Wren</span>

<span class=heading><b>Eradicating the purple plague</b> by James Kelly</span><br />This is a magnified image of “purple plague”, caused by high temperatures in circuit boards, where gold wires are in contact with aluminium pads. By studying how these compounds – which can cause component failure over time – are generated, we aim to prevent their formation, benefitting business and consumer, by extending the life of electronic components and devices.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 James Kelly</span>

<span class=heading><b>Everyone’s a scientist</b> by Jane Essex</span><br />We take it for granted that learning science is an entitlement for all young people. However, some learners are excluded by a lack of opportunities and suitable resources, though primarily by the feeling that it’s “too hard” or “irrelevant for them”. Our research explores how science can be meaningful for everyone, no matter how exceptional, with the aim of ensuring that science really is ‘for all’.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Strathclyde Media and Communications, Stuart Forsy</span>. <span class=small>Collaborators: Strathclyde Education Dept, Strathclyde Pure and Applied Chemistry Dept, the Salters Institute</span>

<span class=heading><b>Hashtagging: the power of collectives</b> by Dilan Rathnayake</span><br />Individuals can be small and powerless on social media. However, this network visualization portrays how Instagram empowers people, and hashtags enable the creation of mega-influencers. Our research seeks to understand how collective congregation around trending hashtags amplifies individual voices, forming powerful networks around people, movements and ideas.
<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Dilan Rathnayake</span>

<span class=heading><b>Isogrid: forming new impressions</b> by Andrew Garrick</span><br />These rollers imprint sheet metal to create Isogrid - a high performance material developed for NASA. It has incredible lightweight properties but hasn’t been widely adopted outside of the aerospace industry as current production methods are slow and wasteful. Our new Isogrid forming method aims to reduce the cost of production, bringing a space-age material to the masses, and encouraging industry to adopt its usage and reduce environmental impact.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Andrew Garrick</span>. <span class=small>Collaborators: James Kelly, co-photographer</span>

<span class=heading><b>Securing our ever-connected world</b> by Sonali Mohapatra</span><br />Current methods of data encryption face increasing threat from hackers, however, quantum physics could eradicate vulnerability. Our research is developing novel quantum encryption solutions to provide much greater protection for sensitive digital information in transit. Through design of satellite constellations that can carry these technologies to space, we aim to efficiently connect the globe so that our future is protected from cybercrime. <br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Background image of earth in full color downloaded</span>

<span class=heading><b>Sunset for Gaelic?</b> by Ingeborg Birnie</span><br />The Gaelic language is an important part of Scottish heritage, however, research shows it is increasingly disappearing from daily use. We are studying how Gaelic is used, and by whom, in different communities. Identifying pattern use, we aim to develop a methodology to sustain the language, in the hope we can prevent the sun setting on Gaelic for good.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Ingeborg Birnie</span>

<span class=heading><b>Where Nano meets Bio</b> by Zahra Rattray</span><br />Nano-sized particles are all around us, too small to be seen with the human eye, but what happens when they encounter a biological system? In the Rattray Translational Lab we are interested in studying how these particles behave in the body, so we can design new medicines and understand the environmental impact of these nano-sized materials on living organisms.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Zahra Rattray</span>. <span class=small>Collaborators: Nicholas Rattray</span>

Beneficial Partnerships

<span class=heading><b>Artificial Intelligence or intelligent art?</b> by William Wallace</span><br />Art can be used to release emotion or inspire it, but how do you feel about art not generated by a living being? This sculpture was created using machine learning, working from databases of 3D-captured classical sculpture. Our partnership with sculptor, Zachary Eastwood-Bloom, aims to initiate debate on the use of Artificial Intelligence in art, and wider society, and considers the myths that these new technologies may generate.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Zachary Eastwood-Bloom</span>. <span class=small>Collaborators: Sculptor: Zachary Eastwood-Bloom, Student: Robert Madaj</span>

<span class=heading><b>Map, track, act!</b> by Aisha Abubakar</span><br />Millions of people live in slums where living conditions are often poor with high poverty rates. Our research focuses on the development of a Slum Prosperity Framework. It helps urban development stakeholders to work with vulnerable communities, using network maps to tell stories of the inter-linked social, physical, and environmental spaces. These maps track challenges and assets, and help chart paths to collaboratively improve the lives of those living there.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Aisha Abubakar</span>

<span class=heading><b>Prioritising livestock health; boosting productivity</b> by Ivan Andonovic</span><br />Pressures on securing food supply is driving the adoption of technology-inspired farming solutions and services. Strathclyde is contributing to significant innovation, developing a range of livestock and crop farming solutions based on Internet-of-Things technologies, for which it has achieved international recognition. A smart collar for dairy cattle (depicted), that monitors animal health, wellbeing and productivity, is already bringing significant benefits to farmers across the world.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Sci_Ani</span>. <span class=small>Collaborators: SRUC</span>

<span class=heading><b>Protecting our deep-sea potential</b> by Elisa Morgera</span><br />Deep-sea sponges, many of which are new to science, are home to weird and wonderful bacteria that could be the solution to one of the greatest threats to human health - antimicrobial resistance, when antibiotics no longer work. The One Ocean Hub, led by University of Strathclyde, brings together deep-sea marine researchers, law and social science experts to ensure deep-sea sponges are recognized for their essential contributions to human wellbeing and are better protected.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Kerry Howell</span>. <span class=small>Collaborators: Mat Upton, Kerry Howell, Rosie Dorrington, Jazz Conway</span>

<span class=heading><b>River of dreams?</b> by Tracy Morse</span><br />This river flows through Ndirande township in Blantyre (Malawi) where it collects household, human and commercial waste from indiscriminate dumping and poor construction of toilets. Not surprisingly, our research has shown these rivers to be associated with typhoid transmission, and the environmental distribution of antimicrobial resistant organisms. We are now focussed on working with communities to protect these important riverine systems and reduce the risk of disease transmission. <br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Tracy Morse</span>. <span class=small>Collaborators: Kondwani Chidziwisano, Derek Cocker, Nicholas Feasey and Taonga Mwapasa - all were involved in the research development and implementation </span>

<span class=heading><b>Safeguarding our heritage: technology-enabled conservation</b> by Saiful Ramli</span><br />This image represents the technological advancements that aim to support preventative conservation of important historic buildings. Through regular monitoring of buildings, the research seeks to slow the process of decay, identifying areas for early intervention, before damage becomes too costly or difficult to repair. Working with the Public Works Department in Malaysia, Strathclyde intends to establish a building information modelling (HBIM) preventive conservation framework.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Saiful Ramli</span>. <span class=small>Collaborators: Professor Ibrahim Motawa and Dr. Cristina Gonzalez-Longo</span>

<span class=heading><b>Setting African wheels in motion</b> by Andrea Tuni</span><br />Limbani’s 60 kilometre cycling trip to the closest vegetable market is part of his routine as a farmer. Our research aims to identify and remove barriers like this that currently prevent smallholder farmers in Malawi from accessing markets to sell their produce. Enabling the transition towards commercial agriculture is a priority to achieve inclusive rural growth in many developing countries, addressing food security and climate change, and alleviating poverty.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Andrea Tuni</span>

<span class=heading><b>Something’s happening beneath my feet</b> by Jen Roberts</span><br />This is not just a field but part of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation’s (CSIRO) subsurface laboratory, where a world-first experiment was about to commence deep below the ground. Strathclyde researchers participated in a field experiment to inject CO2 into a geological fault zone and closely monitor its movement, as part of a programme that aims to develop low-carbon subsurface technologies, important for tackling climate change.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Jen Roberts</span>

<span class=heading><b>Tackling knife crime through imagery</b> by Nicola Cogan</span><br />Over the past decade, national initiatives have transformed Glasgow from the ‘murder capital of Europe’ to being at the forefront of tackling knife-crime. However, there is little research on the effectiveness of graphic images of knives, like this one, used in the media. Partnering with Police Scotland and the Mental Health Foundation, we are exploring young people’s thoughts and feelings about the use of such images as deterrents against crime.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Becky Duncan and Beever</span>. <span class=small>Collaborators: Yvonne Chau (RA), VPU, MHF and wider research team (Damien Williams, Simon Hunter, Kirsten Russell, Will Linden, Nicola Swinson, Michelle Sharp, Stephanie Carney, Lee Knifton, Vicki Jordan, Petya Eckler,</span>

<span class=heading><b>Unearthing the potential beneath</b> by Keith Torrance</span><br />In partnership with Scottish Canals, Strathclyde researchers are aiming to transform noxious, wet canal sediments into useful construction materials, investigating new processes to naturally improve them. One method is to encourage grass and other plants to remove water and break-down any remaining contaminants, improving the texture of the soil. In this photo, we are preparing the surface of a sediment lagoon for over-seeding with a resistant grass variety.<br /><span class=small>Image: © 2021 Keith Torrance</span>. <span class=small>Collaborators: Richard Lord (photo subject)</span>