working together, making an impact

ContactBusiness Gateway is here to help. Our experiencedteam of business managers will develop anunderstanding of the specific issues you face andhelp to create a solution that answers your needs.

For more information, contact:

University of LiverpoolBusiness Gateway0845 0700 [email protected]

www.liv.ac.uk/businessgateway

AMEMBER OF THE RUSSELL GROUP

knowledge&expertiseguide

2010

Working together,makingan impact

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Working together,making an impact

Knowledge, know-how and expertise are as critical in today’s globaleconomy as any other economic resource. As a University with aworld-class research portfolio and growing international connections,we actively engage with serious global challenges that impact uponthe wellbeing of companies, our economy, and the lives of countlessindividuals.

In this guide you’ll find an overview of the unique expertise available.From health to engineering, social policy to management, ouracademic experts deliver innovative solutions that benefit a wholehost of organisations. Solutions can be delivered to suit the needs ofyour organisation, whether it’s through professional development,collaborative research, consultancy, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships(KTPs) or by recruiting our graduates.

As a University with a strong civic mission and global outlook, we takeknowledge exchange very seriously. Through this two-way exchangewith external partners we are able to enrich our knowledge assets andmake a positive impact on society.

If you are interested in any of the services we have to offer, we wouldbe very pleased to work with you. For more detailed information onour expertise and how we can help contact the Business Gateway.

Professor Sir Howard NewbyVice-Chancellor

Working together, making an impact could not have been realisedwithout widespread support and guidance from over 130 academicsand numerous other staff. I am grateful to each and every one of them.

Thanks is also due to Dr John Beacham CBE DSc FRSC, Chair of theUniversity’s KE External Advisory Group, Andy Green, from LiverpoolVision, and Nick Preston, from Liverpool Chamber of Commerce,for providing valuable feedback at the draft stage of the publication.

I would also like to thank Alison Sammin and Larissa Kolstein forthe strategic concept, content development and production of thispublication, Kerron Harvey and Jim Logue for their editing skillsand Suzanne Elsworth for proofreading.

Professor Jon SaundersDeputy Vice-Chancellor

This publication highlights areas of the University’s knowledge and expertise which have demonstrableor potential value to organisations in the private, public and third sectors, and details the services wecurrently have on offer. It covers a wide range of disciplines, but should not be seen as a comprehensivereview of the University’s research activities. To be fit for purpose, it is necessarily selective.

© The University of Liverpool 2010All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known orhereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the University of Liverpool.

Images Copyright18 © AMI IMAGES/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY; 32 © CHRISTOPHE VANDER EECKEN/REPORTERS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY; 54 © EFDA-JET/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY;68 © HUBERT RAGUET/EURELIOS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY; 70 © ANIMATE4.COM/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBARY; 82 © STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY;84 © TED KINSMAN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY; 142 © VOLKER STEGER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

DisclaimerEvery effort is made to ensure the accuracy and currency of the information contained in this publication. Information relating to research and knowledge exchangeopportunities is provided as advance publicity only. However, contents are subject to change from time to time and the University can accept no liability for the accuracyof all the information presented at any given time.

Cover 3/2/10 10:05

Specialist centres,facilities & laboratories 142

IndexTechniques, Technology& Processes 158 - 164Issues, Applications& Foci 164 - 172

Acknowledgements 173

Contact backpage

Key

Health&WellbeingEnvironment &ClimateChangeEnergy& SustainabilityAdvancedManufacturingMaterialsDigital TechnologiesManagement & EnterpriseSafety & SecurityCities, Culture&Regeneration

Welcome 003Differentways toaccessour expertise 004Public engagement 010Grants and funding schemes 014

Health&Wellbeing 018

Environment &ClimateChange 032

Energy& Sustainability 044

AdvancedManufacturing 054

Materials 070

Digital Technologies 084

Management & Enterprise 104

Safety & Security 116

Cities, Culture&Regeneration 128

001Contents

Making An Impact 3/2/10 16:11 Page 1

Welcome to theUniversity of Liverpool


Many commercial and public sector organisations benefit from ourknowledge, skills and expertise, developed as a result of this University’scommitment to staying at the forefront of innovation and research.

Businesses and public sector organisations are being drivento become more innovative and efficient by adverse economicconditions, restrictions in public funding and increasingly globaltrade and competition. With a revolution in digital communications,competitive advantage increasingly relies upon the ability to useinnovative thinking in what is becoming a knowledge-driven economy.

The University of Liverpool is one of the UK’s top research-leduniversities with increasingly strong international connections.At the core of our mission lies the aim to actively engage withthe serious global challenges that impact upon the wellbeing ofcompanies, our economy and the lives of countless individuals.We do this by ensuring that the expertise developed as a resultof our research is made accessible to those who can benefit.

The University’s Business Gateway helps organisations to achievetheir objectives by providing access to a wide range of expertise;transforming ideas into creative solutions, new technologies, strategies,applications, products or skills.

ProfitabilityCost effectivenessProduct designInnovationRecruitmentConsultancyEfficiencyCompetitivenessStaff development

In 2007-08 alone, the University participated in £39.2 million ofcollaborative research funded jointly by business and the publicsector – up from £29.3 million in 2006-07. More than £22 millionof this was funded by the EU and involved collaborations with256 businesses or research and technology organisations.

In addition, the University received 564 commissions, wortha total of £17.3 million, for contract research. Many clientsplaced multiple contracts with the University – for instance,28 commissions from a single pharmaceutical company and14 from a single household products company. In the sameperiod, the University provided consultancy services worth£12.7 million; facilities and equipment-related services totalling£1.4 million; and nearly £0.9 million of courses for businessesand other organisations.

This annual guide provides a snapshot of our key areas of expertiseavailable at the time of publication. There is, however, potential formuch more – the product of working together to combine ourexpertise with your objectives.

This is the first guide developed by the University to give you anoverview of our key knowledge exchange capabilities and the differentways in which they can be delivered. There is much more informationand help available. If you have specific interests or questions, contactthe Business Gateway who will be happy to help with your enquiry.


Welcome 003


There are many ways to benefit from our knowledge, skills andexpertise. The University’s Business Gateway aims to share thebenefits and build mutually beneficial partnerships through a broadrange of services and facilities. These include:

ResearchBusiness development and servicesGraduates and professional developmentIntellectual property and commercialisationPublic engagement

Research

Clinical trialsIn medical research, clinical trials are conducted to allow safety andefficacy data to be collected for new drugs or devices. Clinical trialsmay test new drugs, new approaches to using existing treatments,or newly developed methods of treatment.

Collaborative researchCollaborative research is the ideal solution where the research topicis likely to have relevance to solving problems, or enabling new orimproved products or services to be developed. It often involvesmultilateral relationships and the research goals are defined by allconcerned – though they may have different motivations for wishingto achieve them.

All partners are responsible for undertaking specific parts of theresearch programme, and share their interim results, review problemsand agree any changes to project goals or research methods.

The University of Liverpool has an unusually wide breadth of disciplines– from medicine, science and veterinary science to engineering, law,social sciences, arts, humanities and management. This varietyenables us to research and develop innovative, multidisciplinarysolutions for organisations like yours.

These partners contribute financially to the costs of the research,which may also be part-funded via public schemes operated bythe UK government or the European Commission.

The agreement between the partners covers the ownership ofthe research results and any associated intellectual property.It also specifies user rights and benefits for non-owners, andmakes provision for restrictions on disclosure, where appropriate.Where public funding is harnessed, there are often ‘model contracts’which specify the terms of the agreement between the partners.

Contract researchContract research can entail straightforward testing and analysis.However, it often involves a larger-scale project which breaks newground. It is likely to involve experimental work and a team ofproject-specific research and technical staff, working underacademic supervision.

Contract research allows the client to determine the project's goals.Where research outcomes are concerned, the University does notexpect to publish the results or disclose any of them to third parties –including its own students. The client generally wishes to own allthe research results and any intellectual property generated, andto have the exclusive right to use it and exploit it commercially.

Feasibility studiesA feasibility study is a process which defines what a project is andwhat strategic issues need to be considered to assess likelihood ofsucceeding. The research and information uncovered will supportthe detailed planning and reduce the research time. Key issues tobe addressed can be financial, technical, environmental or social,managerial and value-related.

Different ways toaccess our expertise


Differentways toaccess our expertise 005


Postgraduate studentshipsResearch can be undertaken by postgraduate students in thecontext of a Masters (MSc) degree or a Doctorate (PhD). Fundinga postgraduate studentship offers a cost-effective means of havingresearch carried out, although companies must accept that theprimary objective of any postgraduate research degree is to trainthe graduate.

Companies should also consider that there is a limit to what can beachieved by a single postgraduate student over a two or three-yearperiod. However, in some disciplines postgraduate students mayoperate as part of a larger investigative team. Also, it should betaken into account that a postgraduate student cannot be awardeda Masters degree or a Doctorate unless their thesis is made publiclyavailable within a reasonable period. It may only be possible toagree a maximum 'embargo' of a year or two.

Many companies find that they can work within these parametersand the University has numerous postgraduate research studentswho are fully or part-funded by business and industry.

Business Development and ServicesKnowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs)Knowledge Transfer Partnerships enable businesses with a strategicneed to access the University’s expertise and knowledge to improvetheir competitiveness, productivity and performance.

The scheme, funded by the Technology Strategy Board, involves ahigh calibre graduate (KTP Associate) working in a company withacademic supervision. This often results in strategic advantagesfor the company, academic benefits to the University and valuableindustrial experience to the Associate.

Depending on the needs of the organisation and the desiredoutcomes, KTPs can vary in length from one to three years(classic KTP) or from 10-40 weeks (shorter KTPs).www.liv.ac.uk/ktp

ConsultancyAcademic staff at the University of Liverpool can devote a proportionof their working year to providing a consultancy service for externalclients. A consultancy relationship allows clients to set their owngoals and these generally involve obtaining advice or specialistinformation relating specifically to the client's organisation, or theresults of one-off, short studies which are often desk-based, ratherthan experimental.

Student-led consultancy serviceThe University draws from a broad base of students on Master ofBusiness Administration (MBA) and Master of Public Administration(MPA) programmes, who present unique and diverse skills drawingon their previous work experience and current studies. Through anew student-led consultancy service, these students can helpyour business answer a straightforward query or provide a basicdiagnostic service, like market analysis. All work is supervised byan industry liaison officer and University staff, ensuring a highquality output.www.liv.ac.uk/ulms

Innovation AcademyThe Innovation Academy helps organisations deal with a variety ofbusiness-contingent issues across technological, product, service,and business model innovation. The Academy works with the UK'sleading innovators and forward thinking organisations to developsustainable practices and processes to deliver long-term value.www.liv.ac.uk/ulms/innovationacademy


Conference and meeting venuesThe Foresight Centre and The HubThe award-winning Foresight Centre is a business and meetingvenue, providing a unique environment for a wide range of eventsand conferences all year round.

Located within the Foresight Centre is The Hub, an innovative spacefor professionals to meet, network and exchange knowledge andinformation. Offering full business service backup including Wi-Fi,laptops linked to high speed broadband, photocopying and printfacilities and an inviting coffee bar serving a range of specialitycoffees, teas and snacks, The Hub caters for all your needs.Access to The Hub Lounge and its facilities is via annual membership.www.liv.ac.uk/hub

Other venues and facilitiesThe University has a host of venues available for hire ranging fromlarge, modern conference and banqueting facilities, to intimateGeorgian dining rooms. From seminar rooms to sport halls, lecturetheatres to theatres of the performing-arts, bedrooms (including 437en-suite rooms) to bars, there are rooms of every shape and size.

Whether it is banqueting, accommodation for delegates, room hire ora full conference service, the University offers outstanding value andquality. Facilities and venues are available both in within the city centreand in more suburban and rural environments.www.liv.ac.uk/conferenceservices

Conferences and seminarsAcademic research conferences provide an open forum where thetop researchers in a particular field come together, present their latestfindings, and debate the issues surrounding their subject. Companiesin attendance gain unprecedented access to top-level research andlearn about the latest developments, but there is also a valuable chanceto make personal contact with the people who are at the forefront ofyour area of interest.

Scientific and technical facilitiesDepartments within the University offer analysis and testing servicesto external clients. These may involve routine, standardised orcustomised systems. Organisations may be able use their own staffto operate equipment facilities available at the University, or you cantake advantage of our sophisticated apparatus andspecialist operators.



Graduates and Professional DevelopmentGraduatesAs a world-class University, Liverpool attracts and retains a wealthof enthusiastic and talented students and graduates whose energy,knowledge and creativity can deliver real benefits to a wide rangeof organisations. Employers can tap into our pool of talent throughspecial projects, placements, voluntary work, sponsorships,government-subsidised collaborations, and full-time recruitment.

Engagement with our students and graduates can offer businessesa cost-effective solution which can also provide wider access toour high level skills, cutting-edge research and the latest academicknowledge and expertise.

Student placements and projectsOrganisations can add real value with the specialist knowledge ofhighly motivated students, while some schemes also include supportby leading academics. Students can undertake various forms of workexperience, ranging from part-time employment through to formalwork placements, vacation work, volunteering, sandwich and industrialplacements, work-based projects and internships.

Student sponsorshipsTo gain access to a talented undergraduate student with knowledgeand expertise that can be of benefit to your organisation, theUniversity provides opportunities for student sponsorship. Typically,individual sponsorship can be arranged in return for vacation and/orgraduate employment.

CASE studentshipsInject high-level skills and expertise into your business with world-classPhD researchers. Industrial CASE awards provide funding for PhDstudentships where businesses take the lead in arranging projectswith an academic partner of their choice. Projects should be in thearea of engineering and the physical sciences.

Graduate employmentCompetition for the top graduates can be intense. To help you recruitthe best and brightest graduates with relevant expertise, our Careersand Employability Service provides a wide range of direct, efficient andcost-effective ways to access large numbers of students.www.liv.ac.uk/careers

Professional developmentContinuing Professional Development (CPD)Continuing Professional Development allows organisations andindividuals to retain cutting-edge knowledge and effectiveness. Fromthe latest veterinary expertise to management, health, engineering andmuch more, you can update your knowledge and skills with the latestprofessional development courses from the University, and, throughthis, directly impact on the human resource and business strategiesof your organisation.

Our research-led CPD approach ensures that whatever the formatof the programme, you will receive the latest high level skills andknowledge input. The University offers a wide range of courses aswell as executive training programmes. All of these are designed tomaximise personal and professional development, whether your goalis to gain a full postgraduate award or to fill a knowledge or skills gapin your workforce.

Courses can be tailored so you achieve the competitive advantage,growth or increased effectiveness you are seeking. In many cases theyare linked to specific postgraduate programmes, enabling delegates togain credits towards a postgraduate certificate or diploma qualification.www.liv.ac.uk/cpd

Executive educationThe University’s Open Executive Education Forums are structuredto equip senior managers with the competencies required toeffectively stimulate and embed innovation within their ownorganisations. One-day sessions provide the challenging stimulusfor unconventional thinking, as well as the proven approaches toimplementing innovation. Materials used are original, forward thinking,and robustly scrutinised. Peer-to-peer interaction is an important featureso participants can learn from each other.


Intellectual Property and CommercialisationIntellectual property (IP)Intellectual property is created when an innovative idea is acknowledgedas having a tangible commercial value.

IP rights and protectionIP rights protect the interests of the owners of these ideas and can bebroadly defined as copyright, patents, trademarks, design rights andthe protection of confidential information.

PatentA patent needs to be applied for to protect and cover how these ideaswork, what they can do, how they do it, or what they are made of, forup to a maximum of 20 years. The patent gives the owner the right toprevent others from making, using, importing or selling the inventionwithout their permission.

CopyrightCopyright is an automatic legal right to protect an author againstunauthorised copying of their work, and lasts for 70 years after theauthor’s death. Under copyright law, computer programs are protectedas a literary work, but some software can also be patented.

The University recognises that valuable intellectual property may begenerated as a result of its collaborations with third parties. In suchcases the University adopts a flexible approach in deciding the mostappropriate route for ownership and subsequent exploitation of suchintellectual property. For example, arising intellectual property may beowned by the University or the collaborating partner or jointly. If thecollaboration is likely to produce commercially valuable intellectualproperty the University will work closely with the collaborating partnerto ensure that appropriate contractual terms and conditions are agreedbefore the collaboration commences, thereby maximising potentialopportunities.

Furthermore the University understands that collaborating partnerswill often require access to pre-existing intellectual property of theUniversity - often referred to as background intellectual property rights.The University is willing, wherever possible, to grant access to suchbackground intellectual property to enable successful exploitation ofintellectual property generated from collaborative work.

The University’s commitment to protection and successful exploitationof its intellectual property was underlined by the establishment ofUlive Enterprises Limited in 2008. Ulive is a subsidiary company ofthe University which was set up to commercialise intellectual propertyin which the University has an interest. Ulive employs a team ofdedicated professionals who work closely with both the Universityand collaborating partners.



Publicengagement


The University’s approach to public engagement is built upon its heritageas a civic institution and its original mission to strive for the ‘advancementof learning and enoblement of life.’ Our drive to have a positive impactupon the society in which we live and work means that we are involvedin a whole spectrum of activity and engaged with a truly diverse rangeof people and organisations, from local residents and voluntary groups,through to the UK and international governments and agencies.

The University’s public engagement comprises three central,interconnected elements: public events and access, communitiesand the voluntary sector, and public policy. Put simply, the aim ofeach strand is to:

Open up the University campus to the city and the publicReach out to our local communitiesInfluence policy and improve public services.

Public Events and AccessThe University campus is at the heart of city life where people can cometogether to exchange ideas, learn and be inspired to make a difference.The University’s Victoria Gallery & Museum and excellent sports facilitiesare open to the public throughout the year.

Public LecturesMore than 7,000 people attended the University’s 2009 Public LectureSeries on the theme of the environment. Speakers at these free eventsincluded; comedian, author and actor Alexei Sayle, survival expertRay Mears, environmental pioneer Dick Strawbridge, co-founderof the Eden Project Tim Smit and the environmentalist and writerJonathon Porritt. The 2010 programme will connect to the city’sYear of Health & Wellbeing.www.liv.ac.uk/public-lectures

The Victoria Gallery & MuseumHer Royal Highness The Princess Royal officially opened the VictoriaGallery & Museum (VG&M) following an £8.6 million restoration ofthe Victoria Building, the University’s original redbrick headquarters.This was funded by the University with philanthropic support fromthe Wolfson Foundation and the Heritage Lottery Fund, among others.The VG&M now houses the University’s art and heritage collectionsand, in its first year of opening, welcomed more than 65,000 visitors.www.liv.ac.uk/vgm

Museum collaborationsBeyond the campus, the University has played an important role ineducation and awareness by making its research accessible to a wideraudience and helping to create exhibitions and develop collections.

Just one example is the Centre for the Study of International Slavery.Founded as a partnership between the University of Liverpool andNational Museums Liverpool, the Centre contributes to the understandingof slavery and its legacies and to foster research and debate in thisfield. The Centre is central to Liverpool’s pioneering International SlaveryMuseum and it is part of a network of other research institutes acrossthe globe, with partners in France, the US and Senegal.www.liv.ac.uk/csis

Public engagement 011


Communities and the Voluntary SectorThe University has always had strong connections with localcommunities and the voluntary sector, both through research andthe contribution of staff and students to local projects and initiatives.We are committed to building partnerships, such as the MerseysideSocial Inclusion Observatory, which deliver mutual benefits and enrichthe learning experience of our students, enhancing the value of ourresearch activities, and enable us to make a positive contribution tothe quality of life in the city.

Voluntary workThe University has an established track record in helpingvoluntary and community groups meet their strategic objectives.The University’s students can bring the enthusiasm and skills to driveprojects forward. We match students based upon their knowledgeskills, career ambitions and skill sets. The University’s broad rangeof degree programmes means that we are well placed to respond toissues across the themes of education, health, housing and culture.

InterchangeInterchange is a registered charity which links the three Liverpooluniversities with the local voluntary and community sector. Communitygroups and voluntary organisations can come to Interchange to discussissues which require further research; Interchange then works to identifyundergraduate and postgraduate students with the right skills to takeon the project.

Regeneration and development programmesThe University has provided input for a range of public initiatives,both in Liverpool and the region. Recent projects have includedexternal membership of the North Liverpool Scrutiny Panel, convenedby Liverpool City Council to advise on regeneration of the area, andinvolvement in the Foresight Group, formed with the MerseysideTransport Partnership to consider radical solutions to issues includingcongestion and climate change.

The University makes a major contribution to the health and wellbeingagenda not only via the training of medical staff, but also throughrepresentation on key bodies such as the Strategic Health Authority.In 2007, the University helped to establish the Health is WealthCommission, charged with addressing the growing disparitybetween the Liverpool city region’s fast-growing economy and thelong-term poor health of its population. Since the Commission’srecommendations were published in 2008, the University has beenworking with Liverpool Primary Care Trust to establish a dedicatedinstitute to research health inequalities and inform policy.

SchoolsThe University has well-established relationships with a broad networkof schools across the city and beyond. Its internationally-renownedcommitment to widening participation has improved the life chancesof pupils in some of Liverpool’s most deprived areas. The Universityhas supported North Liverpool Academy and supports a NationalChallenge Trust School in Liverpool, as well as sponsoring two newWirral academies.

Influencing Public Policy and ImprovingPublic ServicesThe University has a key contribution to make in improving publicpolicy-making and quality of life in the city-region, nationally andinternationally.

The University’s contribution to critical issues such as energy,climate change and sustainable cities will only be of value if thisinput is embedded within broader policy communities.

Public policy advice and expertiseAs a producer of impartial guidance, perfectly placed betweenconsultancy advice and pure research, the University can respondto the growing demand for evidence-based policy at all levelsof governance.

Our expertise spans a broad range of disciplines and provides amulti-perspective approach to many of the interconnected ‘grandchallenges’ of the 21st century.

ConsultancyAs part of its drive to improve health and reduce health inequalities,the University has played a pioneering role in developing HealthImpact Assessment (HIA) methodologies and tools, which arenow widely used around the world. In response to the burgeoningdemand for its expertise, the University set up a dedicated HIAconsultancy and training service, IMPACT+.

IMPACT+ has subsequently undertaken consultancy for a widerange of organisations – including Birmingham International Airport,the States of Jersey, the European Food Safety Agency and theWorld Health Organisation.


Learning and development opportunitiesBuilding upon the University’s strengths and longstanding reputationin public management, the practitioner-focused Master in PublicAdministration and Management (MPAM) is an in-company programmewhich allows organisations and individuals to address the fundamentalchanges which are taking place in the public and voluntary services.

The programme combines formal classroom sessions with emphasisupon action learning, helping practitioners to explore the consequencesof change for the role, purpose and nature of governance, publicpolicy, leadership and management. It will develop staff, raiseperformance standards, transform the sub-region and to make thelearning organisation the standard. Current partners Merseytravel,Liverpool City Council Community Services and Liverpool PCT haveworked with the University to deliver real service improvements anddevelop more effective future leaders in a changing and increasinglycomplex environment.

Promoting Public Understanding of ScienceOur government is keen to rebalance the UK’s economy byexploiting the country’s knowledge base more effectively. As aresult, it is increasingly important for non-experts to develop abetter understanding of science and technology.

If individuals and organisations can gain greater insights into thenature of scientific methods, they will appreciate that high-qualityresearch often requires significant investment in time, facilities andexpertise. They will be less likely to draw premature conclusions aboutthe results of individual studies, and they will be better equipped toengage with issues which developments in science and technologycan trigger – such as the use of stem cells, or genetically modifiedcrops. They will also gain a better understanding of the implicationsof scientific and technological developments, and the businessopportunities which such developments may present.

The University of Liverpool has a substantial research communitywith a prodigious spread of expertise. Its researchers publishsignificant results in academic journals which may be inaccessibleto non-specialists, so in 1998 the University launched a quarterlynewsletter which communicates selected results to awider audience.

Research Intelligence is available in print and online. Its numeroussubscribers include bodies funding research, people carryingout research, businesses interested in exploiting innovative researchcommercially, organisations promoting economic regeneration,and the media.www.liverpool.ac.uk/researchintelligence

Public engagement 013


Grants andfunding schemesThe UK government and the European Union have established a wide rangeof schemes supporting collaboration between businesses and universities.

Schemes can be sector-specific, or operate more broadly. Theycan be regional, national or international and some are designedto help SMEs while others support large businesses.

Business Gateway is happy to discuss opportunities to apply forfunding which could make benefiting from our expertise a realityfor your organisation.

This directory provides an overview of some of the most popularschemes, consortium programmes, research grants, studentshipsand networks which may help you.

For more information, you can also visit:www.businesslink.gov.uk

Scheme Applicants Funded by

Collaborative researchand development(R&D) competitions

Designed to assist the industrial and research communities towork together on R&D projects in strategically important areas ofscience, engineering and technology – from which successful newproducts, processes and services can emerge.

Technology StrategyBoard (TSB)

Economic ChallengeInvestment Fund (ECIF)

Established to enable higher education to respond rapidly tothe needs of employers and individuals during the economicdownturn.

Higher EducationFunding Council forEngland (HEFCE)

Case Awards AHRC, BBSRC, ESRC,NERC, STFC

Industrial CASE Awards Provides funding for PhD studentships where businesses takethe lead in arranging projects with an academic partner of theirchoice. Projects should be in the areas of engineering and thephysical sciences.

Engineering andPhysical SciencesResearch Council(EPSRC)

Industrial PartnershipAward (IPA)

Science-led, responsive mode grants where an industrial partnercontributes at least 10% of the full economic cost (FEC) of theproject. Funding covers the remainder of the cost (at 80% of FECrate). IPA projects are normally funded in preference to standardgrants of equivalent scientific merit, because of the industrialcontribution.

Engineering andPhysical SciencesResearch Council(EPSRC)

Also a PhD studentship, the difference is that the University makesthe case for the award, thus reducing the burden on the company.Also, more research councils offer regular CASE Awards; with abroader range of available opportunities.



Industry fellowships Aims to enhance knowledge transfer in science and technologybetween those in industry and those in academia. It providesopportunities for an academic scientist to work on a collaborativeproject with industry, or for someone employed in industry to workon a collaborative project with a university department or anot-for-profit research organisation. It is anticipated that fellowswill establish personal and corporate links between the twosectors in the UK as a foundation for their long-term futuredevelopment. Fellowships can run for two years full time, orup to four years part-time, where fellows maintain a workingrelationship with their home institution throughout. Duringthe length of the fellowship, the fellow remains employed withtheir home institution with salary costs covered by the fellowship.Research expenses may also be claimed up to the value of £2,000per year.

Biotechnology andBiological SciencesResearch Council(BBSRC), the RoyalSociety, Engineeringand Physical SciencesResearch Council(EPSRC), NaturalEnvironment ResearchCouncil (NERC),Rolls-Royce plc andAstra Zeneca

Industry InterchangeProgramme

Supporting the flow of researchers, in either direction, betweenthe university science base and industry. The scheme supportsshort term exchanges that provide strategic advantage to theUK science base and industry, arising from reciprocal accessto facilities, expertise and/or knowledge, and an increasedunderstanding of scientific issues of common concern.The interchange may be full- or part-time, or taken in tranches.

Biotechnology andBiological SciencesResearch Council(BBSRC)

Innovation Vouchers Business Gateway is an approved supplier for this businessdevelopment scheme, designed to help business owners,entrepreneurs and social enterprises in the North West of Englandto purchase an academic’s expertise to develop innovation andenhance business. A wide range of departments across all areasof the University are involved in providing quick knowledge-basedresponses to small businesses with identified immediate businessissues.

Northwest RegionalDevelopment Agency(NWDA)

Innovative MedicinesInitiative (IMI)

The Innovative Medicines Initiative is a unique Public-PrivatePartnership (PPP) between the pharmaceutical industryrepresented by the European Federation of PharmaceuticalIndustries and Associations (EFPIA) and the EuropeanCommunities represented by the European Commission.Its overall goal is to reinvigorate the biopharmaceutical sectorin Europe; through collaborating, competitor pharmaceuticalcompanies are invited to work together to find solutions in orderto overcome the research bottlenecks in the drug developmentprocess. Conditions to be arranged.

European Union (EU)and the EuropeanFederation ofPharmaceuticalIndustries andAssociations (EFPIA)

Grants andfunding schemes 015



Invention forInnovation (i4i)

i4i funds translational research, extending between basicresearch and pre-clinical trials or health technology assessmentsto provide investment in, and improved identification of,promising healthcare technologies. Its aim is to accelerate thedevelopment of new healthcare products for the 21st century.

National Institute forHealth Research(NIHR)

Knowledge TransferPartnerships (KTP)

KTP is a UK-wide programme enabling businesses to improve theircompetitiveness, productivity and performance. It is part-fundedby a government grant and involves recruiting a high calibregraduate, who is then based in the company, to deliver the planwith support from an academic expert who will mentor the projectfrom start to finish. KTPs can vary in length from one to threeyears (classic KTP) and from 10-40 weeks (shorter KTP), dependingon the needs of the business and the desired outcomes. A small tomedium-sized enterprise (SME) would be expected to contributeabout a third of the costs involved in the project.

Technology StrategyBoard

LINK scheme Involves collaborative research with at least one company andone science-base partner with the aim of developing a newtreatment/intervention. Projects with SMEs are particularlyfavoured and overall government support can be up to 50%of total eligible costs.


Modular training forindustry

Funding to establish Continuing Professional Development (CPD)courses in industry-relevant areas.


Grants for ResearchAnd Development(GRAND)

Aims to help entrepreneurs and business owners introduceinnovative products and processes including research trialsand product testing.

Northwest RegionalDevelopment Agency(NWDA)

Science BridgesAwards

Funding to stimulate academic collaboration between the UKand either the USA, China or India.

Research Councils UK(RCUK)

Young InvestigatorGrants andProgramme Grants

Please note: This overview shows a selection of programmes that are available at the time of publication.This does not necessarily mean that you will be eligible for the programmes identified.

Novel cross-disciplinary, international collaborations. Human FrontierScience Program(HFSP)


Research Councils

Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) –www.ahrc.ac.uk

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council(BBSRC) – www.bbsrc.ac.uk

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council(EPSRC) – www.epsrc.ac.uk

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) –www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk

Medical Research Council (MRC) –www.mrc.ac.uk

Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) –www.nerc.ac.uk

Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) –www.scitech.ac.uk

Research Councils UK (strategic partnership of the UK’sseven Research Councils) – www.rcuk.ac.uk

UK Charities

Association of Medical Research Charities – www.amrc.org.uk

British Academy – www.britac.ac.uk

British Heart Foundation – www.bhf.org.uk

Cancer Research UK – www.cancerresearchuk.org

Leverhulme Trust – www.leverhulme.ac.uk

North West Cancer Research Fund –www.cancerresearchnorthwest.co.uk

Royal Society – www.royalsociety.org

Wellcome Trust – www.wellcome.ac.uk

UK Government Departments and Agencies

British Council – www.britishcouncil.org

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills –www.bis.gov.uk

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) –www.defra.gov.uk

Department for International Development (DfID) –www.dfid.gov.uk

Department of Health (DH) – www.dh.gov.uk

Government Office for the Northwest (GONW) –www.gonw.gov.uk

Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) –www.hefce.ac.uk

Ministry of Defence (MOD) – www.mod.uk

Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) –www.nwda.co.uk

Office for Strategic Co-ordination of Health Research (OSCHR)and the National Institute for Health Research – www.nihr.ac.uk

Technology Strategy Board (TSB) – www.innovateuk.org

European Commission

EU Community Research and Development Information Service(CORDIS) – www.cordis.lu

European Research Council (ERC) – http://erc.europa.eu

Framework 7 – www.cordis.europa.eu/fp7

UK Research Office (UKRO) – www.ukro.ac.uk

Other useful sites

European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries andAssociations (EFPIA) – www.efpia.org

Community of Science (COS) / Funding Opportunities –http://fundingopps.cos.com

Ulive Enterprises – www.ulive-enterprises.com

Useful websites

017Grants andfunding schemes


Health&Wellbeing


Breadth of Expertise

DiagnosisTherapyMonitoringExperimentationModels/modellingDesign & developmentClinical trialsEpidemiologyDisease preventionTraining

Focus of Expertise

Translational researchPatient benefitChild healthHuman healthAnimal healthInfectious diseasesZoonosesTropical diseasesCancersDrug safety

Approaches

Population/organism/cell/molecular biologyBiobankingDNA/gene/genomesequencingBioinformaticsMicroarraysImaging & microscopyNMRPharmacogeneticsMaterials & materialschemistry

OverviewApplication Areas

Supranational bodies(WHO, UN)Health authoritiesFood industryNational/regionalgovernment bodiesNHSPetfood industryNGOsBiotech industryPharmaceutical industry

KeyCapabilities

The University of Liverpool has one of thelargest biomedical communities in theUnited Kingdom and is the only highereducation institution with education andresearch spanning the biosciences, medicine,dentistry, health sciences, tropical medicineand veterinary science. This gives rise to arich synergy of research effort into a rangeof healthcare-related issues. The Universityis also integrated into the Royal LiverpoolUniversity Hospital and other researchhospitals in the city, which augments itsclinical research and trials capability.

For more than 100 years Liverpool has been at the forefront of fundamentaladvances in biomedical knowledge and practice, with outstandinghighlights such as the first diagnostic X-ray, the discovery of the transmissionof malaria by mosquitoes, the understanding of the electrical nature ofnerve transmission and the introduction of neuromuscular blockers intosurgical anaesthesia.

Increasingly the University’s focus is on translational research, emphasisingthe opportunities presented by the unusual number of fertile interdisciplinaryinterfaces which exist in Liverpool within biomedical and health sciences,and also with colleagues in engineering and the physical sciences. Theseprovide real opportunities for innovation and, in turn, support a wide rangeof knowledge transfer activities and engagement with industry partners,an important pillar of the University’s forward strategy.

The University has strong links into the neighbouring biomedical industrialcommunity and is itself active in providing accommodation and businessIncubation support services for the industry. The University’s MerseybioIncubator was established as a state-of-the-art facility for developingbiomedical businesses. With laboratory and office accommodation,the facility provides start-up and incubation services for up to 15 newcompanies at any one time.

The University aims to be a benchmark for the way in which a research-leduniversity can work with partners to improve health and wellbeing in thepopulation it serves. This capability is available to industrial and publicsector organisations to help them solve problems by the application ofits range of research excellences.

Introduction // Overview// KeyCapabilities 019

1.0 Drug Safety andPersonalisedMedicines

2.0 Combatting InfectiousDiseases

3.0 Oncology

4.0 Clinical Trials andEvidence Synthesis

5.0 Paediatric Medicine

6.0 Gastrointestinal Health

7.0 Appetite and Obesity

8.0 Ophthalmology

9.0 Veterinary Scienceand Zoonoses

10.0 Genomics andBioinformatics


Health&Wellbeing

Also see Clinical Trials and Evidence Synthesis on page 23.

1.0 Drug Safety and Personalised MedicinesKeywords: Drug safety; pharmacology; personalised medicine;stratified medicine; pharmacogenetics; adverse drug reaction;safe drug design; medicinal chemistry

OverviewAdverse drug reactions (ADRs) are a major concern both to thepharmaceutical industry and to public health. A quarter of a millionpeople are admitted to hospital in the UK each year following adversereactions to commonly prescribed drugs, costing the NHS £0.5 billion.ADRs are also a major cause of failure of drug development programmes,and can result in withdrawal of approved drugs from the market. Furtherunderstanding is required of the underlying mechanisms of clinicallyimportant ADRs. In addition, advances in pharmacogenetics enable theprediction of a patient’s response to a particular drug and open the wayfor stratified and personalised medicine. Liverpool is one of the very fewcentres worldwide with the integrated expertise required to make majoradvances in these important aspects of human disease.

ExpertiseDrug safety research and pharmacogenetics are internationallyrecognised key strengths at the University of Liverpool.

The Centre for Drug Safety Science (CDSS), in partnership with thepharmaceutical industry and other organisations, is a world-leadingcentre for the investigation of fundamental mechanisms of clinicallyimportant adverse drug reactions. The Centre promotes cross-disciplinarycollaboration between researchers, clinicians and industry to providenew knowledge that will inform the design and development of futuremedicines with the ultimate aim of making drug therapy safer.

Liverpool is also home to the Wolfson Centre for Personalised Medicine,which builds upon the University’s leading research expertise in the areaof pharmacogenetics – how an individual’s genetic makeup influencestheir response to a given drug. The aim of the Wolfson Centre is to identifygenetic predictors of adverse or ineffective response, and to develop theevidence base that will allow translation of laboratory findings into patientcare. To complement the Wolfson Centre, the University has also beenawarded the Department of Health-funded NHS Chair inPharmacogenetics.

This critical mass in genetic marker research will help identify patients thatare more likely to benefit from a particular drug, or experience an adversereaction, and thereby enable matching of safe and effective drug therapiesto specific patient populations (stratified medicine) and even to individualpatients (personalised medicine). Pharmacogenetics and stratified

medicines allow pharmaceutical companies to save drug developmentprogrammes by targeting ADR-risk medicines at genetically definedsub-populations.

Together, the Centre for Drug Safety Science and the Wolfson Centre forPersonalised Medicine create a world-leading centre for the investigationof fundamental mechanisms of clinically important adverse drug reactions,with the overall aim of preventing such responses using improved drugselection, drug design and more informed patient selection.

Complementary facilities

Synthetic chemistry laboratories allied to the University’s Centre forMaterials Discovery high throughput robotics suite, for preparingnovel molecular entities and libraries of compounds for biologicalevaluationThe NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in MicrobialDiseases and NIHR Biomedical Research Unit for PancreaticDiseases are translational facilities engaged in developingnew therapies against infectious and pancreatic diseases respectivelyA physiological approach to pharmacological problems is beingdeveloped through the establishment of the Centre for IntegrativeMammalian BiologyClinical trials infrastructure – Liverpool is a major location for publicand commercial clinical research and trials.

ApplicationsWith a focus on translation of drug related research for patient benefit,the University collaborates extensively with the pharmaceutical andbiotechnology industries in all aspects of drug development. Industrypartners within the Centre for Drug Safety Science include Merck,AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Novartis and GlaxoSmithKline.

University researchers have played a leading role in development of agenetic test which identifies patients at risk of severe adverse reactionto the HIV anti-retroviral Abacavir. In collaboration with industrial partnersthis discovery has been translated into the clinic.

Similarly, a therapeutic drug monitoring service for HIV drugs has beenestablished by researchers in Liverpool and spun-out via a commercialpartner, Delphic Diagnostics Ltd. Doctors use this service to guide themon safe and effective patient-specific prescribing of drugs.



Also see Veterinary Science and Zoonoses on page 28.

Drug Safety andPersonalisedMedicines// Combatting InfectiousDiseases 021

2.0 Combatting Infectious DiseasesKeywords: Tropical medicine; bacterial; viral; microbial disease;zoonoses; clinical trials; drug development; disease vectors

OverviewInfectious disease research represents a major competitive strength inLiverpool, with R&D critical mass and established links with key partnersproviding a thriving, interdisciplinary network. This configuration presentsa development pipeline via which excellent basic research can betranslated through development and trialling into the generation of newproducts to improve patient health. Strong partnerships with industryfrom conception to commercialisation are critical to the success of thisintegrated translational approach. The University has broad researchstrengths in bacterial and viral microbial disease, respiratory andneurological infection and, in collaboration with the Liverpool School ofTropical Medicine, is active in combatting HIV-related diseases, malariaand other vector-borne diseases.

ExpertiseThe University possesses a wealth of resources in infectious diseaseresearch, from vibrant schools of Medicine, Veterinary Science andBiological Sciences to the affiliated Liverpool School of Tropical Medicineand the National Centre for Zoonosis Research. This gives rise to a richand uniquely strong synergy of research effort into infectious disease.

The University is also integrated into the Royal Liverpool UniversityHospital and other research hospitals which strengthen the infectiousdisease clinical research and trials capability. Liverpool is a major locationfor public and commercial trials, supported by large and well-characterisedpatient registers and clinical excellence in key infectious disease areassuch as HIV.

Liverpool has been awarded the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre inMicrobial Diseases (BRC), a translational facility for development ofnew drugs, vaccines and diagnostic to combat microbial diseases, incollaboration with industry partners. The BRC is completed by a MedicalMicrobiology facility, a Bioanalytical facility and a Sample Repository.Pharmacological aspects of infection control are engaged in collaborationwith the University’s Wolfson Centre for Personalised Medicine and theCentre for Drug Safety Science.

The National Centre for Zoonosis Research, represents the world’s firstinterdisciplinary centre dedicated to the study of animal-borne humandisease. Veterinary researchers are also investigating the ecologyand epidemiology of infectious diseases in order to gain a betterunderstanding of risk and management of future pandemics.

ApplicationsThe University engages with a range of industry partners to develop newdrugs, vaccines and diagnostics to address infectious disease healthcareneeds which are not yet being met. Examples of this translational activityinclude:

Longstanding collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline and otherpartners on development of new anti-malarial drugsCollaborative projects within the NIHR Biomedical Research Centrein Microbial Diseases include development of diagnostics forepidemic strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis,a simple test for early stage prediction and prognosis of severesepsis, a new inhaled vaccine candidate for pneumonia and a newdrug target for tuberculosisUniversity researchers have developed improved ways of diagnosingJapanese Encephalitis (JE) viral infection and monitoring diseaseprogression, allowing governments across Asia to more effectivelycontrol this disease.

The University has also established key strategic global relationships withother renowned centres of excellence in infectious disease including the USCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and WashingtonUniversity in St Louis.


Health&Wellbeing


3.0 OncologyKeywords: Clinical trials; experimental cancer medicine centre;good clinical laboratory practice; pancreatic; head and neck;haematological/blood; biobanking; pre-clinical testing

OverviewThe University is especially strong in a number of tumour-specific areas,notably pancreatic, blood, head and neck, as well as treatment strategiessuch as experimental radiotherapy and surgical oncology. Liverpool has thelargest combined clinical and basic pancreatic cancer research group inthe UK. Translational research activity is undertaken by all groups, with astrong focus on clinical practice and clinical trials, and extensivecollaborations with biotech and pharmaceutical industrial partners.

ExpertiseLiverpool has been awarded Cancer Research UK Centre (CR-UK)status in acknowledgment as a centre of cancer research excellence. ThisCentre will focus on development of treatments tailored to individual cancerpatients based on an understanding of the biology of the disease and howit varies among different people. The Centre has a spectrum of researchexpertise from fundamental cancer biology to extensive clinical activity.

The NIHR Biomedical Research Unit for Pancreatic Diseases, awarded tothe University in partnership with the Royal Liverpool University Hospital,is dedicated to the development of new drugs, diagnostics andpreventative strategies for management of pancreatic diseases, particularlypancreatic cancer and pancreatitis. Outputs will be translated into the clinicfor improved patient care. Collaboration with industry for commercialisationof developed products is implicit in the remit of the Unit.

Oncology clinical trialsLiverpool can deliver all phases of oncology clinical trials for industry andpublic sector partners in a broad range of different cancer types. Previoustrials, such as the ESPAC1 pancreatic cancer chemotherapy trial, have ledto fundamental changes in clinical practice. Ongoing trials include the useof novel therapeutic strategies, such as cancer vaccines (TeloVac) andgene therapy (MetXia). Oncology clinical trials resources include:

The Liverpool Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (LECMC)has been awarded to the University and its NHS partners, the RoyalLiverpool University Hospital and Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology.The LECMC is a translational research centre with both laboratory andclinical facilities and expertise. The resources available allow the safe,rapid and rational evaluation of new cancer treatments, and thedevelopment and application of novel biomarkers to facilitate latestage clinical trials.

The CR-UK Liverpool Cancer Trials Unit (LCTU) works closely withCancer Research UK in the clinical research and trialling of new andexisting products for the treatment of cancer. The LCTU manages allLiverpool oncology trials and ensures they are undertaken to thehighest quality standards and meet all regulatory and InternationalConference on Harmonisation (ICH) / WHO Good Clinical Practice(ICH-GCP) requirements.

The Pancreatic Clinical Research Facility (PCRF) is the clinical facilityof the NIHR Biomedical Research Unit for Pancreatic Diseases. ThePCRF is located next to the pancreatic wards of the Royal LiverpoolUniversity Hospital to ensure that pancreatic patients participating inclinical trials receive ongoing NHS care from the specialist pancreaticclinical team.

BiobankingThe University is a recognised centre of tissue banking expertise. In itsLiverpool Tissue Bank, tissue samples collected from patients are bankedtogether with associated clinical data to provide a valuable resource forresearch groups investigating the mechanisms of disease. Universitybiobanking complies with the requirements of the Medicines andHealthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Human TissueAct (England and Wales 2006). Subject to ethical approval, samples aremade available to external groups, including industry.

Biomarker validationWith a combination of world-class research, Good Clinical LaboratoryPractice (GCLP)-grade laboratories and biobanking capability, theUniversity is in an ideal position to discover, test and validate markers forprognosis, screening, diagnosis and monitoring of cancer progression.

ApplicationsLiverpool groups are routinely engaged in collaborations with industrypartners. Trials have been conducted with a wide range of companiesincluding Oxford Biomedica, Pharmexa, Roche and Solvay. Links with othercompanies revolve around pre-translational, discovery-based activities,such as biomarker and target validation. These collaborators includeCyclacel, Incyte, Epigenomics, Sequenom, Oxford Gene Technology,AstraZeneca and Boehringer-Ingelheim.


Oncology //Clinical Trials andEvidence Synthesis 023

4.0 Clinical Trials and Evidence SynthesisKeywords: Clinical trials; adaptive trial design; trials methodology;trial monitoring; clinical trial regulations; medical statistics; systematicreviews; meta-analysis

OverviewClinical trials are undertaken to evaluate whether a new intervention issafe and effective. Successful clinical trials, both in the public and privatesectors, are highly dependent upon using valid, appropriate trial designand statistical methodology, combined with the highest standards ofdata management, administration, communication and quality control.

The University has built a strong critical mass of clinical trials resourcesand specialised related activities. This is aligned to recognised internationalexpertise in diseases areas such as epilepsy, cancer, infection, obesity,perinatal, dental and neurology – a high proportion of which are particularlyprevalent in the regional population with large, well-characterisedpatient populations.

Liverpool is expert in undertaking systematic reviews of research toidentify areas where new trials are required. These can form the basis fordecision-making by governmental bodies such as NICE, theNational Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

Expertise and applicationsThis area is multidisciplinary, involving statisticians, clinicians,informaticians, social scientists and health economists.Capabilities include:

Trial design and methods, including adaptive designs andpaediatric trialsSelection of appropriate trial outcome measuresClinical trial regulations and legislationRisk-based trial monitoringPatient recruitment and retention strategiesStatistical analysis of trial dataCochrane methodology for systematic reviews, to assess evidenceand inform trial designOverviews of multiple treatment comparisonsIndividual patient data meta-analysisPatient risk stratification to inform trial designTraining programmes for clinical trialists, methodologists,Data Safety Monitoring Boards and clinical trial personnel.

The University has four centres which specialise in this area:

The Clinical Trial Research Centre (CTRC) is a centre of excellence inclinical trial design, management and analysis, accessed by both thepublic and private sectors, and one of only a small number of units inthe UK awarded Full Clinical Research Collaboration registration status.The CTRC incorporates the Medicines for Children Research NetworkClinical Trials Unit, the Liverpool Cancer Trials Unit, the Epilepsy TrialsUnit and other groups in infection, oral health, obstetrics and gynaecology.

The Liverpool-based North West Hub for Trials Methodology Research(NWHTMR) provides a focus for research around trials methodology,developing a world-class centre where methodological issues facingthe clinical trials community can be investigated – enhancing patient careby improving the validity and relevance of the healthcare evidence base.

The Centre for Medical Statistics and Health Evaluation providesinnovative statistical analysis support and advice to clinical researchers,and delivers a number of CME-accredited courses that are designed toprovide healthcare professionals with research skills. Areas of expertiseinclude survival analysis, meta-analysis, joint modelling of longitudinaland survival data, pharmacogenetics and stereology.

Based in Liverpool Women’s Hospital, which houses the busiest maternityand neonatal units in the UK, the University undertakes a range ofrandomised controlled trials and systematic reviews both nationallyand internationally around reproductive and developmental medicine.

ApplicationsA wide range of organisations collaborate with the University to accessthese specialist clinical trial resources. Public sector partners includeUK and international governments, public health bodies and researchinstitutions. Companies which have engaged clinical trialling of newinterventions include Johnson and Johnson, Eisai Ltd and UCB onthe trialling of new anti-epileptic drugs.


Health&Wellbeing

5.0 Paediatric MedicineKeywords: Medicines for Children Research Network; paediatrics;child health; translational medicine; adverse drug reactions

OverviewLiverpool is at the forefront of translational research and developmentin children’s health and paediatric medicine. Internationally-recognisedexpertise spanning the University’s Institute of Child Health and the AlderHey Children's NHS Foundation Trust has been augmented by the awardof coordinating centre of the NIHR Medicines for Children ResearchNetwork (MCRN). The importance of moving forward research intopaediatric medicines has placed Liverpool in a unique position to supportthe pharmaceutical industry in development of interventions for children.

ExpertiseThe NIHR Medicines for Children Research Network (MCRN) wasestablished in Liverpool to co-ordinate and galvanise paediatric researchacross the UK. The MCRN improves the efficiency and quality ofrandomised controlled trials and other well-designed studies of medicinesfor children and adolescents, including those for prevention, diagnosis andtreatment. The associated Clinical Trials Unit, has a national responsibilityfor organising and implementing clinical trials of paediatric medicines.The MCRN works in close partnership with industry to maximise thedevelopment of safe and effective medicines and formulations for children.

Interdisciplinary translational research

The award of the MCRN has been paralleled by progress inother areas of translational research that have a clinical impactdirectly on child health, both in the UK and globallyThe University leads a new initiative to examine adverse drugreactions in children (the ADRIC programme)Liverpool is a recognised centre of excellence in research anddevelopment of childhood airway disease, with ongoing studies intoviral and bacterial respiratory disease, lung development and nasalairway ion transportNational studies, based in Liverpool, are examining the impact onfamilies of conditions such as cystic fibrosis and Systemic Lupus.

ApplicationsThe NIHR Medicines for Children Research Network supportspharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and contract researchorganisations (CROs) through all research and clinical stages. Thisincludes development of paediatric clinical trial feasibility studies, trial siteidentification, trial implementation, costing, ethics approval, staff training,patient recruitment, data collection and addressing of new paediatricregulatory requirements.

The MCRN has adopted large numbers of paediatric clinical trials ina wide range of indications from companies such as Abbott Laboratories,MedImmune, Shire Development, GlaxoSmithKline, Wyeth, Merck,AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Roche and Novartis.

6.0 Gastrointestinal HealthKeywords: Pancreas; inflammatory bowel disease; gastrointestinal;microbial disease; cancer; clinical trials; endoscopy; experimental models

OverviewGastrointestinal research in Liverpool is interdisciplinary in nature,encompassing biomedical research groups within the University and theirclinical colleagues in the gastroenterology and surgery directorates at theRoyal Liverpool University Hospital. Activities range from basic scienceto translational projects and clinical trials. Diseases of particular interestinclude pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, gastrointestinalmicrobial disease and gastrointestinal cancer. Staff are working withindustry partners to address their clinical needs in gastrointestinaldisease prevention and management.

ExpertisePancreatic disease researchPancreatic research is centred in the NIHR Biomedical Research Unit forPancreatic Diseases, which specialises in pancreatic digestive diseases.The Unit has been awarded to the University in partnership with the RoyalLiverpool University Hospital, and is undertaking translational research intopancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. It is pioneering the development of newdrugs, diagnostics and preventative strategies to improve patient care. TheUnit has strong links into industry for partnering in the development andcommercialisation of these products.


Other translational researchGastrointestinal translational studies also take place in the NIHR SpecialistBiomedical Research Centre in Microbial Diseases. Examples hereinclude development of novel treatments for Crohn’s disease, and thediagnosis of patients pre-disposed to H. pylori-associated gastric cancer.

Clinical trialsLiverpool has considerable experience of conducting clinical trials in benign(eg. inflammatory bowel disease) and malignant (eg. pancreatic cancer)gastroenterological diseases. Cancer trials are coordinated by LiverpoolExperimental Cancer Medicine Centre and Liverpool Cancer Trials Unit.

EndoscopyThe Royal Liverpool University Hospital houses one of the UK’s largestendoscopy units and is a national endoscopy training centre. It providesthe whole range of diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic interventionsand novel endoscopic techniques, for example, confocal endomicroscopy.There are opportunities for development of endoscopic techniques, and forperforming endoscopy and tissue acquisition as part of clinical studies.

Experimental models of gastrointestinal diseasesThere is expertise in the use and development of various experimentalmodels of gastrointestinal diseases. These include mouse models of cancer,colitis and pancreatitis, primary culture models of both gastric and colonicepithelium from humans and mice, and access to the Liverpool Tissue Bankwith more than 11,000 samples linked to clinical outcome data.

ApplicationsThe University has worked with a biotech company, Provexis NaturalProducts Ltd, to develop a medical food product derived from a plantextract with demonstrated clinical efficacy against inflammatory boweldisease. Similarly, studies have been undertaken with Sanofi Pasteur onthe dynamics of healthcare-associated rotavirus gastroenteritis infectionin large hospitals. Clinical trials have been conducted with a number ofcompanies to evaluate the safety and efficacy of new interventions indisease areas such as pancreatic cancer, ulcerative colitis and otherforms of inflammatory bowel disease.


Also see Oncology on page 22. The Royal Liverpool UniversityHospital houses one of the UK’slargest endoscopy units and is anational endoscopy training centre.

PaediatricMedicine //Gastrointestinal Health 025


Health&Wellbeing

7.0 Appetite and ObesityKeywords: Obesity; weight management; appetite; food interventions;health claims; drug development; clinical research; clinical trials

OverviewActivities in this area centre around the Liverpool Obesity ResearchNetwork (LORN), which comprises key research and clinical laboratoriesbased across the University of Liverpool, Aintree University Hospital andthe Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals. LORNspecialises in:

Pre-clinical and clinical studies of appetite control, diabetes, energybalance and weight managementDiscovery science focused on the role of the central nervous system,the gut and adipose tissue in energy regulation and appetiteBiopsychology – the psychological, physiological and biologicalmechanisms that govern appetitive behaviourPublic health epidemiology of obesity and evaluation of nutritionprogrammesVeterinary obesity research, with Europe's only clinical centre forweight control in companion animals.

Members of LORN work extensively with the food and pharmaceuticalindustries. LORN offers industrial collaborators an unrivalled knowledgeand range of expertise in investigational methods of weight management.

ExpertiseThe Liverpool Obesity Research Network has a wide range of specialisedbiomedical and clinical research facilities, methodologies and techniquesavailable to collaborators:

Clinical study resources – the unit specialises in investigativemedicine and clinical trials in diabetes and obesity, with extensiveexperience in phase 2 ans phase 3 clinical studies, and hasworked on the development of many novel treatments that act bothperipherally and centrally. The unit has a dedicated PatientAssessment area and is staffed by a clinical trail co-ordinator, fourresearch nurses, clinical research fellows and dietitiansDietary and drug induced pre-clinical obesity models, including avalidated model of Olanzapine-induced hyperphagia and weight gain.

Development of study methodologies for holistic investigation ofweight management, including measurement of metabolism andenergy balance, obesity modelling, eating behaviour, physiologyof appetite expression, feeding psychology.The Kissileff Laboratory is a purpose-built suite of rooms for theexperimantal study of human eating fitted with a two-way mirror,cameras and video editing and analysis equipment, enablingobservational analysis of eating behaviour in individual orgroup settingsUniversal eating monitors for the automated measurement of foodintake and changes in appetite within a mealIndirect calorimetry techniques enable measurement of metabolicrate and energy expenditure in response to food consumption ordrug treatmentsPsychophysical measurements of changes in sensory or hedonicevaluation of foods and fluids, such as the effects of drugs on tasteand palatability thresholds.

ApplicationsThe LORN Clinical Research Unit routinely engages with thepharmaceutical industry on the development and clinical trialling of newtreatments for obesity and diabetes. Company collaborators includeSanofi–Aventis, Pharmacia, Takeda, Speedel Pharma, Novo Nordisk,Eli Lilly, Abbott Laboratories, Novartis, Roche and AstraZeneca.


8.0 OphthalmologyKeywords: Age-related macular degeneration; diabetic retinopathy;retinal disease; screening; imaging; grading; biomaterials

OverviewLiverpool’s Ophthalmology Research Unit (ORU) combines the University’sophthalmology research division and the clinical St Paul's Eye Unit in theRoyal Liverpool University Hospital. The ORU performs basic science andclinical research into the control of eye disease and ocular tissue repair andregeneration. It is a centre of excellence for the teaching and training in thecontrol and treatment of eye disorders, and is at the forefront ofdevelopment of novel techniques to improve the understanding andtreatment of ocular disease. The expertise and resources within the ORUand the applied nature of its activities have resulted in numerouscollaborations with industry in technology and product development.

ExpertiseInterests include age-related macular degeneration, corneal scarring,diabetic eye disease, ectodermal dysplasia, glaucoma, melanoma andproliferative vitreoretinopathy. The interdisciplinary activities of the ORUare carried out in partnership with the University’s departments of ClinicalEngineering, Orthoptics and Pathology.

Diabetic eye diseaseThe Ophthalmology Research Unit has pioneered the developmentof technician based screening for diabetic retinopathy. This approachhas been adopted by the Department of Health as part of the NationalScreening Programme. Diabetic retinopathy is the commonest cause ofblindness in the working age population.

Age-relatedmacular degeneration (AMD)AMD is the commonest cause of blindness in the developed world.Ophthalmology Research Unit staff have led the UK in introducingphotodynamic therapy and, most recently, antiVEGF (anti-vascularendothelial growth factor) drug therapy, for the treatment of AMD.Models of care developed in Liverpool have now been adopted bythe Royal College of Ophthalmologists and National Commissioners.

Grading of images of retinal diseaseA national Screening and Grading Centre has been established withinthe Ophthalmology Research Unit for the delivery of retinal screeningprogrammes. This Centre trains and accredits ophthalmic technicianson the grading of retinal images for diabetic retinopathy and AMDdisease management.

Staff within the Ophthalmology Research Unit are developing newtechniques for the assessment of retinal function, structure, retinal imagingand data analysis. These techniques assist early detection of retinal diseaseand measurement of intervention efficacy.

Biomaterials developmentThe Ophthalmology Research Unit studies the applications of new andmodified materials for eye disease management. This includes use oftamponade agents in the treatment of retinal detachments, novel vitreoussubstitutes, surface modification of intraocular lenses to modulate ocularscarring following lens implantation, and the development of membranematerials suitable for transplanting retinal cells as treatment for AMD.

ApplicationsThe Ophthalmology Research Unit has a strong track record of partneringwith the pharmaceutical industry in the development of eye diseaseinterventions. They have worked with Pfizer on the characterisation ofeffects of the ophthalmic solution Latanoprost (Xalatan®), a treatment forthe reduction of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with open-angleglaucoma or ocular hypertension.

They have also collaborated with a number of companies in thedevelopment of new biomaterials, for example in the use of silicone oilsas tamponades, and the preparation and transplantation of clinical grademembranes carrying retinal cells to treat eye disease.

Appetite andObesity //Ophthalmology 027


Health&Wellbeing

9.0 Veterinary Science and ZoonosesKeywords: Disease epidemiology; mathematical modelling;climate change; zoonoses; continuing professional development;clinical hospitals

OverviewWith interdisciplinary collaborations across the wider University and accessto state-of-the-art research and clinical facilities, Liverpool researchers areuniquely positioned to work with industry and address the key questions inveterinary science and medicine.

ExpertiseLiverpool is a recognised centre for research into the pathogenesis,transmission and control of infectious disease, both in and betweenanimal and human populations.

National Centre for Zoonosis Research (NCZR)The National Centre for Zoonosis Research represents the world's firstinterdisciplinary centre dedicated to the study of animal-borne humandiseases. As the hub of a dynamic network the NCZR undertakes world-class research into zoonotic infections, and is a catalyst for national andinternational collaborations, taking multidisciplinary and multi-institutionalapproaches to zoonosis research. The Centre provides scientifically-sound,evidence-based, relevant and timely advice and consultancy services togovernments, businesses and other partners.

EpidemiologyThe University has particular expertise in epidemiology, the research oftransmission and control of infectious disease. Areas of study includethe epidemiology of zoonotic infections (food-borne pathogens, MRSA,Clostridium difficile), and modelling the dynamics of disease spread.These models, which take into account variables such as climate change,disease emergence and evolution, and infection processes, are criticalfor exploring the efficacy of mitigation and control strategies of possiblefuture epidemic scenarios.

Continuing Professional DevelopmentLiverpool is a leading UK centre for student training and the continuingdevelopment of veterinary professionals, delivering a range of coursesin veterinary science and medicine.

Facilities

First opinion and referral hospitals in all three disciplines of horses,small animals and farm animalsPhilip Leverhulme Equine Hospital and associated Leahurst EquinePracticeSmall Animal Teaching Hospital with advanced facilities for smallanimal medicine and surgeryTwo working farms on site, the Wood Park dairy farm and the NessHeath sheep and pig farmFarm Animal Hospital & PracticeSmall Mammal Unit, a unique facility to study disease dynamics infree ranging rodent populationsThe Behavioural Isolation Unit for behaviour, zoonosis and infectionresearchKinetic and kinematic gait analysis systemsEstablishment of the UK DNA archive for companion animals.

ApplicationsVeterinary researchers have a proven track record of commercial activityand working with business. There are real strengths in diagnostic assaydevelopment, some of which are provided as a commercial service andothers which have been exploited by commercial partners.

Long standing relationships exist with livestock, animal health andpharmaceutical industries. Companies engaged with include Pfizer,Mars UK, Novartis and Schering-Plough in areas such as autoimmunedisease, weight management and infection control. Merial Animal Healthhas a well-established collaboration with the University on the developmentof avian pneumovirus vaccines for poultry.

The Tesco Dairy Centre is a national resource centre for farmers, set upas part of the Tesco Sustainable Dairy Group, offering expertise in cattlelameness, fertility and calf health. The Centre aims to help farmers inenhancing the commercial benefits of their work, as well as offeringadvice on animal health and welfare.


The Centre possesses a range ofstate-of-the-art DNA sequencingtechnology, while its microarrayfacility offers the full range of high-densitytechnological platforms for microarraydesign, fabrication and image analysis.

Veterinary Scienceand Zoonoses// Genomics andBioinformatics 029

10.0 Genomics and BioinformaticsKeywords: Microarray; gene expression analysis; DNA sequencing;sequence assembly; statistical analysis; single nucleotidepolymorphism (SNP) discovery

OverviewLiverpool’s Centre for Genomic Research is one of the most advancedlaboratories of its kind in the UK. The Centre possesses a range ofstate-of-the-art DNA sequencing technology, while its microarrayfacility offers the full range of high-density technological platforms formicroarray design, fabrication and image analysis. With access to thelatest computational tools the Centre can apply expertise in sequenceassembly, genome annotation, metabolic analysis, gene expressionanalysis and statistics. The Centre provides genomics services for theentire UK including undertaking contract and collaborative research withindustry partners.

CapabilitiesGenome sequencing

454 GS FLX Titanium Pyrosequencing – a long-read sequencingtechnology, can be used for sequencing genomes de novo, cDNAsequencing for gene discovery and metagenomic analysis of, forexample, microbial populationsABI-SOLiD 3 sequencing – a high capacity, short-read technologyideal for whole genome re-sequencing and expression analysisExpression analysis – both SOLid and 454 platforms can beused for genome wide expression analysis without the need formicroarrays – millions of cDNA tags can be sequenced in parallelfor highly sensitive analysisSingle nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) discovery and detection –Sequencing with both platforms can be used to identify SNPs denovo. Due to the extremely high throughput nature of the platforms,SNPs can be found at very low frequencies, such as in cancer tissue.

MicroarraysThe Centre for Genomic Research provides access to all of the majorcommercial microarray platforms, including Affymetrix, Agilent, Nimblegenand Illumina. It can construct custom arrays either by in-house in-silicodesign from online sequence resources followed by commercialfabrication, or by in-house fabrication using ink-jet or contact printingrobots from cDNA amplicons or synthesised oligonuecleotides. Fullservice provision is offered from receipt of RNA through to provisionof fully analysed expression data.

Bioinformatics

Genome annotation – automated genefinding software and searchtools can be applied to genome sequence to give a complete genelist with annotationSNP discovery – high confidence SNPs can be identified from rawsequences taken from either of the Centre’s sequencing platforms.Data includes flanking sequences for downstream assay designStatistical analysis of gene expression data – to identify genes whichare responding to experimental treatment or disease. Analysistechniques used include functional profiling and network description.

ApplicationsIn addition to public sector clients, the Centre for Genomic Researchprovides high-value commercial services to both SMEs and largecompanies (eg. Shell Global, Unilever) operating in as diverse fieldsas DNA diagnostics and the biotechnology, pharmaceutical andenvironmental sectors. Services include sequencing and identificationof microorganisms from field samples, generation of bespoke genotypearrays for species and strain specific applications, and sequencing ofgenomes to identify presence of particular genes.


Health&Wellbeing

Specialist Centres, Facilities and LaboratoriesFurther information on specialist centres, facilities and laboratories can befound in a dedicated section (see page 142). Those which exploit and/orcontribute to the development of Health & Wellbeing include:

For more information or questions, contact:



Biomedical Electron Microscopy UnitCentre for Cell ImagingCentre for Drug Safety ScienceCentre for Genomic ResearchCentre for Integrative Mammalian BiologyCentre for Materials DiscoveryCentre for Medical Statistics and Health EvaluationClinical Trial Research CentreCR-UK Liverpool Cancer Trials UnitFunctional Proteomics FacilityLiverpool Cancer Research CentreLiverpool Experimental Cancer Medicine CentreLiverpool Microarray FacilityLiverpool NMR Centre for Structural Biology

Liverpool Ophthalmology Research UnitLiverpool Tissue BankNorth West Hub for Trials Methodology ResearchNational Centre for Zoonosis ResearchNIHR Medicines for Children Research NetworkNIHR Biomedical Research Centre in Microbial DiseasesNIHR Biomedical Research Unit for Pancreatic DiseasesTesco Dairy CentreUltra Mixing and Processing FacilityWellcome Trust Centre for Research in Clinical Tropical MedicineWolfson Centre for Personalised Medicine


Oncology

Case Studies

Astudy at the University of Liverpool, sponsoredby Oxford Biomedica Ltd, which has beencompleted successfully, tested the use of anovel gene therapy, MetXia, in combination witha chemotherapy drug,in patients with pancreaticcancer. Conventional chemotherapy agents arenon-specific in that they will target both normaland cancer cells, leading to the side effects thatcan limit their use. The advantage of MetXia isthat the chemotherapy is nearly all limited tothe tumour cells, which means it is much moreeffective in killing the cancer and has fewerside effects.

MetXia comprises a highly engineered retrovirus that contains thegene for the P450 enzyme. P450 turns the inactive chemotherapyprodrug cyclosphosphamide into the active form. MetXia is injectedinto the cancer so that it enters the cancer cells; the carried P450gene is transferred into the cells which then start to generate theenzyme. The inactive form of cyclophosphamide can then begiven into the bloodstream near the cancer, this is converted intoits active form when it reaches the tumour, and then destroys thecancer cells. This was the first trial in the UK using this type ofagent in pancreatic cancer.

Gastrointestinal disease

University researchers have collaborated witha biotechnology company in the developmentof a potential treatment for inflammatory boweldisease. They have identified specific E. colibacteria in the lining of the bowel which arethought to be a causative factor in Crohn’sdisease. Subsequently they have demonstratedthat the binding of these bacteria to the lining ofthe bowel can be inhibited by the soluble fibreextracted from plantain (large, green bananas).

This work has progressed in partnership with Provexis NaturalProducts Ltd to develop a medical food product derived fromplantain extract. A clinical trial to demonstrate the clinical efficacyof plantain fibre in human patients with Crohn’s disease is currentlybeing conducted as part of the NIHR-funded Biomedical ResearchCentre in Microbial Diseases at Royal Liverpool University Hospitaland research into further applications of the fibre is supported by theBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

Specialist Centres // Case Studies 031


Environment&ClimateChange




ExperimentationSampling on land/in freshwater/at seaData collection/synthesisMapping and surveyComputer/physicalmodellingAnalysisManagement/controlPrediction/forecastingMonitoringFuture-proofing

Focus of Expertise

Rivers and lakesOceans, shelf & coastal seasWetlandsCoastal protection/sea defencesClimate changeEcosystemsBiodiversityPollutionSustainabilityEngineering solutions

Disciplines

AnthropologyApplied chemistryApplied mathematicsApplied physicsBiological sciencesCivil engineeringComplexity scienceEarth & ocean sciencesEconomicsGeographyPlanning


Supranational bodiesNational/regionalgovernment bodiesAid agencies and other NGOSRegulatorsHealth authoritiesLocal authoritiesPlanningResource allocationCivil defenceConstructionInsuranceUtilitiesEnvironmental consultancies

1.0 Understandingthe Big Picture

1.1 Climate change science1.2 Environmental science

2.0 Addressing Regionaland Local Concerns

2.1 Water sustainability andintegrated management

2.2 Water and coastalengineering

2.3 Environmentalradioactivity

2.4 Economics of ecosystemsand biodiversity

KeyCapabilities

It is critical that we extend and enhanceour understanding of the way the Earth’ssystems work – and how these might changein the medium to long term due to globalwarming and the impact of human activitieslike logging, fishing, farming, manufacturing,building towns, roads and airports, driving andflying. Otherwise we risk being unprepared forchange, ill-equipped to address strategic issuesand slow to prevent foreseeable problems thatthreaten life on Earth.

This requires fundamental research at scales ranging from globalto local, into environments extending from the uplands to the openoceans and the atmosphere, over timescales ranging from geologicalto historical and the present. Addressing problems such as desertificationand the sustainable use of ecosystems demands the knowledge andskills of experts in disciplines as diverse as geography, Earth and oceansciences, biology, anthropology, ecology, engineering and appliedelements of physics, chemistry, mathematics, planning, society andeconomics – working in collaboration rather than isolation.

The University of Liverpool is making valuable contributions to thisfundamental global research endeavour – helping to advance ourunderstanding of the big picture and plan for a sustainable future.

The knowledge, expertise and technologies gained through thisfundamental research also help to address regional and local concerns;guide the policies and practices of public, private and voluntary sectororganisations; inform planning and resource allocations; solve problems;provide services; and generate intellectual property which underpinsinnovative commercial products.


Environment &ClimateChange

1.0 Understanding the Big PictureThe University is helping advance our understanding of ‘the big picture’by exploiting its own, very wide-ranging expertise; by fosteringcollaborative, multidisciplinary approaches to uncertainties aboutclimate change and other environmental challenges; and throughclose working relationships with key institutions adjoining the University.

The University set up the Centre for Marine Sciences and Climate Changeto capitalise on its many environmental strengths. It does this by providinga forum for researchers from Earth and ocean sciences, geographical,biological, mathematical and social sciences and civil engineering to reacha consensus on their research priorities, develop an integrated plan andinitiate fruitful collaborations.

Centre members are currently focusing their efforts on fundamentalresearch into climate change, carbon and nutrient cycling; oceanbiogeochemistry; ocean warming; sea level change; and shelf seadynamics. They are also pursuing applied research into sea defences andelectricity generation from new renewable sources such as wind and tides.

The Centre’s associate members include researchers from the NaturalEnvironment Research Council’s Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory(POL), which is located on the University campus. POL is renowned for itsworld-class research into the physics of estuarine, coastal and shelf seacirculation; wind wave dynamics and sediment transport processes; globalsea level science and geodetic oceanography; and marine technology andoperational oceanography. It also hosts the Permanent Service for MeanSea Level (PSMSL) and the British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC).

POL collaborates with the University on a wide range of environmentalprojects, extending from better understanding of ocean circulation andthe interaction between the atmosphere and the oceans in regulatingclimate change to ‘fingerprinting’ the sources of sea-level rise detectedin instrumental and sedimentary records.

The Liverpool Institute for Biological Complexity is anothercross-disciplinary resource which focuses on the interface betweenbiosciences, mathematics and complexity science. This is an importantaspect of climate change research in being able to accurately predictimpacts on ecosystems that support human populations.

For further information see ‘Specialist centres, facilities & laboratories’on page 142.

1.1 Climate change science

Keywords: Warming; orbital forcing; oceans; carbon cycling;biogeochemistry; ice; sea-level; coastal & shelf seas; rainfall;river styles; human activity; geological timescales; historical timescales

OverviewThere are many signs to suggest that our climate is changing: recordsreveal rising global temperatures; a rising snowline; Summer sea iceshrinking in the Arctic; upper ocean warming; and sea-level rise. Alongsidethese physical changes, there are also biological and chemical changes –ranging from earlier bird migration and changing vegetation patterns andecosystem dynamics to coral reef damage through warming.

These changes need to be placed in their proper geological, historicaland contemporary contexts. Indeed, it is through this understandingthat human impacts on the climate system can truly be detected. Further,we need to uncover interrelationships and trends in order to predict likelyglobal and regional impacts on societies and economies in an accurateand timely way to enable effective budgeting and resource allocation.

The University of Liverpool is therefore contributing to this importantendeavour, which is a prerequisite to the development of sustainableglobal, regional and local strategies and actions to mitigate the impactsof climate change and adapt to them.

It is also working with local authorities, downscaling predictions of climatechange from global climate models, to help them develop their adaptationstrategies.

Fundamental researchGeological and global-scale researchThe University is researching the link between tectonics, Earth surfaceweathering and climate; the orbital forcing of climate change; carboncycling and the biogeochemistry of the atmosphere and ancient oceans;the strength of the Asian monsoon; and the Earth systems’ response toice ages and sea-level rise.

It is investigating sea level history and sediment supply to the world’scoastal and deep ocean basins in order to decipher the effects of climatechange on sedimentary basins over geological time; and exploring –through fieldwork in Europe, Africa, China, South and North America –the relationship between changes in river style and sediment flux over timeand patterns of climate change. Current projects include the deep oceandrilling project (DSDP) cores offshore of the Congo, the Black Sea, theMediterranean and the Yangtze.


Understanding the Big Picture 035

Oceans and coastal seasThe University is a key player in research into the relationship between theclimate and the oceans – confirming recently, for example, that oceans playan important role in the Earth’s climate system by storing heat and carbonand redistributing it over the globe.

It also researches continental shelf and coastal seas, where signals ofclimate change appear to be amplified. It recently found a clear signalof coastal warming in shelf seas which could lead to rapid changes inthe ecosystem – for example, changes to fisheries, which links in to theUniversity’s expertise, and track record in the management of marineecosystems and resources. Coastal warming could also endangerhealth by enabling new species and diseases to invade. Since sea-levelchanges in coastal seas can be much larger than in the open ocean,research into coastal systems over the last 10,000 years and at thepresent time is helping to understand how rising sea levels and stormscould threaten threat to the physical security and economic sustainabilityof some coastal communities.

The human dimensionUniversity researchers are identifying and distinguishing the impacts ofhumans and climate change on coastal waters, river catchments, lakes,mires and bogs, arid lands, slopes, glaciers and wetlands with a view toestablishing early impacts (as far back to Neolithic times) of land-use andfuel consumption on atmospheric carbon and climate. This is a far fromtrivial issue, requiring careful analysis and interpretation of records thatare regarded as ‘proxies’ for changes in the climate, Earth surface andbiological systems, yet it underpins our understanding of long termclimate change. The use of biological proxies for climate change research,coupled with accurate and innovative ways for determining the age of givensediment records, also provides a means for resolving climate and humandrivers of soil erosion, sediment flux, desertification and changes inecosystem dynamics.

TechniquesThe University uses a wide range of techniques to uncover vital evidencefrom the past and the present:

Geophysical investigation techniques:Seismic and acoustic profilingGeomagnetism and remote sensing

Offshore survey techniques:Spatially- and vertically-resolved trends in temperature,Nutrients and biological productivitySea bed habitat characterisation and sub-bottom structure

Sedimentology and stratigraphy for the identification ofdepositional environments, extreme events and erosion regimes:Core logging and correlationParticle size analysis

Sediment supply characterisation:Sediment geochemistry (inorganic and organic)Environmental and rock magnetismMineral composition and structure

Data on past vegetation patterns, human impacts andwater quality:Palaeontological and palaeoecological techniques(analysis of pollen, algae, foraminifera etc)Stable isotopic investigation of carbon and oxygen

Chronological methods for sediment dating:Low-background gamma spectrometryOSL and U-series datingPSV dating.



1.2 Environmental science

Keywords: Human impact; climate impact; Earth surface processesand landforms; geomorphology; natural hazards; soil erosion; pollution;environmental impact assessment; environmental management; spatialplanning; ecosystem-based management

OverviewEnvironmental problems take many forms – from natural hazards likeearthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, flooding and pests to manmadeproblems like heavy metal and organophosphate pollution, nuclearwaste, toxic manufacturing by-products, soil erosion, water shortagesand over-reliance on oil and gas. They range from local phenomenalike extreme rainfall to the disruption of whole ecosystems to globalphenomena, such as the circulation of greenhouse gases arisingfrom human activities.

Environmental science provides a holistic, inter- and transdisciplinaryquantitative approach to acquiring knowledge and understanding of thenatural environment and its multifaceted interactions. It is a well-establishedfield encompassing the physical, mathematical, life and social sciences.It enables us to improve our ability to understand, predict and managenatural hazards and promote sustainable development.

ExpertiseThe University of Liverpool has recently established the School ofEnvironmental Sciences, bringing together a spectrum of expertise tounderpin transdisciplinary research that is of considerable relevance tosociety. This is achieved by assembling teams whose members are drawnfrom numerous disciplines according to the demands of individual projects.Whilst the core of the School lies in Geography, Earth and Ocean Sciences,Civic Design, Environmental Management and Marine Biology, the fullrange of disciplines extends right across the University – from the physicaland life sciences to the mathematical and social sciences and engineering.

Fundamental researchNatural hazardsComplementary research is focusing on the practical and theoreticalissues of sustainable societies in the inter-related contexts of climatechange, natural perils and human health. It is contributing to theunderstanding of human vulnerability and response to natural perils,in particular, improving understanding of flood magnitude and frequencyin relation to climate change, informing hazard assessment andmanagement from the study of past volcanic and seismic events, anddeveloping practice for hazard evaluation and assessment. Predictivemodelling of coastal environmental response to climate change is alsoproviding effective support tools for decision-making and resourceallocation to mitigate vulnerability to coastal flooding and erosion.

Environmental changeThe core scientific interest here is the evidence for and forcing ofenvironmental changes within varied depositional and geomorphicsettings – lacustrine, riverine, glacial, coastal, hillslope, aeolian andmontane – and on varied timescales. Reconstruction of past environmentsconsiders the relative important of gradual and catastrophic processes;past evidence of climate- human interaction; Earth system modelling –particularly in relation to the causes of soil erosion and desertification;and the development of advanced analytical techniques for improvedunderstanding of cause and timing.

Ecosystem researchUnderstanding ecosystem function and dynamics is currently a keyfocus of environmental management. This requires fundamental researchnot only in relation to the current health and status of ecosystems, fromupland peat bogs to those of the marine environment, but how these havechanged through time in relation to internal dynamics and external forcing.Bringing together expertise in ecology and palaeoecology provides theUniversity with a key strength in this area, thus better informing theunderstanding of ecosystem response to climate change and humanimpact, and providing a sound basis for the management of resources.

Human health and wellbeingCutting across the physical, natural, social and biomedical sciences isresearch into the linkage between the environment and human health.Together with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, the Universityprovides key answers to the impacts of climate change on disease,health and wellbeing. Climate and human health research has examinedthe integration of impacts models with the prediction of climate variabilityfrom ensemble prediction systems, the downscaling of climate models,and prediction of disease, in particular malaria and meningitis.

Environmental scienceprovides a holistic, inter- andtransdisciplinary quantitativeapproach to acquiringknowledge and understandingof the natural environment andits multifaceted interactions.


Understanding the Big Picture //AddressingRegional andLocal Concerns 037

FacilitiesThe University is well-equipped with facilities to support environmentalscience. These include:

Low-background hyper-pure germanium gamma spectrometryand associated alpha spectrometryMetal chemistry and mineralogy by electroanalytical chemistry,scanning electron microscopy, atomic absorption spectroscopy(AAS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF)Organic chemistry by liquid and gas chromatography massspectrometry (GC-MS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR)Stable isotope geochemistry (carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen)Greenhouse gas emissions (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide)Carbon and nitrogen dynamics in peat and soils (dissolved organiccarbon, enzymes)Seawater aquaria and mesocosmsGeomagnetism, mineral and palaeo-magnetic researchNumerical modelling and computingPalaeoecology and microscopyLaboratory-based sedimentology and field instrumentationGIS and decision-support systemsResearch vessel, and a full range of equipment for environmentalsampling and monitoring.

2.0 Addressing Regional and Local ConcernsAlthough the University’s climate and environment research is essentiallyfundamental in nature, some of its findings can be applied directly toimprove human health and wellbeing. They have led, for instance, toimproved understanding of monsoonal climate patterns, the predictionof rainfall and the onset of malaria and spread of meningitis in Africa.They have enhanced our understanding of animal and wildlife diseasein Africa and Europe. Outcomes like these are of considerable importanceto aid agencies and health initiatives, which are able to utilise their limitedresources more effectively.

The University’s environment research programme includes strategic andapplied projects which address particular regional or local environmentalconcerns, some of which are carried out on behalf of public or privatesector clients. In this respect, the University’s research is underpinning theadaptation and mitigation strategies of local authorities, regional government,national regulatory authorities, as well as business activities with links tothe environment – for example, the production of drinking water, watertreatment, waste disposal and renewable energy.

The University has long-standing strengths in different aspects of watersources and their management; in the 1990s, it developed the plan forcleaning up the Mersey, helped to implement the plan and supplied theChair of the award-winning Mersey Basin Campaign. It also has extensiveexpertise in the design and management of seawall defences. Detectingand interpreting environmental radioactivity is another long-standing strength.

It is also cultivating new strengths and is currently leading pioneering workon the economics of ecosystems and biodiversity.

2.1 Water sustainability and integratedmanagement

Keywords: Water sources; water quality; biogeochemistry; biodiversity;ecosystems; wetlands; sustainability; policy compliance; environmentaleconomics; ecosystem services; carbon economy; poverty alleviation

OverviewWater is one of the 21st century’s most valuable assets. We cannot survivewithout it; it is also a source of food and energy; it is involved in a widerange of industrial processing; it plays a key role in ecosystems; supportstransport; provides opportunities for recreation and sport; and it is thefoundation of numerous businesses.

Managing and protecting water resources is one of today’s most significantchallenges. Doing this effectively requires complementary expertise from awide range of disciplines – from the natural sciences to the social sciences,public health and engineering.



ExpertiseThe University can draw on expertise from all these disciplines. To ensure itharnesses this expertise coherently, it has created a specialist institute:

The Institute for Sustainable Water, Integrated Management and EcosystemResearch (SWIMMER) is the gateway to expertise in the natural science ofwater (extending from biogeochemistry and radioecology to wetlands andbiodiversity); social and economic requirements of water (cleanliness,restoration and environmental management); and environmentaleconomics (eg. the sustainable delivery of ecosystem services, developinga low carbon economy, poverty alleviation, cost-benefit analysis).

The University’s expertise in the assessment of ecosystem services andtheir economic valuation underpins decision-making at a variety of scales.Examples range from the management of peat bog and wetland resources(by authorities such as Natural England and United Utilities) to theintegrated planning of river basins and coastal seas (by DEFRA, theCountryside Council for Wales and the Association of Rivers Trusts). Theyextend to the impacts of climate change on human health and wellbeing indifferent regions of the world.

SWIMMER facilitates the provision of a range of services to businesses –for example, guidance on policy compliance, decision-making, resourcemanagement and future-proofing. These services are used by industry,regulators, governments and non-governmental organisations in the UKand around the world.

For further information on SWIMMER see ‘Specialist centres,facilities & laboratories’ on page 142.

ApplicationsThrough SWIMMER, the University is helping the Environment Agencyto implement the EU Water Framework Directive, harnessing itsunderstanding of river hydrology, water quality and wetlands.

2.2 Water and coastal engineering

Keywords: Coastal processes; estuarine processes; data capture;computer modelling; beach erosion/accretion; seawalls; waveovertopping; electricity generation; tidal barrage; hydroinformation;environmental hydraulics; flood risk; river channel dynamics

OverviewA major strand of the University’s environmental expertise is focused onemerging and predicted problems afflicting our coasts, river channelsand floodplains – for instance, pressures on shorelines due to sea level riseand storm surges and on riverside developments at risk of flooding andbank erosion; on the increasing demand for water and the environmentalprotection of water bodies; and on water as a renewable energy source.

The University’s engineering and geomorphology expertise in this areaderives from research encompassing a mix of laboratory experimentation,field data collection and computational modelling studies – and fromreal-world implementation of engineering, land and land-use managementsolutions. This includes the development of novel flood defences, numericalmodels to predict overtopping of defences during storms, fundamentalresearch to gain a better understanding of historical flood risk and channeldynamics during high river flows, and the provision ofeco-hydrological solutions for reducing flood peaks and providing bufferzones for flood waters.

ExpertiseMaritime and coastal engineeringResearch in this area has focused on capturing data relating to coastaland estuarial processes and developing computer models capable ofpredicting the behaviour of coastal and estuarine regimes under differentconditions. These will allow the diverse effects of climate change onparticular maritime areas to be predicted and planned for – and the effectsof man-made alterations tested in a virtual environment before resourcesare committed.

Models developed to date cover phenomena such as sediment transport,which can lead to beach erosion and accretion; the formation andmorphology of sandbanks; waves and tides’ potential to overtop seadefences; and their effect on the behaviour of estuarial barrages,breakwaters and other harbour structures.

The University has also responded to the UK’s emerging interest in marinesources of renewable energy. To date, its modelling expertise has beentargeting the potential for tidal barrage and tidal stream electricitygeneration, and the appraisal of environmental issues likely to arise fromsuch developments. Much of the work relies upon accurately modellingfundamental fluid mechanics processes and has been carried out incollaboration with the Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory (POL).

Managing and protecting waterresources is one of today’s most significantchallenges. Doing this effectively requirescomplementary expertise from awiderange of disciplines – from the naturalsciences to the social sciences,public health and engineering.


Water sourcing, flows and supplyThe University has expertise in water sourcing and in the collection,treatment and distribution of water; the collection and treatment ofwastewater; and the civil engineering aspects of pollution control inthe water environment.

A special area of interest is the development of new hydro-informationsystems, remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS) andrelated computational methods. These can be harnessed to assist inthe management of water within natural catchments, and the design,performance and operational control of water distribution andsewerage systems.

Research in this area also links to expertise in the geomorphology anddynamics of river channels, and how they change over time in relation tohydrological processes, land-use and climate. The Environment Agencyhas been particularly interested in the University’s work on slope-streamcoupling, channel connectivity, monitoring and modelling channel responseto extreme events, improving knowledge on the magnitude and frequencyof extremes using historical data, and in the hydrogeomorphic function ofriparian and perimarine wetlands and woodlands as means forenvironmental management.

Pollution controlEnvironmental standards set within legislative frameworks are designedto minimise the pollution of water sources and pollution from wastewater.Meeting these standards requires good engineering design.

The University has expertise in the environmental hydraulics of water bodieslocated inland and in coastal regions. Its expertise derives from studiesinvolving physical models at laboratory scale; field investigations; and thedevelopment of computer models. Using this approach, it has advancedour understanding of the mixing zones near wastewater outfalls and thesubsequent pollutant dispersion. It has harnessed this to rehabilitate waterbodies by means of artificial mixing systems.

Its environmental hydraulics expertise has also been deployed to simulatethe transport of sediments and the dispersal of pollutants which might be inflow conduits or surface waters, in sediments or soil; and to assess theperformance of hydraulic control structures. The University has also workedon engineering solutions for the protection of freshwater environments intide-affected locations. In addition, research into ecosystem services forcoastal and riverine wetlands has considered the development of naturaleco-hydrological solutions to waste treatment and the management ofnutrient fluxes in the environment.

ApplicationsEnhancing the National Flood Forecasting SystemSeawalls are intended to contain waves in normal conditions and limit theamount of wave overtopping during high seas. Wave overtopping can belimited by manipulating the slope, shape and surface characteristics of theseawall and its ‘freeboard’ – its height above the normal level of still waters.

Engineers have relied on mathematical models published 10-20 years agoto predict the mean rates at which seawalls of different shapes and heightswould be overtopped by random waves. However, University of Liverpoolresearch revealed that these models overestimated risks to the safety ofpassing pedestrians and vehicles – leading to unnecessarily high seawalls.Since then, the University has created a better computer model, based onsound theoretical principles and a clear physical representation of theprocesses involved.

Linked to the operation storm surge forecasting model run by POL, the newmodel enables seawall designers to achieve a much better balancebetween effectiveness, cost and environmental impact. It can also be usedto predict how existing sea defences would cope with waves and surges ofdifferent magnitudes. In 2006, when Black & Veatch – one of the UK’sleading consultants on flood and coastal defence appraisal and design –was helping the North East Region of the Environment Agency configurethe National Flood Forecasting System to its specific requirements, it choseto harness the University’s model.

It is now protecting the coastline from Berwick-upon-Tweed to the Humberestuary and estimates, using data supplied by the Meteorological Office onwaves and surges which should reach the coastline 36 hours later, whereand to what extent the water will overtop sea defences along the coastline.

AddressingRegional andLocal Concerns 039



2.3 Environmental radioactivity

Keywords: Nuclear power; nuclear fuel reprocessing; radioactivematerials; detection; remobilisation; pollution monitoring; radioecology;radiometric dating

OverviewEnvironmental radioactivity is the study of radioactive materials in thehuman environment. Some of these materials are present as a result ofnatural processes; some are found purely as a result of human activities.Others can arise from both natural processes and human activities, andthe location and concentration of some natural isotopes – for instance,uranium-238 – can be affected by human activity.

Radionuclide pollution can arise from nuclear fuel reprocessing, nuclearweapons tests, nuclear accidents and the theft of nuclear materials orequipment containing nuclear materials. Once these materials are releasedinto the environment, they can reach and affect the health of humans andanimals via the food chain (radioecology), or by direct exposure to the air,the water or the soil.

We need to detect such materials to minimise public health risks.We also need to understand how these materials can be remobilisedin our environment and incorporated into the food chain via wildlife,birds and livestock.

ExpertiseThe University of Liverpool has a research centre which specialises indifferent aspects of environmental radioactivity research, and providesa service to archaeologists, government agencies and businesses.

The Environmental Radioactivity Research Centre researches radionuclidepollution arising from nuclear fuel reprocessing and nuclear accidents.It has developed state-of-the-art radionuclide detection methods. Itinvestigates the ways in which radioactive materials can be remobilisedin the environment; and it helps us to gain a better understanding of thedangers to human and animal health which result from ingestion ofsuch materials or exposure to them.

It deploys its detection methods in a range of non-destructive industrialinspection and monitoring applications, and it provides radiometricdating services.

The Centre also carries out complementary research in the area ofenvironmental pollution. Its achievements include improvements in themethods and instruments used to detect persistant organic pollutantsand heavy metals in sediments and waters. This work links directly to therequirements of the Environment Agency, amongst other environmentalprotection agencies, in providing quantitative assessments of the impact ofradionuclides in the environment on human health.



2.4 Economics of ecosystems and biodiversity

Keywords: Ecosystem services; terrestrial biome; freshwater biome;marine biome; ecology; environmental economics; unit values; discountrates; certification; labelling; biodiversity offsets; policy impacts;production impacts; consumer impacts; toolkit

OverviewThe natural environment provides us with a wide range of ‘ecosystemservices’: crop pollination; seed dispersal; waste decomposition; energyfrom biomass fuels, hydropower, tides and wind; pharmaceuticals derivedfrom nature; seafood and game – and, of course, water. Due to the impactof human activities, the capacity of ecosystems to deliver some servicesis seriously compromised. Could such services be rationed or simplyunavailable to our grandchildren – and what would be the consequences?

ExpertiseWe can assess this with confidence thanks to an ambitious studyco-ordinated by a University of Liverpool economist, and soon it willbe possible to weigh up the cost-benefits of ‘business as usual’ versusalternatives which would help safeguard our ecosystems for currentand future generations.

The creative use of certification and labelling is an established example –for instance, the Forest Stewardship Council logo, and the certificationscheme run by the Programme for the Endorsement of ForestryCertification, which guarantees that timber has come from a sustainablesource.Emerging initiatives include biodiversity offsets and biodiversitymarkets – allowing developers whose projects damage habitats topurchase biodiversity credits from third parties who commit tomaintaining similar habitats or ecosystems in the surrounding area.

The idea is to establish unit values for biodiversity and ecosystemservices in all three biomes – terrestrial, freshwater and marine. Thesewill be informed by evidence on everything from events happening fromone second to the next at the molecular level to changes at the level ofthe biome that take place over years, decades and centuries. The valuesmust be workable in a variety of socio-economic contexts.

The work was commissioned by the European Commission, the UnitedNations Environment Program (UNEP) and Germany’s environment ministryand is scheduled for completion in 2010. The University of Liverpool is co-ordinating the development of a conceptual framework which integratesecological and economic considerations. This is essential in order tocompare the costs and benefits of ‘business as usual’ with those ofalternative approaches.

ApplicationsThis ambitious project is designed to help nations predict theconsequences of international and national policies on ecosystems andbiodiversity; provide a toolkit to guide public sector decisions made at locallevels; give businesses a framework for assessing the impact of productionon ecosystems and biodiversity and the risks and benefits of alternativeapproaches; and empower consumers.

The natural environmentprovides us with a wide rangeof ‘ecosystem services’: croppollination; seed dispersal;waste decomposition; energyfrom biomass fuels, hydropower,tides and wind; pharmaceuticalsderived from nature; seafoodand game – and, of course, water.

AddressingRegional andLocal Concerns 041



Specialist Centres, Facilities and LaboratoriesFurther information on specialist centres, facilities and laboratoriescan be found in a dedicated section (see page 142). Those whichexploit and/or contribute to the development of Environment &Climate Change include:




Centre for Marine Sciences and Climate ChangeEnvironmental Radioactivity Research CentreInstitute for Sustainable Water, Integrated Managementand Ecosystem Research (SWIMMER)Liverpool Institute for Biological ComplexityProudman Oceanographic Laboratory



Intellectual property at heartof novel testing kit

Case StudiesUnited Utilities developsbreakthrough technology

A decade ago a University of Liverpooloceanographer set out to research ‘metalspeciation’ – a phenomenon which can arisenaturally or result from man-made pollution.When metals dissolve in water, the resulting ionsmay bind to dissolved organic matter, formingvariants following reactions influenced by lightor bacteria ... or remain ‘free’. High levels of‘free’ metals can have a drastic effect on localflora and fauna, but plants are ‘immune’ to theeffects of metal ions as long as they remaintightly bound.

At the time it was difficult to measure very low concentrations ofdissolved metals and their speciation in natural waters, but keyproblems were solved by harnessing an electrochemical technique.The resulting device had many strengths – most notably its abilityto measure arsenic in drinking water at concentrations of 0.1 partsper billion, distinguishing between highly toxic reduced arsenic(arsenite) and less toxic oxidised arsenic (arsenate); and its portabilityand autonomous operation.

The patented technology attracted the interest of WagtechInternational, a Queen’s Award for Enterprise-winning water andenvironmental testing specialist. The technology was licensedto Wagtech, which commissioned the University to optimise themethodology, enhance the software and embed it in the hardware,instead of running on a laptop. Then Wagtech designed theinstrument at the heart of the apparatus and a sonde assemblywith a full set of electrodes and protective cover. Neatly packedinto a protective hard-shell carrying case with a sample beaker,consumables kit, digital pH meter, micro-pipette, cable clamp,USB lead and mains and vehicle cigarette lighter adapters, this novelenvironmental test kit was launched in Summer 2009.

The treatment of waste using chemicalsrecovered from the treatment process is akey goal in developing a sustainable future.To help achieve this, United Utilities Water (UUW)developed the ‘enzymic hydrolysis’ (EH) process,which manages waste arising from the treatmentof sewage. Installed nationally, it recoversvaluable resources like bio-gas and high qualitysoil conditioners and fertilisers as part of thetreatment process.

Sewage sludge has been digested for 60 years but the fundamentalmicrobiology was not understood. To enhance its understanding,enabling this breakthrough technology to be applied to other wastesectors, UUW joined forces with the University of Liverpool, whosemicrobiologists have an international reputation. Their expertise inunderstanding complex microbiological processes using cutting-edge molecular ecology analytical techniques made them the idealpartner to help develop UUW’s technology.

Through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project, UUWand the University developed a programme aimed at optimisingthe EH digestion process – enabling UUW to improve its operationalperformance, exploit the technology commerciallyand grow its business.

“The KTP with Liverpool is one of acluster that we have carried out andprovides access to world-class researchknowledge and facilities that we alonejust couldn’t access. It’s a real win-win-winfor the company, for the University, andfor the Graduate Associate, who all gethuge value from working together.”Steve WhippStandards and Innovation Manager at UUW


Energy& Sustainability




AuditingData sampling/collection/synthesisMappingModellingAnalysisInterpretation/displayPrediction/forecastingControl/managementMonitoring

Focus of Expertise

Hydrocarbon reservesCarbon capture & storageOil vulnerabilityCarbon footprintminimisationRenewable energy sourcesPower conversion/maximisationGrid stabilityUninterrupted powersuppliesNuclear waste

Disciplines

GeologyGeochemistry/GeophysicsElectrical engineeringCivil engineeringMarine scienceAutomationNuclear physicsManagement

Application Areas

Electricity generation/distributionNuclear energy sectorOil & gasRenewable energy sectorPolicy-makingPlanning

Overview

1.0 Locating HydrocarbonReserves

2.0 Minimising Businesses’Reliance on Oil

3.0 Generating andDistributing Energy fromRenewable Sources

3.1 Wind power3.2 Tidal power

4.0 New Approaches toElectricity Markets

5.0 Smarter ElectricityDistribution

6.0 The Nuclear Option

KeyCapabilitiesThe use of energy has played a key role inthe development of human societies – helpingthem to adapt to their environments and exertever-increasing control. Early energy sourceslike wood, animal/vegetable oil and peat,water and wind were gradually replacedby coal and gas, which could also generateelectricity, and by petroleum, which couldpower internal combustion engines.

In the industrialised world these new energy sources transformedtransportation, agriculture and manufacturing and facilitated a domesticrevolution. In the 20th century we learned how to generate electricity andpower submarines, ships and satellites from nuclear energy.

Today, the developed world still runs on energy derived largely fromfossil fuels. Most vehicles use derivatives of oil or gas and a vast rangeof manufacturers are utterly reliant on petrochemicals. Our informationand communications technologies depend on electricity – most of whichcomes from coal or gas-fuelled power stations.

We cannot continue to rely on fossil fuels: supplies are dwindling and, inany case, burning fossil fuels is contributing to global warming. We don’tknow whether our efforts to generate energy from novel sources, such asnuclear fusion or hydrogen, will bear fruit. We do know that it will take timeto ramp up the amount of power we generate from nuclear energy – andwe still need to solve the problems posed by nuclear waste.

This means that in the short-to-medium-term it is essential to developtechnologies and lifestyles which consume less energy; minimise thedamage caused by fossil fuels; identify new reserves of oil and gas andextract more from existing reserves; enhance our ability to generate anddistribute energy from renewable resources; and manage all our energysources more effectively.

The University of Liverpool is helping to address many of thesechallenges – drawing on its expertise in the physical, environmental andsocial sciences, and in electrical, electronic and mechanical engineering.



1.0 Locating Hydrocarbon ReservesKeywords: Basin analysis; basin modelling; plate tectonicreconstruction; sequence stratigraphy; deepwater reservoirs;reservoir quality; carbon capture and storage; diagenesis

OverviewNine of the world’s 10 largest oilfields have ‘entered depletion’, to use oilindustry jargon, and oil companies are publicly acknowledging that thereis no more ‘easy oil’. In other words, they are unlikely to uncover massivereserves below shallow, off-shore seas. Instead, they will need to locatedeep-sea reserves and develop the capacity to exploit them – generatinga whole new sub-sea industry.

The University carries out fundamental research whose results can helpthe oil and gas industry to locate new hydrocarbon reserves. These resultsare being applied around the world by multinational and state-owned oilcompanies, which have spent millions of pounds supporting theUniversity’s work in key areas. These include the development of:

New geophysical techniques using satellite gravity anomaly inversionto map crustal thickness, micro-continents and the ocean-continenttransition at rifted continental margins – and its application to refineplate tectonic reconstructions

New models for the delivery of sand to deepwater submarineslope and basin settings and the positions and shapes ofresultant reservoirs

New models for the burial-related physicochemical changes to thereservoir rocks and prediction of the sealing capacity of shales,with a view to re-injection of CO2.

This work also has application in the growing area of carbon captureand storage (CCS).

ExpertiseThe University’s strength derives in part from its ability to integrate itsexpertise in geology, geochemistry and geophysics. This enables it to:

Synthesise and interpret geophysical data (gravity/seismic) atrifted continental margins and map ocean-continent transitionsModel sedimentary basin formation, subsidence and heat flow historyPredict reservoir geometries and 3D architecture/connectivityCarry out stratigraphic and sedimentological analysis of sub-surfacedata, integrated with outcrop analoguesModel tidal circulation and sediment transport in estuaries(also applicable to tidal sandbody reservoirs)Predict and model the diagenetic history of sandstonesModel the role of biogenic processes in sandstone diagenesis andpermeability behaviour at depthPredict the suitability of different reservoir types for carbon captureand storage.

Facilities and servicesThe University offers:

The development and application of bespoke software forsynthesis and display of geophysical dataSeismic interpretation and reservoir modelling expertiseDigital outcrop analogue data collection expertise involvingdifferential global positioning systems (DGPS), light detectionand ranging (LIDAR) etcShallow borehole drilling and sediment sampling expertiseState-of-the-art geochemical laboratories including X-ray diffraction(XRD)Expertise in modelling the financial implications of an organisationusing the Environmental Resilience AuditTraining on using the Environmental Resilience Audit tool.


2.0 Minimising Businesses’ Reliance on OilKeywords: Peak oil; oil vulnerability; direct/indirect oil price impacts;resource efficiency; sustainable procurement; sustainable businesspractices; competitive advantage

OverviewFifty years ago, an American geoscientist introduced a concept nowknown as ‘peak oil’ – a point in time when oil production rates reach theirhighest level before going into terminal decline. It’s not clear when globaloil production will reach a peak. Some estimates suggest that point won’tarrive until the 2020s; others indicate that peak oil is imminent, and somecommentators believe we may have reached that point already.

Whether it happens five, 10 or 20 years from now, rising demand fromemerging nations, combined with the possibility of falling production, areexpected to have a growing impact on prices. They may fall back in theshort-term, as they have in the past; in the medium-to-long term they aremore likely to rise inexorably.

Oil price rises have already had a discernible effect on transportationand energy costs, but they are also impacting on many other aspectsof business operations. Businesses need to reduce their ‘oil vulnerability’and the University of Liverpool has developed a methodology and a setof tools to help them do this.

ExpertiseThe University’s expertise in this area fits into its wider work on auditing(for example, resource usage, carbon footprint) and gaining competitiveadvantage through greater resource efficiency, sustainable procurementpractices and sustainable business processes.

It started to address oil-related problems by modelling the behaviour ofoil prices under a range of foreseeable circumstances. It then turned itsattention to organisations’ potential to respond strategically to oil-basedturbulence in their business environment.

Limiting the impact of rising oil prices can be very challenging:businesses may need fuel to transport their goods and energy to powertheir production processes. They may use raw materials derived fromcrude oil, they may produce man-made materials or assemble productswith man-made components, or they may utilise a lot of man-made products.

Before they can figure out the most effective and appropriate ways tominimise the impact of oil prices on their ‘bottom line’, businesses needto understand the direct and indirect contribution that oil makes to theirday-to-day operations.

The methodology developed by the University helps organisationsto determine which particular business entities to prioritise – anythingfrom product ranges to individual products or services, from marketsegments to individual customers, from particular plants to specificproduction lines. It comprises a five-stage process encompassingbusiness activities/process modelling; resource auditing; mapping;data capture and analysis.

Since the overall aim is to assess the business entity’s vulnerability tochanging oil prices, oil-specific costs are expressed as a percentage oftotal costs. This is done by means of resource-tracking flags which identifycosts like energy, liquid fuels, petrochemicals, man-made materials andcomponents made from man-made materials. These flags indicate wherethe resource is situated in the oil supply chain; the further down the supplychain, the smaller the impact of oil price increases in the short-term – butthe flags provide early warning of price increases in the medium term.

At the end of the exercise, potential interventions can be identified andprioritised.

ApplicationsThe University’s methodology and tools were tested on a range ofbusinesses and refined with the help of the ‘Transition Town Totnes’initiative; Totnes was the first town in the UK to set itself the objective ofpreparing for a carbon-constrained, energy-lean future.

This exercise demonstrated that oil vulnerability is not simply an issuefor large companies and multinational giants; businesses of all sizes canbenefit – including farms and restaurants (see case study on page 53).

LocatingHydrocarbonReserves //Minimising Businesses’ Reliance onOil 047



3.0 Generating and Distributing Energy fromRenewable Sources3.1 Wind power

Keywords: Forecasting; optimal control strategies; power maximisation;grid stability; synchronverters

OverviewIn principle, the wind offers a vast and inexhaustible source of energywhich is freely and widely available – and ‘green’. In 2005, the potentialof wind power on land and near-shore was estimated to be 72 terawatts –equivalent to 54,000 MtoE (million tons of oil equivalent’ per year), or overfive times’ the world’s current energy use in all forms.

In practice, individual countries’ ability to generate electrical energy fromthe wind depends on a wide range of factors – environmental, political,economic and technical. So, although more than 80% of wind powerinstallations are in the US and Europe, the picture varies from one stateto the next. Thanks to Denmark’s 30-year commitment to wind power, italready generates around 17% of its total energy requirements using thismethod – although it exports much of this to Norway; in the UK, it’s lessthan 2%, despite its reputation as the windiest country in Europe.

Even if political and economic issues are resolved, numerous technicalproblems remain to be solved before wind power can start to realise itspotential. Wind is unpredictable: wind speeds vary from hour to hour,and the wind can die down completely for extended periods.

To maximise the electricity generated from wind power, generators needto operate at varying speeds so as to cope with the variable wind input.At present the power industry does not have a cost-effective means ofstoring energy from renewable sources like wind, so it has to use it inreal-time, as it is generated. However, energy from renewable sourcescannot be connected directly to national grids.

The University of Liverpool helps to address some of these technicalproblems.

ExpertiseForecastingThe University is investigating the potential for forecasting wind powergeneration – estimating the expected power production of one or morewind turbines using computational intelligence techniques.

ControlWind turbine technology has advanced significantly over the past 20 yearsthanks to the development of large-scale doubly-fed induction generatorsand small scale permanent magnet generators (PMGs). In collaborationwith industry, the University has developed a robust optimal control strategyfor varying-speed maximal power point tracking of the outputs ofsmall-scale PMGs.

Power maximisationIn addition, dedicated power electronics converters have been designed tomaximise power outputs from PMGs, and field tests are planned involvingthree sets of wind generation systems.

Grid stabilitySome renewable sources – most notably solar power – can only producedirect current (DC) rather than the AC on which today’s power systems arebased. Some can produce AC, but not at the constant frequency which thenational grid demands. Engineers get round these problems by convertingall power inputs to a DC voltage and using inverters to convert this to astandard AC with a constant frequency.

At present, Britain’s national grid has relatively few inverters connected toit; they number in the hundreds, rather than the millions which would berequired to obtain a high proportion of our energy needs from renewablesources. However, no-one knows whether the national grids couldaccommodate millions of inverters, which are less controllable thansynchronous generators; it is possible that they could destabilise it,or make it less reliable.

Several research groups have hit on the idea of creating an inverterwhich mimics grid-friendly synchronous generators. University of Liverpoolengineers are confident that the ‘synchronverter’ they have co-devised hasdistinct advantages over approaches being pursued elsewhere. In principle,an inverter could mimic a synchronous generator in terms of its internaldynamics – that’s to say, its internal processes – or in terms of input andoutput characteristics like frequency and voltage. The University’s approachis unique in that it addresses both internal dynamics and external propertiesat the same time. It is also distinctive in that it controls the voltage, ratherthan the current.

Wind turbine technology hasadvanced significantly over the past20 years thanks to the developmentof large-scale doubly-fed inductiongenerators and small scale permanentmagnet generators (PMGs).


It takes the form of a mathematical model of a synchronous generatorwhich is implemented in the software controlling the inverter. The modelshould work with any inverter and can operate in grid-connected modeor in island mode. When it is deployed in grid-connected mode, the realpower and the reactive power sent to the grid can be regulated in twoways: it can respond to instructions from the grid operator or it canchange the real and reactive power by responding to variations in thegrid frequency and voltage on the basis of pre-set frequency/voltage‘drooping’ co-efficients.

The technology has many other selling points, has been patented andis available for license (see case study on page 53). It could also beharnessed for the distribution of solar power to electricity grids.

3.2 Tidal power

Keywords: Tidal stream systems; tidal barrages; tidal lagoons; Mersey;Dee; Solway Firth; Morecambe Bay

OverviewAlthough not in widespread use around the world, tidal power hasconsiderable potential as a source of renewable energy because tidesare more predictable than wind power and solar power.

Tidal power can be harnessed in different ways. Tidal stream systemsmake use of the kinetic energy of moving water to power turbines, justas windmills exploit moving air. Barrages, which involve damming acrossthe full width of tidal estuaries, make use of the potential energy in thedifference in height between high and low tides. Tidal lagoons are similar,but can take the form of self contained structures and can be configuredto generate electricity continuously.

The UK is estimated to have realisable tidal power of around 50 terrawatthours, which equates to around 13% of the country’s electricity demand.As in many other countries, the UK government has been reluctant toexploit the potential of tidal power because of concerns about the cost andthe environmental impact.

However, the UK risks failing to meet its EU target for generatingenergy from renewable sources (15% by 2020), so interest in tidalpower is currently growing. Since some methods of harnessing tidalpower are cheaper than others and could have smaller environmentalimpacts, there is now interest in evaluating the generating potential ofthe different methods in specific areas.

ExpertiseIn conjunction with the Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory, the Universityof Liverpool recently evaluated the scope for generating electricity from tidalsources in the eastern Irish Sea.

Using 0D and 2D computer modelling, the team investigated the potentialfor reliable electricity generation from a combination of estuary barragesor lagoons and tidal-stream energy devices.

It reached the conclusion that building estuary barrages across theSolway Firth, Morecambe Bay and the Mersey and Dee estuariescould meet around half of the North West’s electricity needs andcontribute more than five per cent of the UK’s electricity requirements.This is comparable to estimated figures for the electricity which mightbe generated by a barrage across the Severn Estuary. Moreover, sinceides reach the North West some hours after they reach the SevernEstuary, electricity generated by tidal power would not be restricted totwo narrow windows in time every 24 hours.

GeneratingandDistributingEnergy fromRenewable Sources 049



See section 2.3 of Digital Technologies for further information, page 95.

4.0 New Approaches to Electricity MarketsKeywords: Supply; demand; price; least-cost design; conventionalpower generation; renewable energy generation

OverviewSince renewable energy sources are relatively clean and inexhaustible,in principle they offer a sustainable solution to the rising global demandfor energy demand which doesn’t contribute to global warming.

In practice, at this early stage, the high cost of technologies which exploitwind energy, solar energy, tidal energy, energy from biomass – or coal andgas with carbon capture – is a major obstacle, limiting their penetration ofelectricity markets.

ExpertiseAn electricity market is a system for effecting the purchase and sale ofelectricity, using supply and demand to set the price. The least-cost designof electricity markets tends to favour conventional power plants using fossilfuels, rather than the costly renewable energy technologies. So, to enablerenewable energy to compete with the conventional power plants, anumber of countries have implemented financial support schemes.

However, research carried out recently by the University of Liverpoolsuggests that a green energy policy based on the least-cost technologicaldevelopment and efficient use of renewable energy is also feasible.This emerged from its use of advanced statistical and computationaltechniques to analyse current electricity market data.

5.0 Smarter Electricity DistributionKeywords: Protection frameworks; relay co-ordination & operation;ultra-high-speed protection relays; system-on-a-chip technologies;renewables; optimal dispatch; interruptible load; multi-agenttechnologies; information management; condition monitoring;e-automation

OverviewIn the UK the demand for electricity rose by more than 50% between1970 and 2000 and it is still rising; in the US, demand rose by 26% inthe 1990s alone. Some states are struggling to meet current demandsbecause ageing transmission networks can’t cope with the loads theyare expected to bear. To get the most out of its ageing assets withoutputting them at risk, the power transmission industry needs accurate,intelligent, real-time monitoring and control systems.

It also needs to minimise the potential for disruption when electricityfrom renewable sources is channelled into electricity grids. Tides maybe predictable, but tidal flows are not – and changes in the magnitude oftidal flows can result in variable power outputs. We know the sun doesn’tshine at night – but we don’t know how long or even whether it will shinefrom one day to the next. Wind speeds are even more unpredictable.This unpredictability impacts on the management of power systemsbecause national grids were designed to transmit and distribute electricitygenerated in very controllable ways by conventional power plants.

The University of Liverpool is applying its expertise to both of these issues.

ExpertiseControl of different energy sources embedded inpower systems

The University is working on a new network-based protection frameworkto improve relay coordination and operation in distributed generationsystems. This exploits multi-agent technology and is being developed incollaboration with National Grid plc in the UK.

It has also designed ultra-high-speed protection relays which can ensurereliable power system operation in case of high penetration of distributedgeneration by renewables. This work has been done in collaboration withSiemens using ‘system-on-a-chip’ technologies.

To facilitate and optimise the combined use of wind, tidal, solar and coal-fired generation power, the University has also worked on the optimaldispatch of various generation capacities using an approach involvinginterruptible load.


Intelligent, real-time monitoring and control‘e-automation’ is shorthand for a new generation of automation systemsfor information management, condition monitoring and real-time controlof distributed industrial systems achieved by integrating the latestnetworking and agent technologies.

The National Instruments e-Automation Laboratory was established atthe University of Liverpool to research and develop e-automation systems;the laboratory is also supported by National Grid plc. It has been workingon network-based industrial automation, investigating advanced controltechniques, computational intelligence, machine learning, informationprocessing and management, software intelligence, computer networkand digital signal processing (DSP) system technologies.

It has applied its expertise to electricity grids, making aged systems‘smart’ by harnessing information management and condition monitoringtechniques more effectively

6.0 The Nuclear OptionKeywords: Fission reactor; 232Th cycle; accelerators; transmutation;shorter half lives; modelling; waste characterisation; waste monitoring

OverviewThe UK government wishes to increase the proportion of energy generatedfrom nuclear power and recently published a list of sites where new nuclearpower stations could potentially be constructed. However, nuclear powerwill only be acceptable to the public if robust safety cases can be made,the production of new nuclear waste is minimised, and plans to deal withthe existing waste are more persuasive than they have been to date.

The University of Liverpool has expertise which could be harnessed toexplore new approaches.

ExpertiseNew nuclear power solutionsNuclear physicists and engineers at the University believe it should bepossible to design nuclear power plants which will produce less waste –for instance, a fission reactor based on the 232Th cycle and reactorswhich are controlled by beams of particles from an accelerator.

It should also be possible to develop accelerators that produce beamsof particles which can be used to induce transmutation. In other words,radioactive waste could be transmuted into different isotopes(with shorter half lives) using beams of protons or neutrons.

Nuclear wasteThe first challenge is to deal with waste that already exists; the second isto ensure that future waste is properly handled. In both cases, it is vital forthe radioactive waste to be fully characterised – enabling tailored solutionsto be devised (for example, making the waste safe or moving it toappropriate storage).

The University has the requisite expertise to characterise the waste. It alsohas sensor technology which could be harnessed to monitor the waste –and has already worked in collaboration with the nuclear industry.

Safety casesThe University has extensive knowledge of nuclear physics and a great dealof modelling expertise. This could be harnessed to provide independentsafety cases of designs proposed for Britain’s new nuclear power stations.

The first challenge is to dealwith waste that already exists;the second is to ensure thatfuture waste is properly handled.

NewApproaches to ElectricityMarkets //Smarter Electricity Distribution // TheNuclearOption 051

See section 2.3 of Digital Technologies for further information, page 95.



Specialist Centres, Facilities and LaboratoriesFurther information on specialist centres, facilities and laboratories canbe found in a dedicated section (see page 142). Those most relevant toEnergy & Sustainability include:




National Instrument e-Automation LaboratoryProudman Oceanographic Laboratory



Oil vulnerability audit

Case Studies

An audit undertaken for a wine bar focused onits à la carte operation. It identified the top threeissues the business needed to address to reduceits vulnerability to oil price rises in the years to come.

At the time, energy represented a low percentage of the à la carteoperation’s costs, but modelling revealed that this percentage couldrise rapidly, since energy costs appear to track oil price rises. Byidentifying the items of equipment which were guzzling the mostenergy, the audit showed how the operation could become moreenergy-efficient.

Energy isn’t the only area in which a restaurant is vulnerable to oilprice rises. The cultivation, processing, transportation and distributionof food all require oil-based resources. Food packaging may alsoconsume oil-based resources if materials have to be sent abroadfor recycling – a cost which may be passed on to businesses. Theà la carte operation sourced all its ingredients from local suppliers,but most of these ingredients were produced outside the UK. Theaudit highlighted the potential benefits of alternative strategies –such as local sourcing, community-supported agriculture, buyingdirect and long-term contracts.

The staffing of the à la carte operation was the third area whererising oil prices could have a serious impact on the reputation andpopularity of the business: the head chef and commis chef livedoutside the town and couldn’t walk to work or use public transport.If rising fuel prices consumed an increasing proportion of theirsalaries, they could opt to find a job closer to home.

Patented synchronverter

As yet there is no cost-effective way of storingenergy from renewables, so it has to be used itas it is generated – but renewable energy sourcescan’t be connected directly to national grids.Some produce only direct current (DC), ratherthan the alternating current (AC) on whichtoday’s power systems are based. Some produceAC, but not at the constant frequency which gridsdemand. Engineers get round these problemsby converting all power inputs to a DC voltage,and using inverters to convert this AC with aconstant frequency.

The University of Liverpool has co-developed a mathematical modelof a synchronous generator which can be implemented in any invertercontrol software. A laboratory demonstrator built at the Universityprovided an initial proof of concept. This shows that the technology isgrid-friendly, ensuring the correct voltage is maintained. It can operatein grid-connected or island mode. It is cost-effective, since there is noneed to modify the inverter hardware. It is easily installed, requiring nomore than an adaptation of the inverter software’s control algorithms,and it is versatile: it can be used with any power source that needs aninverter to interface with the grid or the load, and there is no need forbetween-units communications to operate it in parallel.

The synchronverter could also be used to improve the performanceof static synchronous compensators (STATCOMs), or for anyisolated or distributed power supply which currently relies onrotary frequency converters. It would be particularly advantageousin uninterrupted power supplies (UPS). With the synchronverteralgorithms incorporated into the UPS, there would be no need forcommunication between units.

Further proof-of-concept studies are currently underway using asmall research turbine.


AdvancedManufacturing



Design/virtual designModelling/simulationExperimentationPrototyping/manufacturingDynamics and controlTechnology roadmapping

ManufacturingOperations and Approaches

Rapid manufacturingMicro-manufacturingHigh-value manufacturingSustainable manufacturingBio-manufacturing

ManufacturingTechnologies

Laser engineeringAdditive layer manufacturingMicrosystems fabricationTechnological plasmaSolid state electronicsUltra high energy mixing

Application Areas

AerospaceAutomotiveElectronicsFoodDefencePharmaceuticalsPaintsPersonal care products

Overview

1.0 manufacturingOperations andApproaches

1.1 Virtual design andmanufacturing

1.2 Product design andprototyping

1.3 Microsystems design1.4 Rapid manufacturing1.5 Lean and agile

manufacturing1.6 High value

manufacturing1.7 Sustainable

manufacturing

2.0 ManufacturingTechnologies

2.1 Laser engineering2.2 Freeform fabrication2.3 Microsystems fabrication2.4 Technological plasma2.5 Solid state electronics2.6 Catalysis2.7 Ultra high energy mixing2.8 Biological engineering2.9 Technology roadmapping

3.0 Other Capabilities3.1 Dynamics and control3.2 Structural mechanics3.3 Aerospace engineering

KeyCapabilitiesTo remain competitive, manufacturers needto innovate continually. In the 21st centuryinnovation requires input from many differentdisciplines.

The University of Liverpool is able to draw on expertise in biotechnology,control, design, electronics, industrial engineering, mechanics, materials,physics, mathematics, operational research, artificial intelligence andmanagement – and an excellent range of facilities. This is relevant to allphases of the product or asset life-cycle across a range of industries.The University has a highly successful track record of harnessing itsexpertise and its equipment to help businesses meet the challengesentailed in innovation.




1.0 Manufacturing Operations andApproachesKeywords: Design; simulation; analysis; integration; visualisation; 3Dmodelling; dynamic modelling; thermal modelling; stress modelling;right first time; lead time compression; assembly; manufacturability;disassembly; mass customisation; high throughput; sustainability

OverviewThe modern concept of manufacturing stretches from product design,manufacturing planning and processing, to supply chain and end-of-lifeconsiderations. The University of Liverpool has the capabilities andexperience required to devise and develop innovative and cost-effectivemanufacturing solutions and can also offer manufacturing performanceanalysis, system optimisation and product design.

Expertise1.1 Virtual design andmanufacturingVirtual reality offers a powerful and human-centred approach to productdesign and is used by all world-class car manufacturing companies.

In conjunction with BAE Systems and Airbus, the University hasrecently embarked on a large scale design and manufacturing initiativein conjunction with Daresbury Laboratory. This new Virtual EngineeringCentre will apply state-of-the-art design, simulation, analysis, integrationand visualisation tools for concurrent product and process design.Supported by a cluster of super-computers, this resource is secondto none in the UK. By facilitating ‘right first time’ it can ensure a stepimprovement in product lead time compression.

1.2 Product design and prototypingThe University has first-class facilities to support product design, modelling,analysis and prototyping, and can demonstrate extensive experience ofexploiting innovative techniques to support new product development.

These facilities include two complete suites of software: CATIA and Pro-E.CATIA is a leading product design and innovation tool which is used bythousands of companies in a wide range of industries, while Pro-E supports3D modelling, kinematic and virtual reality applications. In addition, Abacusis available for thermal, dynamic and stress modelling. At the componentlevel, DFMA software provides detailed assessment on assembly andmanufacturability, while DFE provides a similar assessment of disassembly,which is essential for recycling. For plastic parts, Mouldflow is an effectivetool to identify defects caused by uneven flows.

Rapid prototyping is fully supported by 3D printing, Helisys systems andMCP vacuum casting equipment.

1.3 Microsystems designThe University has state-of-the-art femtosecond laser and Wyco surfacemeasurement systems which make it possible to customise an entire newspectrum of nano and micro surface properties.

Completed microsystems design projects include the application ofCoventor, a powerful software package, to the modelling and analysisfor an innovative wireless implantable pressure sensor. Current projectsinclude the design and performance evaluation of a novel micro-fluidicsystem, as well as the design and modelling of a micro ultrasonic systembased on axiomatic design principles.

1.4 Rapid manufacturingHigh throughput manufacturing is a key factor for competitive performanceand the University has expertise in a range of rapid manufacturing methods.These include high-speed machining, which can impact directly on shopfloor productivity, if applied correctly, and additive layer manufacturingprocesses, including 3D printing, Envision systems and laser scanningequipment for product digitization. In addition, the University itself hasdevised and developed two new rapid manufacturing methods, SelectiveLaser Melting (SLM) and Spiral Growth Manufacturing (SGM) (see 2.2 forfurther information).

1.5 Lean and agile manufacturingIn order to survive in a highly turbulent business environment, manufacturershave to be efficient and responsive to customer needs, while maintaininga degree of resilience to change. This requires them to strike a balancebetween becoming leaner – cutting waste and reducing operational costs –and becoming agile – by being flexible and ready to deal with change.The University of Liverpool works closely with companies in developingnew ideas in this area.

It has expertise in the application of traditional approaches to theimplementation of lean manufacturing, for example, waste reduction,Six Sigma, visual management and mass customisation, but it specialisesin helping companies become more agile.

The University’s Agility and Supply Chain Management Centre hasdeveloped a tried and tested, staged approach. The first step makescompanies less vulnerable to dynamic changes in their businessenvironment by identifying and addressing weaknesses in key systemsand operations. The second makes companies more responsive to marketneeds by integrating improved business processes and operations. In thethird stage, companies are helped to think proactively and strategically toseek new opportunities for growth. In order to become agile, a companyneeds to become ready. To become ready, it has to anticipate how futuremarket trends could impact on its business.


ManufacturingOperationsandApproaches //Manufacturing Technologies 057

The services offered by the Agility and Supply Chain ManagementCentre encompass:

Training and implementation of lean techniquesAgility diagnostics and implementation toolsSimulation and modelling tools for optimising of manufacturingsystemsStrategic agility development and implementation.

1.6 High-value manufacturingMoving up the value chain is imperative for manufacturers which competewith companies from countries with a low cost base. Formulating a high-value manufacturing strategy requires a holistic approach which draws onthe latest concepts and deploys innovative methods.

Following extensive research into manufacturing performance evaluation,the University of Liverpool has devised a user-friendly framework. It alsohas a library of case studies which illustrate the pros and cons of differentapproaches to moving towards high-value manufacturing.

1.7 Sustainable manufacturingGovernment directives aimed at minimising energy use, reducing wasteand diminishing the UK’s carbon footprint are increasingly demanding.As a result, businesses need to maintain a balanced ‘triple bottom line’,taking account of environmental, economic and social performance.

The University’s research in sustainable manufacturing has focused ondesign for sustainable development, substitution of processes and processre-design. This has enabled it to uncover the intrinsic weaknesses of manyeco-design tools and provided a firm basis for designing better methodswhich are acceptable to product designers. Since all relevant issues areconsidered at the earliest possible design stage, there is no longer anyneed for a piecemeal approach.

2.0 Manufacturing TechnologiesManufacturers subject a wide range of materials to a wide variety ofprocesses – for instance, casting, moulding, forming, machining andjoining. Advanced manufacturing involves the identification and effectivedeployment of contemporary technologies which can add value andimprove performance.

The University of Liverpool is equipped with the facilities required to supporta number of contemporary manufacturing technologies, and expertiseacquired in the course of fundamental, strategic and applied research –much of which was undertaken in collaboration with industry.

2.1 Laser engineering

Keywords: Deposition; forming; structuring; surface treatment; drilling;cutting; welding; micromachining

OverviewLasers are used to join, cut, form and surface-texture engineeringcomponents, to measure, analyse and diagnose, and to build multimaterialstructures with novel properties and uses. Laser-engineered componentsare used in the automobile, aerospace, biomedical and generalengineering sectors, and laser processes are widely used in medicine andart conservation. Laser systems are also used to monitor atmosphericpollution and undertake in-situ elemental analysis.

New laser types with new capabilities – for instance ultra short pulse lengthor high beam quality – are being introduced all the time, creating newapplications and providing new processes to power the innovation that isso essential in a highly competitive, globalised world market.

Facilities and expertiseThe University of Liverpool’s facilities and expertise, combined with thoseof its dedicated Lairdside Laser Engineering Centre, constitute aninternationally significant resource. This includes:

High power carbon dioxide laser systems for cutting, welding,surface treatment, laser forming and direct laser deposition frompowder of prototype and functional metallic componentsNd:YAG and low power carbon dioxide laser systems for lasercleaning, laser marking, laser peen forming, laser direct write ofmicro and nano based inksPicosecond laser systems for micromachining, plasmonic surfacestructuring, laser cleaning.



Femtosecond laser system for internal structuring of glasses anddielectrics, precision drilling and micromachining, including novelspatial light modulator technology for multiscale parallel processingOptical laser tweezer facility for biomedical and microengineeringapplicationsAtomic force microscopy and white light interferometryAn established one year Masters programme; EngineeringApplications of Lasers MSc (Eng).

ApplicationsThe University’s capabilities have attracted extensive interest from industry.Completed projects include an investigation, undertaken in collaborationwith BAE Systems and Rolls Royce, of the potential for using laserbending to create on-board microactuators for the alignment ofmicroelectronic components.

In addition, the North West Laser Engineering Consortium (NWLEC),a joint initiative of the universities of Liverpool and Manchester, focuseson the development of novel, laser-based applications of microtechnology.NWLEC’s KE-LAS programme is specifically designed to assist companiesacross the North West of England through knowledge transfer and exchange.

2.2 Freeform fabrication

Keywords: Additive layer manufacturing; selective laser melting;spiral growth manufacture; selective laser sintering

OverviewFreeform fabrication denotes manufacturing processes which translate3D CAD data directly into 3D parts/entities by building up and fusing thechosen material layer by layer until the required geometry is attained.This can be achieved for a wide range of metals and plastics by meansof stereolithography, selective laser sintering, 3D printing and a numberof other processes.

These processes allow complex geometries to be created; they producelittle waste and they are relatively energy-efficient. Since no special toolingis required, 3D parts can be built in days or hours, enabling products to bebrought to market faster than traditional processes like forging and casting.Freeform fabrication is used to produce components for the aerospaceindustry and products for the dental and medical sectors.

ExpertiseThe University has extensive experience of Selective Laser Sintering (SLS),which fuses small particles of metal, ceramic, glass or plastic to create a3D object. SLS offers a means of making complex geometries directlyfrom digital CAD data. Increasingly, SLS is being exploited in short-runmanufacturing to produce components for end-use. The University hasdevised and developed two new rapid manufacturing methods withstrong industrial support from BAE Systems and EADS, and MCPSystems respectively.

Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is a solid freeform fabrication processthat can be used to manufacture complex lattice structures which aren’tachievable using conventional manufacturing techniques. This has enableda series of innovative developments – for instance, the production of a newmicro heat exchanger whose performance is 20% better than that achievedby existing technologies. Complex lattice structures manufactured in thisway are already being earmarked for use in the aviation and automotivesectors as well as in environmental processing.

Spiral Growth Manufacturing (SGM) sidesteps the conventional stop-start,phase-change approach of conventional rapid manufacturing systems,providing a system which can work continuously. This method has hugepotential in the health care sector. One example is the mass-productionof complex pills in a single, continuous, high-output process which canalso accommodate mass customisation.


The University of Liverpool has aninternational reputation for its workonmicrosystem component technologies.It has developedmicromachiningand fabrication processes which willhave a global impact on business formany years to come.

Manufacturing Technologies 059

See also: Materials.

2.3 Microsystems fabrication

Keywords: Microscale components/devices; micro-reactors;micro-hierarchical structures; high-speed machining

OverviewMicroscale control and measurement devices have become a factof modern life. These ‘microsystems’ manage the performance of ourvehicles, machinery and plant, they protect our health and ourenvironment, and they control a myriad of goods such as washingmachines and DVD players.

ExpertiseThe University of Liverpool has an international reputation for its work onmicrosystem component technologies. It has developed micromachiningand fabrication processes which will have a global impact on businessfor many years to come.

The extension of high speed machining to micromachining, usingmicro-cutters with 0.2 mm diameter, has opened up new opportunitiesfor 3D micro-components, for instance, while the application of SelectiveLaser Sintering (SLS) for the free-form fabrication of micro-reactors andmicro-hierarchical structures has led to major improvements.

ApplicationsThe University has harnessed these processes to develop microscaledevices covering a spectrum of applications – from biological and chemicalanalysis through to thermal management. These include nano-scaledfunctional materials, sensors, actuators, medical devices and implants –and the smallest quadrupole mass spectrometer ever reported, which iscurrently being developed as a state-of-the-art medical diagnostic tool.

2.4 Technological plasma

Keywords: Plasma diagnostic/measurement tools; plasma dischargemodelling/simulation; plasma surface interaction modelling; plasmaprocessing system design; sputtering plasmas; pulsed RF plasmas;dusty RF plasmas

OverviewElectrical plasma is known as the ‘fourth state of matter’ and its useas a materials processing tool underpins many multi-billion dollarindustries. Microelectronics, telecommunications, aerospace, automotive,environmental control, packaging and textiles all make use of electricalplasma competencies.

The development of industrial plasmas has been product-led – drivenby market demand – and has been largely empirical in nature. As a result,scientists and engineers are still striving to understand the fundamentalphysical and chemical mechanisms involved in plasma discharges sothat their properties can be tailored for specific technological applications.

ExpertiseThe University of Liverpool is at the forefront of this activity in the UK,specialising in experimental and modelling studies of plasma dischargesof relevance to industry. Through laboratory-based research and in-fieldmeasurement, it is gaining a better understanding of industrial processingenvironments for end users and plasma analytical tool suppliers.

The main thrusts of its research have been the study of reactive andnonreactive sputtering (PVD) plasmas for thin film deposition, pulsed RFplasmas for treatment and deposition of polymeric films for biocompatibilityand cell growth, atmospheric pressure micro-plasma jets for materialsmodification, and the study of dusty RF plasmas. Much of the workconcentrates on understanding fundamental plasma-surface interactions,including sheath physics and dynamics.

Areas of research currently being developed include:

Plasma treatment and doping of carbon nanostructured materialsHigh-pressure micro-discharges for biomaterials applications andgraded chemical functionality of polymeric materialsAtmospheric pressure plasmas (DBD) for modification of 3D materials.



The University of Liverpool is involved inthe development of advanced Thin FilmTransistors (TFT) and photovoltaic structuresfor high performance at low cost, as well asthe development of high performance siliconstructures and novel circuits for RF,micropower and 3G neural networkapplications.

FacilitiesThe University has developed a wide variety of plasma diagnostics toolsand associated electronics in-house, as well as computer models andplasma simulations to complement the experiments.

For plasma measurement, advanced plasma diagnostic and measurementtools (invasive electrical probes and non-invasive optical emissiontechniques) include:

Langmuir and associated electrical probesEnergy-resolved mass spectrometry (high mass resolution)Magnetic probesCurrent and voltage probesIon and electron analysersOptical emission spectroscopy and Abel inversion reconstructionLaser probe diagnostics and laser photo-detachment techniques2D ‘fast’ plasma optical imaging3D laser tomography and velocimetry for particle diagnostics.

Plasma discharge experimental facilities encompass a range of physicaland chemical vapour deposition rigs and process parameter controlequipment, including:

Complex – dusty plasma environmentsPulsed magnetron deposition chambers for reaction sputtering ofthin films and coatingsOptically-based reactive deposition control equipmentA range of discharge delivery power supplies, DC, pulsed DC(mid frequency) and RFPlasma polymerisation and plasma polymer treatment rigs(typically low pressure organic monomers)Water arc equipment for carbon nano-structured material synthesisElectron and ion beam sources.

ApplicationsThe University has considerable expertise in fundamental plasmaphysics and plasma chemistry, the design of plasma processingsystems, the development of plasma diagnostic tools, and the modellingof discharges and plasma surface interactions.

This can be harnessed for practical applications, such as the large-areapulsed deposition system developed in collaboration with PilkingtonTechnology.

2.5 Solid state electronics

Keywords: Polymers; silicon; micro-electro-mechanical systems(MEMS); radio-frequency identification (RFID); metal oxidesemiconductor field-effect transistors (vertical MOSFETs);Thin film transistors (TFTs); 3G neural networks; micropower SOI;high k dielectrics; characterisation; metrology; modelling

OverviewThe University of Liverpool is involved in the development ofadvanced Thin Film Transistors (TFT) and photovoltaic structuresfor high performance at low cost, as well as the development of highperformance silicon structures and novel circuits for RF, micropowerand 3G neural network applications.

The emphasis in both areas is on devices and sub-circuits with a strongmaterials underpinning. The University produces novel devices in bothpolymers and silicon, particularly vertical metal oxide semi-conductorfield effect transistors (MOSFETs), but also has lengthy experience ofdevice work in bipolar.

Activities span device design, realisation, trouble-shooting of anomaliesand related modelling both theoretically and using numerical tools.The University has a history of engaging with industry, particularly inrelation to trouble-shooting of anomalies, but also in joint programmesrelating to reliability and other issues. More recently, the work is directedat new device physics models that are suitable for circuit simulation.

ExpertiseThe University works on materials characterisation, both electrical andoptical, and also produces novel devices through full design cycle,modelling and theory.

It has longstanding expertise in semiconductor characterisation anddevice design, theory and modelling using bespoke commercial tools.The emphasis is on engineering, with materials work underpinningdevices, and associated modelling directed at device optimisationand the realisation of compact models for circuits work.




Current activities are focused on:

Vertical MOSFETs for ‘cheap’ radio frequency applicationsOrganic TFTs and ultra low cost radio frequency identification(RFID) and other circuitsModelling of organic diodes and fabricationCircuits for 3G neural networks and micro-power SOIHi-k dielectricsMEMSMetrology for nanoscale materials – dielectric and semiconductor.

The University’s expertise also spans the use and design of devices forutilisation in silicon VLSI and 3rd generation hardware neural networks.Emphasis in the VLSI area is on the use of newer materials and techniquesin advanced technologies for improving the performance of existing logicfamilies, and also in novel device and circuit cell architectures for neuralcomputing. Higher performance at lower power consumption for bipolartransistors and CMOS is a key factor for electronic circuits for mobilephones and laptops whereas a trade-off between parallelism and speedis important for neural network hardware.

The University has a lengthy track record of successful research into thetest and reliability of gate dielectrics for silicon based electronics. There isconsiderable activity around high-permittivity dielectrics for end-of-roadmapapplication and the University has excellent atomic layer deposition (ALD)facilities. New work is aimed at producing very high precision passivecomponents, particularly capacitors for medical, RF and energy harvestingapplications.

The University is also working on micropower analogue circuits for medicaland other uses. Further circuit work is associated with the neuron devicesactivity whereby standard cell building blocks are under construction forpotential use in large, brain-inspired electronic systems.

FacilitiesThe University offers basic test sample and device fabrication facilitiestogether with an extensive suite of electrical and optical characterisationequipment. These facilitate evaluation of organic and inorganicsemiconductors and composites of the former with nanotubes.

Facilities for semiconductor characterisation include:

Current-voltage down to low-currents (sub pA)Multi-frequency capacitance-voltageCapacitance-timeCharge pumpingPhoto IVState-of-the-art spectroellipsometer allows materialcharacterisation from deep UV to far JR.

The electrical test equipment can be configured for automated stressmeasurements on devices and metal oxide semi-conductor(MOS) capacitors.

A comprehensive range of electrical and physical characterisation toolsare available:

Multi-frequency capacitance-voltageLow current-voltage including temperature dependenceSpectroellipsometryX-ray spectroscopy (XPS)Medium energy ion spectroscopy (MEIS)X-ray diffraction (XRD)High-resolution transmission electron spectroscopy (XTEM).

Fabrication facilitiesClean room facilities allow the production of prototype field effect transistor(FET) devices in polymers and two-terminal test structures in silicon. Thereare also facilities for the fabrication of organic TFT devices, diodes andcapacitors which can be integrated with antennas on to thin, flexible,transparent substrates.



2.6 Catalysis

Keywords: Design; exploration; mechanism; kinetics; development;homogeneous catalysis; heterogeneous catalysis; hydrogenation;oxidation; acid catalysis; carbonylation; C-C bond formation;asymmetric catalysis; green chemistry; renewable starter materials

OverviewBy facilitating chemical reactions without themselves being consumed,catalysts are the key to advanced chemical, pharmaceutical andagrochemical manufacturing and to energy production and conversion, aswell as one of the most important tools in enabling sustainable development.

The University of Liverpool has expertise in designing and developinginnovative catalysts and catalytic processes which can address problemscurrently faced by the chemical and pharmaceutical industries – and someof the grand challenges confronting society over the short, medium and longterm. Its strength lies in homogeneous catalysis but it also has expertise inheterogeneous catalysis, enzymatic catalysis and catalytic mechanisms.

ExpertiseHomogeneous catalysisThe University is particularly experienced in, and equipped for, hydrogenation,oxidation, acid catalysis, C-C bond formation, carbonylation, asymmetriccatalysis, and tools for enabling green chemistry. It is actively searchingfor chemical manufacturing solutions which could start from renewableresources such as biomass, water, syngas and carbon dioxide, and fromcheaper, nontoxic catalysts such as iron.

Such catalysts are made by design underpinned by atomic and molecularlevel understanding. They can take the form of discrete molecules,offering precise control over reaction pathways. They can be integratedwith designer solid materials which are available at the University, creatingimmobilised catalysts for ease of handling. They may also take the formof highly dispersed nanoparticles when combined with materials of highporosity, affording stable catalysts for harsh conditions.

A significant feature of the University’s research is the integration of design,exploration and development in catalysis with mechanistic studies, thelatter informing understanding and directions of the former. In particular,the University specialises in in-situ high pressure NMR measurements,surface chemistry, catalytic kinetics and high level computer modelling.

The University has developed a thorough understanding of the mechanismand kinetics of the reaction of organometallic catalysts. This is relevant tothe operation of many existing commercial processes and can also supportthe development of new, patentable processes: the results of mechanisticinvestigations carried out at the University have been used successfullyin patent litigation to establish a new, patentable process which nowdominates world manufacture of a particular pharmaceutical, for instance.

Heterogeneous catalysisThe University’s research is focused on the development of new,highly efficient solid catalysts based on polyoxometalates, mixed oxides,layered hydroxides and other new functionalised materials for conversionof renewable feedstock and biomass-derived platform molecules intovalue-added chemicals and fuels.

Priority is given to multifunctional catalysts which contain two or morecatalytic functions – acid, base, metal, etc – and can carry out multistepreactions in one pot – one catalyst bed – without separating intermediateproducts with high atom and energy efficiency.

FacilitiesThe University is an established centre of excellence in high pressureNMR (HPNMR) and IR methodologies. It has developed high pressureNMR gas flow cells and bubble column NMR reactors in which reactivegas is continuously passed through the reaction solution, eliminating thegas diffusion problems intrinsic to sapphire tube studies. This extendsconsiderably the capabilities of HPNMR by allowing, for the first time forgas/liquid systems, the simultaneous acquisition of meaningful kineticdata and the structural characterisation and speciation of compoundspresent in solution by NMR.

The University is particularly experiencedin, and equipped for, hydrogenation, oxidation,acid catalysis, C-C bond formation, carbonylation,asymmetric catalysis, and tools for enabling greenchemistry. It is actively searching for chemicalmanufacturing solutions which could start fromrenewable resources such as biomass, water,syngas and carbon dioxide, and from cheaper,nontoxic catalysts such as iron.


2.7 Ultra high energy mixing

Keywords: Nanotechnology; nanomaterials; distributive mixing;dispersive mixing

OverviewMixing is at the heart of many manufacturing processes, producingemulsions and dispersions which form the basis of numerous medical,personal care and food products. The microstructure of such mixescan affect product performance and this is influenced by the mixingtechnology deployed.

There is a wide range of mixing technologies, for instance fluid divisionmixing, high stress mixing and controlled deformation dynamic mixing,but they all have their limitations. In a notional space with an X axisdenoting distributive mixing and a Y axis denoting dispersive mixing,the capabilities of existing mixing technologies do not stretch far alongeither axis.

This could limit our ability to realise the potential of nanomaterials, but,working in collaboration with Unilever and Maelstrom, the University ofLiverpool has addressed this problem by developing a unique, highpressure Ultra Mixing and Processing Facility (UMPF).

Facilities and capabilitiesThe Ultra Mixing and Processing Facility can manufacture up to 25 litres ofemulsion in a single cycle, accommodating inputs from between one andfive process streams concurrently in batch or semi-continuous modes. Itcan cope with flammable materials, temperature regimes between 10°Cand 250°C; pressure up to 5,000 bar, and flow rates ranging from millilitresto litres per minute for run-times ranging from six seconds to five minutes.It also plans to offer enhanced particulate dispersion from Spring 2010.

Businesses use the facility to explore the potential of ultra high energymixing to deliver new products which benefit from process innovation aswell as advances in formulation. After ascertaining the nature of the rawmaterials and the business’s goals for a particular emulsion/dispersion,UMPF factors in its experience of working with similar materials anddesigns a series of experiments. Subject to contract, UMPF carries outthe experiments and delivers samples of the mixed formulation and dataresulting from its analysis of these samples.

2.8 Biological engineering

Keywords: Biomolecules; cells; interactions; surfaces; micro/nanoconfined environments; micro/nano devices; bio-micro-electromechanical systems (bioMEMS); hybrids; semiconductorfabrication technology

OverviewIt is more than 60 years since engineers realised that biology might have thepotential to suggest novel engineering solutions. This insight has already ledto ‘biomimetics’ as diverse as cat’s eyes reflectors and VELCRO®. Now thatscientists can study how biological organisms work at the molecular level, itis inspiring biological engineering on micro and nanoscales.

Biological engineering borrows ideas, materials, structures and systemsfrom biology with a view to solving engineering problems. These might be‘soft’ problems, such as a need for more effective computing algorithmsfor particular applications. They might be ‘hard’, device-related problemswhich may be solved by taking biological elements with the functionalityrequired and incorporating them into hybrid devices, or creatingbiomimetics which provide the same functionality.

Biological engineering is becoming a knowledge framework for entire newindustries. For instance, the biochips industry benefits from collaborationsbetween researchers with biomedical and agricultural backgrounds; whocover applications and sample preparation; specialists in biochemistry,photolithography, bio-micro-electromechanical systems (bioMEMS) androbotics, who cover fabrication; specialists in optoelectronics, physicsand chemistry, who cover signal readout; and computer scientists,mathematicians and bio-informatics scientists who are responsiblefor data processing and management.

There is a wide range of mixing technologies,for instance fluid divisionmixing, high stressmixing and controlled deformation dynamicmixing, but they all have their limitations.




ExpertiseThe University of Liverpool studies natural micro/nano-systems as a sourceof inspiration for hybrid micro and nano biodevices which may be static ordynamic. Examples include biosensors, genomics/proteomics micro- andnano-arrays, lab-on-a-chip devices and implantable medical devices – all ofwhich use and depend on the optimum interaction of biological entities withmicro/nanofabricated structures.

The University aims to target the market place emerging between biologyand engineering, with an emphasis on nanotechnology aspects. A keyresearch theme is the behaviour of biomolecules and cells in micro-/nano-confined environments – in particular in or on micro/nano structuresfabricated using semiconductor manufacturing technology.

The University’s expertise encompasses the modelling, simulation,design, fabrication and operation of micro/nano biodevices. Its researchhas focused particularly on the interaction of biomolecules (proteins andDNA) and cells (neuronal cells, bacteria, fungi) with flat, patterned orstructured surfaces; on the interaction of biological objects with electricfields; and on dynamic devices based on protein molecular motors,advanced microlithography technology and scanning probe microscopy.

Areas presently developed include:

Single molecule, extremely rapid bio-detection devicesNovel computational devices based on biological algorithmsQuantification of molecular surface properties for the design ofbio-mimetic nano-structured surfaces.

FacilitiesNano-imaging, nano-fabrication and nano-manipulation facilities, including:

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) accommodating all AFM imagingmodes, eg. contact, tapping, lateral and vertical force microscopy,electric and magnetic mapping, liquid imagingNanolithography and manipulation capabilities for molecular writingand nano-particle manipulation – including the ability to calculatediffusion constants, programme line lengths and dot dimensions.

Microfabrication facilities for bio-microdevices, including:

Spin coating for a wide range of viscosities and film thicknessesLaser micro-ablation for microfabrication using a variety of materials,eg. polymers, thin metallic filmsMicrolithography aligner for classical micropatterning.

Micromanipulation of biological objects:

Laser tweezers and laser scissors.

2.9 Technology roadmappingKeywords: Advanced manufacturing; micro/nanomanufacturing

New technologies, whether incremental or disruptive, are emergingcontinuously. Technology roadmapping offers manufacturers a meansof ensuring that they are up to speed with emerging developments andpotential implications of these developments.

The University is well versed in conducting customised technologyroadmapping exercises for industrial/research and technologyorganisations (RTOs). Its expertise extends from conventionalmanufacturing to advanced manufacturing as well as microand nanomanufacturing.


The University has a reputationfor innovative theoreticalresearch coupled withapplication to industrial-scaleengineering hardware.

OtherCapabilities 065

3.0 Other CapabilitiesThe University of Liverpool has many other capabilities of relevance toadvanced manufacturing. Some of these are particularly relevant to certainindustrial sectors – most notably automotive, aerospace and defence.

3.1 Dynamics and control

Keywords: Finite element modelling; non-linearity; variability; uncertainty;vibration; multi-physics problems

OverviewThe University has a reputation for innovative theoretical research coupledwith application to industrial-scale engineering hardware.

Expertise

Inverse problems, including finite element model updating andstructural modificationActive vibration control, especially pole/zero assignmentVariability and uncertainty, due to modelling inaccuracies andmanufacturing tolerancesMoving-load problems, such as bridge vibrations caused by the flowof traffic and high-frequency vibration and noise in disc brakesMulti-physics problems such as the atomising disc – a device forproducing metal powders by pouring molten metal onto a very highspeed rotating discNonlinearity due to joints and connections between structuresRobust performance nonlinear control of automotive engines andpowertrains.

Facilities

A 64-channel LMS modal test system, among the best in UKuniversities and industryA Linux-Solaris cluster running MSC-NASTRAN, the aerospace andautomotive industry standard finite element code, enabling researchon industrial-scale structuresA 120kW 1.2m diameter rolling-road vehicle dynamometer, a 120kWtransient engine dynamometer, a 75kW clutch dynamometer and anelectric low inertia (idle speed) engine dynamometerA disc-brake test rig instrumented for the measurement of discvibration as well as torque, speed and temperature measurements.

Sample applications

Rolls Royce – The ‘correction’ of aero-engine casing finite elementmodels. The casings, which are closely axisymmetric, have naturalfrequencies which appear in close pairs that need to be separated.

QinetiQ – Finite element model updating of a complete Lynx helicopterairframe. A new model updating method for large-scale structures basedon ‘clustering’ of parameters having a similar effect on the dynamicbehaviour was established, and the first 12 natural frequenciessignificantly improved.

Westland Helicopters – Predicting the dynamic behaviour of a Lynxtailcone when a large mass, equivalent to the tail-rotor gearbox and hub,was added to the baseline tailcone structure.

AWE-Aldermaston – Large surface-to-surface joints were modelled forthe unclassified MACE structure. Elements with equivalent mechanicalproperties at the joint interfaces were identified from vibration tests.

Ford and MIRA – Development of a method to define the statistics ofuncertainly in spot weld models and applied to spot-welded beam-likestructures.

TRW Automotive – Development of a moving-load methodology forthe analysis of squeal noise in disc brakes.




3.2 Structural mechanics

Keywords: Lightweight structures; pressurised shells; compositesandwich structures; cellular core materials; impact behaviour;metals; polymers; foams; composites

ExpertiseThe University has expertise in the performance of lightweight structuresand materials under extreme loading conditions.This encompasses awide range of materials including metals, foams and polymer composites,and it has particular strengths in pressurised shells, all aspects of buckling,and the use of advanced finite element techniques.

Its expertise extends to the structural impact behaviour of variouscomposite sandwich structures, enabling it to work on issues likecrashworthiness and the foreign object impact of composite fuselagestructures for civil aircraft. Its skills encompass the manufacture andtesting of components, and the analysis and optimisation of structures.

A major focus of study has been cellular core materials – for instance,the progressive collapse of polymeric and metallic foams, and the useof selective laser melting (SLM) to create bespoke cellular materials foroptimised structural performance.

FacilitiesThe University has a specialist Impact Research Centre, with facilitiesincluding:

Gas gunPowder gunsDrop hammersHyperbaric chamberCatapultsHopkinsons barsHigh rate servohydraulic test machinesPressure pulse rigs.

The PPR is a differential pressure device capable of applying a repeatableuniform dynamic pressure load of the form that simulates a vapour cloudexplosion (VCE) with a finite rise to peak pressure and finite decay toambient pressure.

ApplicationsThe Impact Research Centre has helped to address questions as diverseas energy absorption in aerospace composites and metal foams; the lowvelocity impact performance of glass reinforced plastic sandwich panels;and the dynamic response of optimised lattice structures manufacturedby means of selective laser melting (SLM).

Amajor focus of study hasbeen cellular corematerials –for instance, the progressivecollapse of polymeric andmetallic foams, and the useof selective laser melting (SLM)to create bespoke cellularmaterials for optimisedstructural performance.


OtherCapabilities 067

3.3 Aerospace engineering

Keywords: Flight simulation; handling qualities; aerodynamics;CF; vibration; impact; structures; aeroelasticity; materials; sensors;radar processing; infrared imaging; image processing; target tracking;missile guidance and control

OverviewThe University of Liverpool undertakes aerospace research in the areasof flight simulation, handling qualities and control, aerodynamics,aero-elasticity, structural dynamics, impact engineering and materials.The research involves a combination of numerical/analytic simulationand analysis (virtual engineering), backed up by extensive experimentaland computational facilities.

ExpertiseFlight science and technologyThe University has a track record in successfully tackling problemspreviously considered beyond the scope of academia. It can draw onworld-class researchers with expertise in flight science, aero-elasticity,structural materials and mechanics; and extensive research facilities –including full motion flight simulators, a 500 core computational fluiddynamics (CFD) cluster and structural dynamics, vibration and impactlaboratories.

Its high-end flight simulator is considered the most capable in academiaworldwide. It has been used to support international projects such as theEuropean civil tilt rotor, flapped rotor systems, safety cases for wake vortexupsets; and corporate lift systems. Current projects include the alleviationof operational problems at the aircraft/helicopter-ship dynamics interface,utilising piloted simulation and CFD.

The CFD framework runs an in-house code and has been used toinvestigate the non-linear aerodynamics encountered in both fixed wingand rotary wing operations, including rotor dynamic stall and stall flutter,vortical flow, transonic cavity flow and fin buffet. Unique coupled CFD-structural model methods have been devised for predicting transonicaeroelastic stability and limit cycles, for example, developing activestructures for drag and gust loads reduction, defining the uncertaintybounds of dynamic behaviour using probabilistic, stochastic and intervalmethods, aeroelastic tailoring for composite wing design, and flightflutter testing.

Avionic systemsElectronic systems associated with flight are known as ‘avionics’. Avionicsencompasses the internal sensors and control systems within aircraft –from airborne communication and navigation systems to ‘stealth’ aircraftdesign and flight control systems.

The University has expertise in most aspects of avionic systems – radarand radar processing, aircraft data buses and data links, airborne imagingsystems and target tracking. It has developed a range of simulation andprocessing tools that can be used for airborne radar and image processing– image stabilisation, target tracking, target recognition and ‘smart’ on-focalplane imaging systems.

It works closely with a number of large defence companies, with a varietyof SMEs and with the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Projects undertakeninclude airframe simulation studies for QinetiQ-led/MoD-funded projectsconcerned with guidance and control for future precision guided missiles.

Facilities

Two full motion flight simulators130 node CFD clusterAreas for pilot briefingsSubstantial computational supportCFD data visualisation.

“



Specialist Centres, Facilities and LaboratoriesFurther information on specialist centres, facilities and laboratories can befound in a dedicated section (see page 142). Those most relevant toAdvanced Manufacturing include:




Agility and Supply Chain Management CentreImpact Research CentreKnowledge Exploitation LaboratoryLairdside Laser Engineering CentreNorthwest Laser Engineering ConsortiumUltra Mixing and Processing FacilityVirtual Engineering Centre


069Specialist Centres // Case Studies

Case Studies

Attiger is a young company which was set up toexploit proprietary diamond coating technologyin new, high-volume applications. It was keen tobase its business in a location from which it couldeasily service the whole of Europe. Despite offersfrom other areas, it chose to locate in Wirralbecause of the advantages conferred by closeproximity to the Lairdside Laser EngineeringCentre. The Centre provides Attiger with officespace, access to lasers, expertise and businesssupport.

“It has only been with the support ofthe Lairdside Laser Engeering Centreand the staff at the Laser Group in theUniversity of Liverpool that we havebeen able to develop as we have. Welook forward to a long and mutuallybeneficial relationship.”Graham DownhillManaging Director, Attiger

The Agility and SupplyChain Management Centre

ICE is a marketing agency which started to buildinteractive kiosks for clients to use as part of theirmarketing communications strategies. The kiosksproved to be a winning formula, so ICE set up anew brand, AVI, to produce them. In 2004, ICEapproached the Agility and Supply ChainManagement Centre, hoping to draw on itsexpertise to enhance the company’smanufacturing and stock control processes.

Since then, ICE has benefited from a series ofcollaborations with the Centre, which helped itto increase its turnover by becoming more agile,prepare for successful ISO 9001 accreditation byenhancing quality management, and strengthenits customer relationship management system.

“We were impressed by the scopeof the Agility and Supply ChainManagement Centre’s expertiseand its ability to identify Mastersstudents needing to undertakereal-world projects. Today we knowfrom experience that the Universityhas resources which have genuinelyhelped us in specialist areas, therebysupporting company growth.”Steve SherlockNational Business Development Manager, ICE

Lairdside LaserEngineering Centre


Materials



Discovery/developmentCharacterisationFunctionalisationExperimentation/testingModelling/simulationDevice design/enhancementTheory

Materials

Metals/alloysPolymersCompositesHybridsFunctionals/multifunctionalsBiomaterials

Types

BulkSurfaces/coatingsPowdersFoamsEmulsions/dispersions

Scales

MacroMicroNano

Application Areas

Aerospace & defenceBiomaterialsConstructionElectronicsHigh-performanceengineeringHousehold productsIndustrial diamondsPharmaceuticalsSensorsSmart coatingsSpeciality chemicalsWaste disposal

Overview

1.0 Structural Materials1.1 Construction materials1.2 Other structural materials

2.0 Functional/MultifunctionalMaterials

2.1 Dielectric andferroelectric materials

2.2 Solid state electronicsmaterials

2.3 Surface functionalityand functionalisation

2.4 High throughputmaterials discovery

3.0 Biomaterials3.1 Bionanotechnology3.2 Biomaterials and tissue

engineering

KeyCapabilitiesMany of the technological advances thathave transformed our world over the last 20years have been founded on developments inmaterials science and engineering. Materialsare evolving faster today than at any time inhistory, enabling engineers to improve theperformance of existing products and todevelop innovative technologies that willenhance every aspect of our lives.

The University of Liverpool is at the forefront of materials science andengineering, which investigates the relationship between the structureof materials at atomic or molecular scales and their macroscopicproperties.It includes elements of applied physics and chemistry, aswell as chemical, mechanical, civil and electrical engineering. Its researchalso aims to understand materials so that new materials with the desiredproperties can be created. These can be harnessed to create novelapplications in areas such as healthcare, electronics, energy storage,and biotechnology. It is also an important part of forensic engineeringand failure analysis.



Materials

1.0 Structural Materials1.1 Construction materials

Keywords: Paving flags; pre-cast concrete blocks; ultra-highperformance glass concrete (RGPC); recycled demolition aggregates;cementless concrete; fast-track construction; reinforcing steel corrosion

OverviewThe University of Liverpool carries out extensive research into concretetechnology – focusing particularly on the development, characterisationand testing of innovative new materials and the evaluation of in situconcrete.

Materials discovery/developmentReactive glass powder concrete (RGPC) for paving flagsSince the mid 1990s, the UK has suffered from a growing surplus ofgreen glass. This derives from an imbalance between the large quantity ofgreen glass recovered for recycling, largely from bottles of imported of beerand wine, and the low demand for green glass containers in the UK itself.This has led to a search for other uses for this surplus glass – for instance,using glass cullet to replace the quartz sand used to make ultra highperformance concrete.

The University of Liverpool has developed a new material called ReactiveGlass Powder Concrete (RGPC), which can be used to manufactureconventional concrete products such as pavement flags. RGPC offers realbenefits over traditional products, producing a concrete flag which resistsaccidental damage and cracking, a problem which is prevalent with otherpaving flags. These new flags also weigh less, addressing health andsafety concerns arising from handling injuries during placement, andrequire minimal pavement maintenance or repair during use.

RGPC also offers the potential to radically change the local economyof glass recycling since concrete paving flag manufacturers can absorbsignificant amounts of waste glass: a single factory fabricating conventionalconcrete flags requires 300 to 400 tonnes of aggregate every 12 hours andis likely to operate 22 hours per day.

This ultra-high performance glass concrete is being developed with supportfrom the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), the NorthwestOpportunities Programme and industry.

Precast concrete products made with recycleddemolition aggregatesMany structural walls are built using common pre-cast concrete blocksrather than reinforced concrete – thereby avoiding the danger of saltsrusting the steel reinforcement and degrading the concrete. Transportingpre-cast blocks is extremely expensive, so manufacturers have to positionthemselves close to their market or their raw materials, which limits thegeographic scope of their business.

Finding a way to break this link could reduce costs and increasecompetition in the industry. It could also deliver environmental benefitsif natural aggregates in concretes could be replaced by recycled materials.

Construction and demolition waste has a relatively uncontrolledcomposition. Masonry buildings contain plaster, tile and glass as wellas metal, wood and paper, while concrete buildings contain a smallproportion of masonry. Nonetheless, the University has shown thatsignificant proportions of both coarse and fine natural aggregateparticles can be replaced by particles derived from crushed concrete anddemolition waste (C&DW) without a detrimental affect on the compressivestrength of the resulting material. It has also compared the availabilityand transportation costs of quarried and C&DW-derived aggregates.

The research was undertaken in collaboration with a demolition company,a demolition waste crushing company, two pre-cast concrete blockmanufacturers and a concrete producer. The results of lab-based researchwere promising, and factory trials have since revealed no practicalproblems with the use of recycled aggregates.

Cementless/geopolymer concrete productsCement manufacture has undesirable environmental impacts rangingfrom scarring of the landscape to the production of greenhouse gases.Cementless concrete products made with waste materials would beadvantageous, but are not currently available.

Previous research on cementless concrete used commercially availablealkali solutions or powders and ground granulated blast furnace slag(GGBS) – but neither is commercially viable on grounds of cost. In viewof this, the University has investigated the potential for using waste alkalisolutions which cost money to dispose of, concentrating on waste ashsources rather than GGBS.

The University of Liverpool carries outextensive research into concrete technology –focusing particularly on the development,characterisation and testing of innovativenewmaterials and the evaluation ofin situ concrete.


In order to facilitate their use in high-volume production, the Universityhas focused on the reactions between siliceous ashes and waste alkalis.It has identified the most appropriate blending to deliver the requiredchemical and mineral composition, whilst enabling the ashes and alkalisto react and form a strong matrix which is equivalent to (if not better than)that achieved with the use of cement. Early results are promising. Researchis now required to advance this promising technology to a point where itcan be exploited by UK companies in full scale factory production.

FacilitiesThe University is exceptionally well-equipped for characterisation studieswith two analytical scanning electron microscopes (SEM) and a newstate-of-the-art X-ray diffractometer (XRD), as well as other relevant facilitiessuch as infra-red spectroscopy and cathode luminescence microscopy.

It has expertise in a range of non-destructive testing techniques and is alsowell equipped for destructive testing thanks to its Impact Research Centre,which was set up to address problems involving the large dynamic loadingresponse and failure of materials, and structures that occur throughout thefield of engineering.

Materials characterisation/testingCementless/Geopolymer Concrete ProductsThe University has started to characterise the material properties of thestarting materials and the different concretes produced by using asheswith different chemical and mineral compositions.

Its chemical analytical facility is facilitating the correct identification ofminerals developed in the geopolymer cement. This type of analysis couldprovide key evidence for understanding the microstructure which developsin cementless ‘geopolymer’ materials as a result of using ashes fromdifferent sources. It could also inform the blending of different materialsto produce geopolymer concretes with the desired engineering properties.

Fast track constructionThe University’s studies of early-age concrete maturity usingtemperature probes and temperature-matched cubes, together withstrength assessment using the Lok test, have provided valuable informationon how quickly formwork can be removed to speed up construction.

Corrosion of reinforcing steelThis is one of the biggest serviceability problems for reinforced concretestructures. Early warning of corrosion, before visible cracking or spallingis apparent, makes it possible to remedy this much more cost-effectivelythan leaving the problem to a later stage.

The University of Liverpool has assessed a range of electrochemicalmethods for evaluating corrosion.

Ground penetrating radarGPR is a popular non-destructive investigative technique for detectingitems such as reinforcing bars, pre-stressing tendons, voids and defectsbeneath the surface of the concrete. The University has assessed thecapabilities of commercially available equipment and measured the radarproperties of concrete for a wide range of constituents and conditions,producing guidelines for quantitative interpretation of results.

StructuralMaterials 073


Materials

1.2 Other structural materials

Keywords: Metallic shells; composite shells; strength; structural integrity;impact; blast; buckling; energy-absorption; fracture mechanics;computational mechanics; structural optimisation

OverviewThe University has carried out extensive research on lightweight materialsand structures – independently and in collaboration with industry. It hasa track record of developing and characterising novel materials andstructures for use in high-performance engineering applications.

Materials development and characterisationPorous metalsThe University has developed and patented a novel technique formanufacturing a wide range of porous metals. The lost carbonate sinteringmethod produces porous metals with open pores as fine as 100 microns.These new materials have exceptional mechanical, electrical, thermal,acoustic or biomedical properties.

Lattice structuresThe University’s selective laser melting facility has been used tomanufacture a range of high performance lattice structures. Thesestructures are capable of absorbing significant energy when subjectedto impact loads. Their behaviour is now being modelled using finiteelement methods.

Hybrid materialsThe University has developed a range of new thermoplastic-matrixfibre-metal laminates (FML) that can be manufactured in significantlyshorter timescales than conventional FMLs. These hybrid structures offeran excellent resistance to continuous fatigue cycling as well as localisedimpact and blast loads.

Composite materialsThe University is developing and characterising a range of new materials,including fully recyclable composite materials and environmentally-friendlycomposites based on natural fibres such as hemp, sisal and flax.

Materials testingBlast resistance of safety critical componentsA new test facility has facilitated important insights into the explosionresistance of safety critical components and, more importantly, structuralsystems – for example, FMLs and laser-welded aircraft panels.

The University’s research has led to novel (small-scale) approaches towhat has, to date, been considered a large-scale exercise only. In asignificant advance, it has demonstrated the practicability of less thanfull-scale experimentation.

Foreign object and blast impact expertiseThe University has expertise in impact testing a wide variety of structuresand has studied a number of foreign object impact scenarios, includingforeign objects impacting on tyre rubber on aircraft. Such studies aresupported by numerical simulation of projectiles during impact usingLS-DYNA.

Another area of expertise is in blast loading where a number of large airblast rigs are used to test panels up to one metre square, made in metallicand polymer composite materials. This experimental work is supportedwith numerical simulation (AUTODYN).

Fracture properties of composite materialsThese are currently being investigated under extreme loading conditions,such as those associated with high velocity impact loading and blast.


The University’s research hasfocused on the development ofprocesses to assemble atoms ormolecules systematically withatomic-scale specificity in orderto generate materials with adesired property or function.

StructuralMaterials //Functional/MultifunctionalMaterials 075

2.0 Functional/Multifunctional Materials2.1 Dielectric and ferroelectric materials

Keywords: Thin films; nanostructured materials; semiconductivity;magnetism; refractive index; piezoelectricity; molecular beam epitaxy;chemical vapour deposition; growth monitoring/characterisation;structure-function relationships

OverviewAdvanced functional materials are an integral part of modern technologies.They are exploited in a wide range of applications such as IT, medicalinstruments, and sensors and actuators for the aerospace and automotiveindustries.

Functional materials can take the form of single crystals, ceramics,composites, nanocrystals, amorphous solids, liquid crystals, polymersand thin films.

ExpertiseThe University of Liverpool has expertise in a variety of thin film andnanostructured materials for electronic, optical and magnetic applications.

It deploys a range of techniques including molecular beam epitaxy,chemical vapour deposition, and optical growth monitoring andcharacterisation. These techniques can be applied to the study ofepitaxial growth on semiconductors, on interfacial structures, andon structure-function relationships in nanostructured materials.

Materials discovery/developmentThe University’s research has focused on the development of processesto assemble atoms or molecules systematically with atomic-scale specificityin order to generate materials with a desired property or function. It hasworld-class facilities to support the development of materials with a‘functional’ property such as semiconductivity, magnetism, refractive indexor piezoelectricity.

Facilities

Royal Society – Wolfson class 1000 clean roomAixtron FE200L liquid injection chemical vapour deposition andatomic layer deposition reactorCambridge NanoTechnologies 100mm atomic layer depositionreactorPolaron CVT TFS 4550 and VG80H molecular beam epitaxyHitachi S-2460 scanning electron microscopeSurface Technology Systems cluster tool comprising RF RIEreactive ion etcher, plasma enhanced CVD modules; and PVDsputtering chamberVG HB 601 scanning transmission electron microscopeJEOL 2000FX transmission electron microscopeRigaku miniflex X-ray diffractometerHORIBA Jobin Yvon Ltd LabRAM Raman MicroscopeMillbrook desktop secondary ion mass spectrometerMCP Realizer selective laser melting equipment.

The class 1000 clean room contains an Aixtron 200FE metalorganic CVDreactor for the growth of nanostructured oxide thin films and a nitride-basedmolecular beam epitaxy system for nitride superlattice materials.

The clean room facility incorporates a class 100 UV photolithography unitand the equipment now provides a local facility for defining patternedstructures with a 5µm pitch using a Karl Zuss MJ21 double-sided maskaligner, a resist spin coater, and a hotplate oven for curing photoresists.

The clean-room also houses a range of analytical facilities including aJobin-Yvon LabRam Raman confocal microscope. The spectrophotometercan be employed for a wide range of applications such as surfaceenhanced Raman spectroscopy of single molecule adsorbates invapour deposition processes or the analysis of new materials.


Materials

2.2 Solid state electronics materials

Keywords: Silicon/silicon alloys; conjugated polymer electronics;bipolar devices; MOS devices; low-cost circuits/displays;microelectromechanical systems (MEMS); supercapacitors;sensors; solar cells/displays

OverviewSolid state electronics encompasses circuits or devices constructed entirelyfrom solid materials which may be crystalline, polycrystalline or amorphous.Some act as electrical conductors or insulators, others as semiconductors.Transistors, microprocessor chips and integrated circuits were earlyexamples of solid state devices – more recent examples include liquidcrystal displays and light emitting diodes.

ExpertiseThe University of Liverpool has expertise in materials characterisation(electrical and optical) and the production of novel devices –accommodating every stage of the design cycle, modelling and theory.

MaterialsThe institution also has a lengthy track record of semiconductorcharacterisation and device design, theory and modelling using bespokecommercial tools. Its work on inorganic semiconducting materials is mainlytargeted at silicon and its alloys – most notably silicon-germanium forapplication in bipolar and MOS devices. Materials are assessed using arange of characterisation techniques, often in novel MOS capacitor teststructures produced with low-temperature techniques.

Its work on organic semiconductors is interdisciplinary, encompassingchemists, physicists and engineers, and focuses on conjugated polymerelectronics.This has the potential to impact on a range of applications –from general low-cost circuits and displays to power devices andmicroelectromechanical systems (MEMS), from supercapacitors andsensors to solar cells and displays. Its research into new displaytechnologies covers vertical transistor structures using polymer materialswhere the film thickness can be used to define very small channel lengths.

2.3 Surface functionality and functionalisation

Keywords:Materials surfaces; surface characteristics; surfacesprocesses/events; quantum effects; experimentation; theory;meso/nanoscale probing; structural properties; dynamical properties;physical properties; electronic properties; surface design; surfacemanipulation; complex alloys; quasicrystals; chirality in two dimensions

OverviewToday’s drive towards miniaturisation and nano-devices, with theirattendant larger surface/volume ratios, means that events choreographedon surfaces hold the key to 21st century devices.

As industrial components like transistors for computer memories andmagnetic particles for hard disks are pushed ever smaller and faster, theyencounter unpredictable quantum effects: at meso and nanoscales, thebulk properties of matter give way to altered behaviour due to quantummechanical interactions.

Basic research is an essential prerequisite to overcoming quantumlimitations and opening the door to future discoveries. Surface scientistsare pioneering in this respect, driving advances in sophisticatedexperimental and theoretical methods that will enable events at thenanoscale to be captured and decoded, and opening up newopportunities for industry to innovate.

The ability to design and probe collections of condensed atoms andmolecules from the mesoscale (~microns) down to nanoscale (~nm)size scales is set to become key. The ability to manipulate molecular matterat the nanoscale will facilitate advances in catalysis, functional materials,electronics, biological interfaces, sensors and smart coatings.

The University of Liverpool was prescient in relation to surface science.Its Surface Science Research Centre was first established asa UK Interdisciplinary Research Centre in 1989 and quickly gained aninternational reputation as one of the leading surface science centres inEurope. It carries out fundamental research whose results are likely toinform future innovations.

See also: Advanced Manufacturing.


ExpertiseThe Surface Science Research Centre fields an interdisciplinary teamof scientists which brings together chemists and physicists. They haveextensive experience of characterising materials surfaces and surfaceprocesses, and uncovering relationships between microscopic structureand composition and macroscopic behaviour.

The physicists have world-leading expertise in the surfaces of complexalloy materials. These materials have complex structures and can displaycombinations of physical properties not found in conventional simple alloys.Examples include quasicrystals and their approximants.

Facilities and servicesThe Surface Science Research Centre is outstandingly well equipped, witha wide range of instrumentation. It has a dedicated suite of state-of-the-artinstruments for studying the structural, dynamical and electronic propertiesof clean and adsorbate-covered surfaces.

It offers surface spectroscopy using photons, ions or electrons and scanningtunnelling microscopy, which allows individual atoms and molecules to beimaged at surfaces, and has expertise in theory and modelling.

ApplicationsDe Beers conjures up images of sparkling diamonds set in jewellery,but the company doesn’t only mine natural diamonds; it also has aninterest in synthetic diamonds for industrial use and is keen to improveheir quality and the speed at which they can be grown. This requires abetter understanding of diamonds’ surface properties, and the ability tominutely monitor their growth.

These are two of the problems which the Surface Science Research Centrehas tackled on behalf of De Beers in a series of collaborative studies whichdate back to the mid-1990s. In this project, Surface Science ResearchCentre the exploited reflection anisotropy spectroscopy (RAS) to monitorthe growth of synthetic diamonds using chemical vapour deposition.

This is a rapidly developing optical technique which the Surface ScienceResearch Centre helped to develop and apply – designing and buildingits own instruments. RAS can provide information about the electronicstructure of a material and also the geometric structure at thenanoscopic or microscopic scale. As RAS can be carried out in a non-vacuum environment, this has the potential of expanding the applicationsof surface science into areas that have until now been forbidden by therestrictions of electron spectroscopy – principally the low mean free pathof electrons in solid or liquid environments.

Today’s drive towardsminiaturisation andnano-devices, with theirattendant larger surface/volume ratios, means thatevents choreographed onsurfaces hold the key to 21stcentury devices.

Functional/MultifunctionalMaterials 077


Materials

2.4 High throughput materials discovery

Keywords: High throughput techniques; robotics; automation; polymers;formulation; organic materials; porous materials; nanomaterials

OverviewHigh throughput (HT) techniques involving automation and advancedrobotics have the potential to revolutionise the discovery and exploitationof new multifunctional materials. They deliver fast, accurate results; enablespeedy decision-making; and could potentially support broader patentclaims. They can be exploited in energy, health, home and personal careand many other applications.

The number of sectors capitalising on this is still quite small. Somecompanies lack awareness; others have concerns about limitedinfrastructure; limited access to state-of-the-art equipment; lack ofknow-how, and lack of trained personnel.

The University of Liverpool’s Centre for Materials Discovery was set upto get around such barriers to innovation. It is the only UK centre dedicatedto helping businesses understand and reap the benefits of HT techniques.

BenefitsTraditionally, once you have postulated a hypothesis, your workflowinvolves manual synthesis of a single material; manual characterisationof the resulting material; and partial uncovering of structure-propertyrelationships – which may or may not yield a lead material – and youdo this over and over again.

HT materials discovery uses experimental design to assess a hypothesisrapidly and accurately. The aim is to gain the most information from thefewest experiments. This is achieved by using parallel synthetic protocolsto map the relevant area, exploiting dedicated ‘design of experiments’software. The results of the ensuing experiments are fed back into thesoftware, enabling a predictive model to be produced which addressesthe original hypothesis – for instance, elucidating structure-propertyrelationships or the effect of a particular variable on the reaction.

This approach delivers results much more quickly than traditionalmethods. It fosters real scientific understanding; advances anorganisation’s knowledge of materials properties; and could enableit to acquire broader patent coverage. Since it also facilitates speedierdecision-making, it helps get to ‘no’ a lot faster.

Expertise and facilitiesThe Centre for Materials Discovery (CMD) is equipped with roboticsynthesis, formulation and liquid handling platforms and more than1000m2 of laboratory space. It employs a multidisciplinary team ofscientists with the skills required to facilitate the discovery and optimisationof new materials for commercial exploitation. It can undertake contractresearch on behalf of clients or foster knowledge exchange by workingwith clients. There may also be opportunities for clients to embed theirown staff in CMD for extended periods.

Facilities at the Centre for Materials Discovery have been designed toprovide a broad base of chemical synthesis and characterisationtechnologies, each focused on increasing throughput over and abovethat available in traditional laboratories.

The Centre for Materials Discovery works with clients from the privatesector and with academics, utilising generic principles in methodologyand practice to facilitate research across a range of sectors. Its work hasencompassed new products, new material applications, and fundamentaldevelopments in materials synthesis.


Biomaterials 079

3.0 Biomaterials3.1 Bionanotechnology

Keywords: Nanoparticles; metals; polymers; silica; ceramics; synthesis;sizes; structures; stabilisation; functionalisation

OverviewBionanotechnology crosses the boundaries of chemistry, physics,engineering and biology, including biomedical and clinical sciences.It involves the manipulation of both the non-biological nanoscale materialsof nanotechnology and of hybrid non-biological/biological nanomaterials.

In biomedical and clinical settings, applications of bionanotechnologyshould, in the near future, transform diagnostics and therapeutics, andprovide platforms for personalised medicine. In the more distant future,applications in the fields of chemistry and engineering will exploit hybridbionanomaterials to create, for example, smart environmental sensorsand biological molecules with long-range self-assembly properties.

The University of Liverpool has a critical mass of research groups whichare recognised leaders in various aspects of bionanotechnology. Theirexpertise spans biology, biomedical science, chemistry, clinical sciences,Earth and ocean sciences and engineering. They are brought together ona platform, the Liverpool Institute for Nanoscale Science Engineering andTechnology (LINSET), which provides an efficient means to foster the vitalinterdisciplinary collaborations underpinning bionanotechnology, whilstmaintaining core disciplinary excellence.

It is also part of ‘NanoCentral’ – an alliance of organisations whosemembers can provide access to a broad range of leading edgetechnologies, equipment and services.

ExpertiseThe University has particular strengths in:

Chemical, biological and laser mediated synthesis processesSynthesis of different nanoparticle materials including noble metal,magnetic (pure metals, alloys, oxides), polymer, silicaA wide range of sizes (1 nm upwards) with a tight control of dispersityVaried shapes – eg. spherical, cubed, tetrahedral, nanorods,wires and chainsDifferent structures and compositions – eg. hollow, porousPolymer and self-assembling ligands as tool boxes for thestabilisation and functionalisation of nanoparticles.

Materials discovery/developmentThe University has pioneered a variety of methods for the nanoscalemanufacture of polymer, metal and ceramic components which enablechemical control at the molecular level.

Stabilisation/functionalisationIt is recognised as a world leader in the development of functionalnanoparticles as new tools for the analysis of biomolecular function.Its original developments in thiol-gold nanoparticle interactions remainthe most commonly employed protocol world-wide for the preparationof ligand-stabilised metal nanoparticles.

More recently, it has pioneered the development of novel polymerand peptide-based capping ligands that uniquely allow independentstabilisation and functionalisation of nanoparticles with any biologicalmacromolecule for innovative biological applications.

ApplicationsDue to their size, their physical, chemical and optical characteristics,and the potential to attach functional molecules to their surfaces,nanoparticles have a range of in vitro and in vivo biomedical applications.Biomedical applications being developed at the University includemultiplex diagnostics; medical imaging; stem cell therapies andstem cell tracking in vivo; and single molecule imaging in live cells.


Materials

Facilities, equipment and/or services

Ultra Mixing and Processing Facility, a unique tool for the creationof nanostructured fluids (emulsions, dispersions) by high pressureand high shear mixingMicrowell library array platform, developed in-house, to screen foroptimum properties of nanoparticles for particular applicationsElectron microscopy, including SuperSTEM aberration correctedmicroscope at the nearby Daresbury Laboratory for nanoparticlecharacterisationNew imaging and detection platforms, including optical andphotothermal microscopy for real-time detection ofnanoparticle-labelled single molecules in live cells.

3.2 Biomaterials and tissue engineering

Keywords: Biomaterial; biocompatibility; biointeractions; tissueengineering; medical devices; surface modification; cellular response;materials design; interface analysis; surface analysis; biocompatibility;stem cells

OverviewToday, millions of people in the developed world are ‘bionic’ in the sensethat they have some kind of implanted medical device: an artificial hip orknee, a heart valve, a 'stent', some kind of dental or facial implant, oranother of the dozens of devices currently available. Our bodies recognisethat these are foreign devices, no matter how inert the materials used tomanufacture them – and this can sometimes result in rejection and failurewell before a device's intended lifespan.

Biomaterials research aims to identify materials or coatings which canextend the lifespan of artificial or hybrid devices implanted in the body,while tissue engineers explore the potential for humans to ‘grow’ newbody parts.

In 2001, the University of Liverpool joined forces with the University ofManchester, setting up the UK Centre for Tissue Engineering with theaid of £9.7 million of Research Council funding. This supported the mostintegrated and sustained research into tissue engineering in the UK fora six year period. Since then the University has expanded its facilities,creating the UK Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering Centre (UKBioTEC).

Alongside this, the University of Liverpool Stem Cell Consortium(ULSCC) provides a forum for scientists from different disciplines basedin the University or at the Institute of Child Health, located at Alder HeyChildren’s NHS Foundation Trust. ULSCC is affiliated with the North WestEmbryonic Stem Cell Centre and is a member of the North West of EnglandStem Cell Network.

ExpertiseBiointeractionsA detailed understanding of biocompatibility and the interaction ofmaterials with cells is a fundamental prerequisite to the enhancement anddevelopment of long-lasting implantable medical devices and tissueengineering products. Armed with this understanding, it should be possibleto optimise the clinical performance of implantable devices by manipulatingbiointeractions at the molecular and cellular level.

By fostering collaborations between clinical engineers, biological scientists,physicists, chemists and materials engineers, the University offers aninnovative environment for determining how the surfaces of materialsand their modification can interact with and control biological systems.

This focus on cellular interactions at material interfaces has establishedmany key indicators of bio- and blood compatibility.


Biomaterials research aims to identifymaterials or coatings which can extendthe lifespan of artificial or hybrid devicesimplanted in the body, while tissueengineers explore the potential for humansto ‘grow’ new body parts.

Biomaterials 081

Tissue engineeringThe University’s expertise in tissue engineering has been applied tothe development of 3D functional scaffolds, the design of annular flowbioreactors, the isolation and enrichment of stem cell populations, andthe control of stem cell phenotypes.

It has also been harnessed in large multi-partner R&D programmes ledby the University – such as a £17 million project funded by the EuropeanCommission and Italian pharmaceutical company, Fidia. ‘A SystemsApproach to Tissue Engineering Products and Processes’ (STEPS)aims to combat conditions like heart failure, diabetes, chronic ulcersand neurodegenerative diseases by making human tissue grown fromstem cells available for transplant in the next few years.

Members of the University’s Stem Cell Consortium (ULSSC) have playeda key role in the development of substrates for the maintenance andself-renewal of embryonic stem cells.

ApplicationsThe University’s multidisciplinary team approach has facilitated thedevelopment of clinical applications for the treatment of a number ofconditions – for example, Hirschsprung’s disease. It has also providedthe medical device industry with unique solutions to key business needs.

Capabilities and facilitiesThe UK Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering Centre (UKBioTEC) has a suite ofbiomaterials and tissue engineering laboratories which are complementedby additional facilities elsewhere in the University. These include:

BioMEMS laboratories – providing access to 800m2 of mainlyclass-100 clean room environment for fabrication, testing,measurement, analysis and modelling of bio-hybrid micro/nanostructuresMaterials characterisation: dynamic contact angle, Fourier transformInfrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,secondary ion mass spectroscopy (chemical microscope), differentialscanning calorimetry, HPLC, universal mechanical testing, atomicforce microscopySurface modification: gas plasma treatments, plasma polymerisation,design and discovery of functional materials using highthroughput technology, preparation and application of nanoparticles,self-assembly of nanostructures, micro/nano surface structures usingnanolithography and laser micro-ablation

In vitro analysis: extensive cell culture facilities for established andprimary cells including mesenchymal and embryonic stem cells,flow cytometry, light and fluorescent microplate spectroscopy,coaggulometry, transmitted, reflected, fluorescent and confocalmicroscopy, scanning electron microscopy.

BiophysicsThe University also works on the physical and electronic structure ofinterfaces which are important in biology and tissue engineering. Itsresearch focuses on the interactions of biomolecules at metal-liquidinterfaces, real-time measurements of conformational change in adsorbedproteins, hybridisation between adsorbed single stranded DNA andcomplementary strands, and the controlled growth of ordered collagenarrays by cells.

Capabilities and facilities

High performance X-ray and Auger spectroscopyScanning tunnelling microscopy (STM)Atomic force microscopy (AFM)Reflection anisotropy spectroscopy (RAS)Electrochemistry.

The University can access the ALICE accelerator at Daresbury Laboratory,which offers the most intense source of broad-band terahertz radiation inEurope and is the only accelerator equipped with a tissue culture facilityfor research on live human tissue.


Materials

Specialist Centres, Facilities and LaboratoriesFurther information on specialist centres, facilities and laboratories canbe found in a dedicated section (see page 142). Those which exploit and/orcontribute to the development of Materials include:




Centre for Materials DiscoveryImpact Research CentreKnowledge Centre for Materials ChemistrySurface Science Research CentreUltra Mixing and Processing FacilityUK Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering Centre



Biointeraction

Case StudiesLost Carbon Sintering (LCS)

LCS is a world-leading technology formanufacturing open-cell microporous metals,providing benefits of low cost production andaccurate control over pore structure.

A project undertaken in collaboration with three companies –C-Tech, Thermacore and Ecka – tested the feasibility of usingLCS to reduce product weights by 20-50% whilst achieving thesame efficiency as current commercial products.

In the case of these particular products it proved possible toreduce weights by 50% through the use of LCS. The projectalso demonstrated that the application of microwave sinteringenabled production times to be reduced by more than 50%whilst production energy consumption typically fell by 30%.

Biomer Technology is a young biomaterialscompany which aims to extend the working lifeof common medical implants by developingsmarter biocoatings – exploiting proprietarypolymeric surface coating technology.

Key to this is the ability to develop novel coatings which are capableof enhancing or inhibiting the body’s natural reactions to implantedmedical devices. Gaining an understanding of the cellular interactionsbetween synthetic polymers and natural tissue is a prerequisite to thisis – making it possible to identify chemical functional groups whichwill invoke a positive, negative or neutral response to their presence.

The company opted to collaborate with the University of Liverpool, inview of its significant expertise in bio-interactions and biocompatibilitytesting of novel materials.

“The University of Liverpool’smultidisciplinary approach andexpertise has allowed Biomer tooptimise the potential for our surfacecoating technology, and moreimportantly to identify futureopportunities for collaborationand commercial exploitationof our technology.”Simon DixonManaging Director, Biomer Technology Ltd


DigitalTechnologies




Data acquisitionSignal processing/classificationSimulation/modellingCondition monitoring/fault diagnosisNon-destructive testingSoftware design/verificationSystems design/prototypingInstrument design/prototyping

Focus of Expertise

Biological entties/functions/processesDisease diagnosis/monitoringNon-biologicalmaterials/processesComputational devicesComputer networksComputational marketse-Business processese-Government

Technologies

MicroscopyTomographyGamma ray & NMRspectroscopySensor technologiesGround penetrating radarAutonomous softwareInternetSemantic Web


AerospaceDefenceLogisticsAutomotiveElectricity distributionMaterialsSecurityBiomedicalElectronic tradingPaints/coatingsTelecomsConsumer electronicsEnvironmentRailwaysWaste managementRobotics

1.0 Imaging and Detection1.1 Imaging technologies1.2 Image analysis1.3 Detector technology for

spectroscopic imaging

2.0 Signal and InformationProcessing &Communications

2.1 Signal processing andcommunications

2.2 Sensing and intelligentmonitoring for complexconditions

2.3 e-Automation

3.0 Complex Software3.1 Autonomous systems3.2 Computational markets3.3 Pervasive systems

4.0 e-Business

KeyCapabilities

The UK's economy is significantly knowledgebased and increasingly driven by research.By improving our collective understandingof the past, present and future across allacademic disciplines, we can make animpact on the economy and society as awhole. Digital technologies are increasinglyat the heart of this research, driving innovationforward and revolutionising the way we work.

With developments in digital technologies following each other upfaster than ever, researchers at Liverpool are making progress in fieldsas diverse as imaging and detection; signal and information processingand communications; complex software; and e-Business.


Digital Technologies

There has been an explosive growth inimaging science due to continuing demandfor ever higher resolution, rapid advances invision research, new imaging technologies,the advent of multi-sensor data fusion and theincreased sophistication of mathematicalmodels and techniques.

1.0 Imaging and DetectionThere has been an explosive growth in imaging science recently due tocontinuing demand for ever higher resolution, rapid advances in visionresearch, new imaging technologies, the advent of multi-sensor data fusionand the increased sophistication of mathematical models and techniques.

As a result, imaging and image analysis are becoming increasinglyindispensable in numerous fundamental and applied sciences, and incountless industrial applications.

The University of Liverpool has a wide range of imaging technologies at itsdisposal – including the ability to produce atomic-scale images unmarredby spherical aberration. Its multidisciplinary expertise is harnessed bydefence contractors, by high-tech companies and NHS trusts, and byresearchers working in the life and physical sciences.

The University’s work on imaging and image analysis is designed topromote and support the use of a wide range of imaging technologies,enhance existing imaging technologies, and develop new ones and refineexisting image analysis tools and develop new ones.

1.1 Imaging technologies

Keywords: Microscopy; tomography; spectroscopic imaging; magneticresonance imaging (MRI); dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA);spherical aberration minimisation; thermal imaging

Facilities and capabilities

MicroscopyScanning electron microscopy (SEM)Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM)STEM with no spherical aberration (SuperSTEM)Scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM)Atomic force microscopy (AFM)Auger electron microscopy (AEM)Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM)

TomographyComputed (CT)Electron (ET)Positron emission (PET)Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)Optical coherence tomography (OCT)

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and CTfor veterinary applicationsSpectroscopic imaging/mappingGamma ray spectroscopyNuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy

Chemical imagingGeophysical imaging – in particular ground-penetrating radar (GPR).


ImagingandDetection 087Traditional light microscopes can magnify samples up to 1,200 times theiractual size and are limited to a resolution of 0.2 micrometers. This meansthey cannot reveal fine details of specimens – for instance, the internalstructures of cells. Electron microscopy was developed to overcome thisproblem. It works on a similar basis to light microscopes, but uses afocused beam of electrons in place of light to image the specimen. Itenables samples to be magnified up to ~20 million times their actualsize without loss of definition. It can reveal a sample’s:

TopographyCrystallographyMorphologyCompositionElectronic structure.

TEM microscopes cover the whole range of electron microscopy, fromelectron micro-diffraction – giving information on the crystallinity of thematerial – to high-resolution electron microscopy, which can display theatom columns of the crystal.

SEM is used to image the surfaces of solid samples at high spatialresolution (up to ~400,000 times actual size) and high depth of field.Biological samples have to be prepared for imaging, so it is not possibleto image living material. SEM can be used to image microorganisms,or to magnify parts of organisms which can be seen with the naked eye.

STEMs are able to collect images up to a magnification of 10 million timesby scanning a beam, focused down to the size of an atom, across thesample. At the same time, they collect chemical information associated withthe same area of the sample. By using a high angle detector, it is possibleto form atomic resolution images where the contrast is directly related tothe atomic number of the chemical elements being imaged.

The images produced by STEMS are marred by the spherical andchromatic aberration which all lenses suffer from to a greater or lesserdegree. SuperSTEMs overcome this problem by means of a computer-controlled system which corrects the inbuilt spherical aberration of thelenses. They can image a portion of a specimen at Angstrom or sub-Angstrom resolution and provide elemental and chemical analysis bymeans of electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS).

In a STM, an atomically sharp metallic tip is scanned at (sub) nanometerdistances above a sufficiently conductive surface, where a ‘tunnelling’current flows between the tip and the substrate. The tip is scanned acrossthe surface either at a constant height or in tunnelling mode, allowing aprofile of the (electronic) topography of the surface to be constructed,with resolution down to the atomic scale.

AFM is used to analyse and image the surface topography of specimens.It is well suited for the study of biological systems due to its high spatialresolution and its ability to image surfaces under liquids, offeringnanometer scale resolution in images of biological samples under nativeconditions. It also has the potential for real-time observation of processesinvolving living biological systems.

AEM is based on analysing the energy of secondary (so-called Auger)electrons ejected from a solid surface on being radiated with acceleratedelectrons or X-ray photons. It can be used to measure the chemicalcomposition of the top few layers of atoms on a solid surface and mapthe distribution of atoms across the surface at a lateral spatial resolutionof <0.1 microns.

CLSM uses laser light of different colours to excite specific fluorescentprobes and create a 3D image of their location and amount within anorganism or organelles within cells. It is particularly suited for time lapseimaging of living cells and observing changes in the location orconcentration of important biomolecules.

TomographyTomography offers a non-invasive means of imaging the inside of humanor animal bodies. Tomographic imaging uses sensor information which iscollected from number of different directions, relative to the patient. Cleverreconstruction techniques are then used, enabling 2D or 3D images to beproduced. The high-quality images produced are particularly important inthe field of diagnostic nuclear medicine.

Different ‘modalities’ are available, providing information on a patient’sanatomy – on structures such as bone or soft tissue, or the function of apatient’s organs. Functional imaging can provide information on blood flow,for instance, or the uptake of glucose in different organs in the body,which is particularly helpful in aiding the diagnosis of cancerous tumours.



In Computed Tomography (CT), an external X-ray source is mounted onthe opposite side of the patient to an X-ray sensor; this assembly is thenrotated around the patient, yielding X-ray attenuation information froma large number of directions. CT provides 2D and 3D information on apatient’s anatomical structure.

Some nuclear medical imaging modalities rely on measuring the uptakeof a radioactive substance in a patient’s body. Emission Tomography(ET) encapsulates a number of techniques that can provide functionalinformation on a patient’s organs. These techniques utilise a gamma raysensitive detector system to provide the information necessary to formthe image; this is sometimes referred to as gamma ray imaging.The gamma camera sensor is rotated around the patient to createa tomographic image.

The University of Liverpool has a wide rangeof imaging technologies at its disposal –including the ability to produce atomic-scaleimages unmarred by spherical aberration.Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) utilises a gammacamera – consisting of a gamma ray sensitive detector coupled to a largecollimator – to measure the location of a radiotracer in the patient’s body.This gives the sensor directional position sensitivity, allowing an image tobe formed. A gamma-ray emitting radionuclide is chemically attached toa radiopharmaceutical to form a radiotracer which is designed to target aspecific function/organ in the body. The SPECT scanner is then used toimage its location in the body by measuring the number of gamma-raysemitted as a function of position.

Positron emission tomography (PET) utilises a positron-emittingradionuclide and a gamma ray sensitive detector system to image thelocation of a radiotracer in the patient’s body. The radionuclide andradiotracer used in PET produce ‘back-to-back’ gamma rays; this allowsthe sensor to determine the location of the radiotracer without the needfor a collimator (unlike SPECT).

Optical Coherehence Tomography (OCT) produces very high-quality,micrometer-resolution 3D images from within samples which scatter light,rather than reflect it (for example, biological tissue or certain plastics). It isable to penetrate significantly deeper into the sample – around three timesdeeper than confocal microscopy, and is used primarily for non-invasivemedical imaging purposes such as detecting plaques in coronary arteriesand examining the different layers of retinal tissue.

MRIMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers a non-invasive means ofvisualising internal structures of the body without incurring the radiationrisks associated with CT and PET scanning. MRI is particularly effectiveat imaging soft tissue, and is used to diagnose and monitor tumours,cardiovascular and neurological conditions, as well as the skeleton andmusculature. It can also be used to monitor functional activity such asbrain signals, and can record signals from all regions of the brain – unlikeEEG and MEG.

DXADual energy X-ray absorptiometry (also known as DXA or DEXA) offers ameans of measuring bone mineral density, and is the most widely usedbone density measurement technology.

Spectroscopic imagingGamma spectroscopy can be used to generate images of areasinside the body by detecting the distribution of medically-administeredradioactive isotopes. These can localise to specific organs or cellularreceptors – enabling diagnosis or treatment on the basis of cellularfunction and physiology.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy can be used todetermine the 3D structures of proteins. It is also the technique of choicefor obtaining atomic-scale physical, chemical and 3D structural informationon small molecules – whether these are produced naturally by the body,or by pharmaceutical companies in the form of new chemical compounds.

Chemical imagingThis is offered by imaging technologies such as TEM, STEM,SuperSTEM and AEM, which can simultaneously measure spectraand generate images.

Geophysical imagingGeophysical imaging encompasses a range of imaging techniqueswhich can visualise the sub-surface of the Earth non-invasively – forinstance, ground-penetrating radar.



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The University has four centres which specialise in particular imagingtechnologies for particular applications areas:

The Centre for Cell Imaging (CCI) is a world-class resource whichenables researchers to measure multiple biological processes in realtime, at resolutions only limited by the wavelength of the light used.Biological processes such as cell division, development, differentiationand cell death can be correlated with cell signalling through manydifferent pathways. The activity and localisation of novel genes productscan be monitored, and biophysical properties such as pH andmembrane potential measured. Biological samples examined rangefrom malarial parasites and bacteria to mammalian cells of manytypes, as well as plants, zebra fish and fruit flies.

The flexibility of the Centre’s equipment and its array of biological toolshave facilitated research into pituitary disorders, developmentaldisorders, blindness, diabetes, obesity, cancer, malaria, inflammation,asthma, and arthritis.

The University’s Magnetic Resonance and Image Analysis ResearchCentre (MARIARC) has particular expertise in functional MRI (fMRI),diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), perfusion imaging, arterial spin labelling(ASL) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). It has stronglinks with the Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust which specialises inneurology and neurosurgery, and the Pain Research Institute, and withresearchers in disciplines ranging from psychiatry and psychology tometabolic and cellular medicine. It supports world-class neuro-imagingresearch in cognitive and clinical neuroscience, and MR spectroscopyof human muscle in-vivo.

When the human genome was sequenced, it provided the informationscientists needed to start exploring how our bodies work at themolecular level, and what exactly goes wrong when they don’t functionas they should. Since there is a relationship between form and function,it is vital to determine the three-dimensional structure of individualbiomolecules and their variants, identify the properties associated withthe different parts of their structure, and establish exactly how theyinteract with other biomolecules when carrying out particular, highly-specialised functions. The University’s NMR Centre for StructuralBiology facilitates this by providing state-of-the-art resources andaccess to scientists with an understanding of biology, physics,mathematics and chemistry.

The SuperSTEM Laboratory, based at Daresbury Laboratory, isequipped with two SuperSTEM microscopes – both of which minimisespherical aberration. SuperSTEM 1 produces images of a portion of aspecimen with a sharpness measuring 1 Angstrom in diameter, andprovides elemental and chemical analysis by means of electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS). SuperSTEM 2 provides sub-Angstromresolution and accommodates a higher degree of tilt, allowing morecontrol over the orientation of the specimen to be imaged; EEL spectrarecorded within the same probe offer elemental and chemical data withatomic column specificity.

The Laboratory has undertaken studies for national research centresand companies as diverse as Qinetiq, Pilkington, Johnson Mattheyand the Diamond Trading Company. Sample projects undertaken incollaboration with business include helping to resolve issues posedby the conversion of gases to liquid hydrocarbons, and ascertainingthe source of colour in diamonds to inform the development of newmethods of identifying their signature characteristics – tracing theorigin of gem quality diamonds is becoming increasingly difficultusing current methods.




ApplicationsThe University’s extensive imaging facilities and capabilities supportresearch into a wide range of problems – for instance:

Biomedical applications

Digital imaging and CCTV – used to study dental diseases and toothmorphologyFluorescence and confocal microscopic imaging – used to studycellular interactions and intracellular protein transportNuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy – used todetermine the complex 3D shapes of biomolecules and biopolymersat atomic resolutionElectron tomography and STEM – used to study sub-cellularmorphology of cells and characterise protein and lipid distributionsElectroencephalography (EEG) – used to study visualperception/attention and the perceptual organisation of auditoryenvironmentsMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography(CT) – used to decode the relationship between brain form andfunction, to study tumours and monitor their treatmentPositron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emissioncomputed tomography (SPECT) – provide 3D visualisation of internalorgans to aid medical diagnosis and monitor treatmentDigital photography and confocal microscopy – used to studyretinal morphology, diabetic retinopathy and age-related maculardegeneration.

Other applications

Radar and infrared imaging – used for image enhancement andfeature simulation in defence and civil applicationsElectron tomography, STEM and SuperSTEM – used to studymaterials at the atomic scale and characterise their structuresElectron backscatter diffraction imaging – used to investigatemicrostructures of rocks to understand solid-state grain-scaleprocesses relating to earthquakesPhotoelectron imaging – to understand fundamental propertiesof metals and alloysComputer vision and robotics.

1.2 Image analysis

Keywords: Fast algorithms; resolution enhancement; noise removal;boundary detection; 2D to 3D; image comparison/matching

OverviewImage analysis entails extracting meaningful images from the datacaptured by digital imaging technologies. Whichever technology isused, the images are captured using hardware and interpreted bysoftware. The results are increasingly impressive, but they may not beadequate for some purposes.

ExpertiseThe University’s expertise focuses on novel models and fast algorithms,encompassing:

Restoration – removing ‘noise’ and/or enhancing resolutionEdge detection – distinguishing boundaries of different objectsMatching – identifying close matches of an imageFeature extraction and segmentation – dividing images into regionsof similar intensities and isolating areas/objects of interest3D reconstruction and tomography – converting 2D image slices(from PET/CT/SPECT imaging) into 3D representations of an objectRegistration – mapping an image smoothly on to a related image,especially useful to compare images captured using differenttechnologies.

In 2008, the University capitalised on its extensive facilities and itsmathematical expertise by establishing the Centre for MathematicalImaging Techniques (CMIT). This enables scientists, medics and engineersin the University – and businesses outside the University –to benefit from state-of-the-art mathematical techniques whilst givingapplied mathematicians opportunities to tackle cutting-edge‘real world’ problems.


1.3 Detector technology for spectroscopic imaging

Keywords: Gamma radiation; charge collection in semiconductordevices; pulse shape analysis techniques; Compton imaging; medicalimaging; multimodal imaging

OverviewRadioactive isotopes which emit gamma radiation can be used as adiagnostic tool in medicine, helping clinicians diagnose or monitorcardiac and brain conditions and cancers non-invasively. An isotope isadministered to the patient and the gamma radiation it emits is detectedby external detectors. Radioactive isotopes are also present in radioactivewaste and materials that could be used to make nuclear explosive devices,so the ability to detect their presence through their gamma ray emission isa vital tool for the security services.

The University of Liverpool has expertise in the development of thetechnology needed for gamma ray detection, gained through its nuclearphysics research. Its expertise encompasses a wide range of radiationdetector technology, in particular using sensors that have a position-sensitive readout.

ExpertiseThe University has one of only three laboratories in the world whichcan characterise position-sensitive semiconductor detectors (includinggermanium and cadmium zinc telluride) that allow gamma-ray interactionpositions to be determined to millimetre accuracy with the aid of pulseshape analysis.

When gamma-rays interact with the detector material, charge is liberated inthe form of electrons and holes. The process of collecting this charge takestens or hundreds of nanoseconds, depending on the detector material andthe geometry. By using digital techniques to record the time profile of thecollection of this charge on the detector electrodes, exact information canbe determined about the gamma-ray interactions positions. This techniqueis known as pulse shape analysis. This process needs to be characterisedfor particular detectors, and algorithms developed to convert the digitalinformation from the detector into position information for later imagedetermination. Algorithms can also be developed to determine the energydeposited in the interaction.

The spectroscopic imaging techniques used are mostly based on theCompton camera principle, where two detector elements are used withthe algorithms developed above and the Compton scattering formula.The results identify gamma ray emitting isotopes and produce a spatialimage that determines their size and location. Such an approach offers atleast two orders of magnitude improvement in imaging sensitivity whencompared with a conventional gamma camera.

ApplicationsThe University has exploited its expertise in applications which provideenhanced medical imaging for diagnostics and monitoring purposes,and in applications designed to strengthen homeland security.

Medical imagingGamma-emitting radioisotopes are used for medical diagnostic purposes.Changes in normal physiological activity show up as a radiation hot-spotor cold-spot, as a result of radiation accumulating more than it would inhealthy patients, or being blocked from accumulating. These effects aremeasured using a gamma ray spectrometer, which calculates how muchgamma radiation the radioisotopes are emitting as they decay, and imagedusing a gamma camera.

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Conventional gamma radiation detectors are made from scintillationmaterials, which provide a very poor spectral response. Germaniumprovides a high quality spectral response – but it has to be cooled usingliquid nitrogen, so it can only be used in large laboratories.

The University is working towards the development of two medicalimaging systems based on semiconductor detectors. The first is aimedat imaging small animals using positron emission tomography (PET).The University has developed a system based on two position-sensitivegermanium detectors which will give images with better spatial resolutionand less background noise than can be achieved with conventionalscintillation detectors.

The second is a gamma camera system using SPECT (single photonemission computed tomography). Conventional systems use a scintillationdetector and a large collimator to give the image resolution. The Universityis developing a system based on a combination of position sensitivegermanium, silicon and CZT sensors. A pair of these is needed for asuccessful spectroscopic imaging system and work is being carriedout to determine the optimum combination.

MultimodalityBoth systems have the potential to operate as multi-modality systems,where two imaging methods can be carried out simultaneously. Thesemiconductors detectors being used will work in magnetic fields,giving the potential for a combined SPECT/MRI system which will obtainanatomical and functional images simultaneously. As the semiconductordetectors used have excellent energy resolution, it will also be possibleto use two isotopes simultaneously where there is a clinical need.

For the SPECT system, this new development will allow its use with awider range of isotopes than the current systems where the mechanicalcollimator is optimized for specific gamma ray energies. This work iscurrently being carried out with advice from GE Healthcare and thecurrent aim is to produce laboratory demonstration systems.

2.0 Signal and Information Processingand CommunicationsIn the last 30 years the world has changed immensely. We now live ina digital age – consumers take mobile phones, digital cameras andtelevisions, CDs and DVDs, music downloads, emails and online socialnetworking for granted. Businesses and hospitals rely increasinglyon digital condition monitoring and fault diagnosis in place of routinechecks carried out by humans, and on digital control.

Signal processing and communications lie at the heart of all of thesedevelopments – and many others. To be able to receive calls, emails, stillor moving images, sound or data, we need sensors or receivers To be ableto communicate to the world we need some means of transmission. Signalprocessing is what happens between these two end points, enabling usto understand what we have received and respond or initiate actions.

2.1 Signal processing and communications

Keywords: Information extraction; blind signal separation; machinelearning for classification & clustering; meaning; channel estimation;equalisation; automated modulation recognition; antenna diversity;multiple input-multiple output (MIMO); electromagnetic/EMCmeasurement; computational electromagnetics

OverviewThe University’s excellence in signal processing research has beenachieved and is being maintained through fundamental theoreticaldevelopments, novel algorithms, sound radio frequency measurementsand innovative and diverse applications.

ExpertiseCore areas of theoretical developments are signal processing (includingimage processing), machine learning, and modelling. The University’sstrength in fundamentals is regularly demonstrated by its extremely stronginternational publication record and its well-known work on automatedmodulation recognition, blind signal separation and machine learning forclassification and clustering. Much of the thrust is to extract information,to develop understanding and to generate meaning.

The University’s excellence in signalprocessing research is beingmaintainedthrough fundamental theoretical developments,novel algorithms, sound radio frequencymeasurements and innovative and diverseapplications.


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Applications areas:

Audio – speaker separation and recognitionBiomedical – breast cancer detection, retinal image processing,ECG, post-genomic micro-array data processingCommunications – channel estimation, equalisation, and automatedmodulation recognitionNon-destructive testing – railway inspection using ground-penetratingradarVibration condition monitoring – fault detection, fault classification.

The University also carries out research studies in:

Antenna diversity (including MIMO)Indoor radio propagation channel characterisation for wireless LANElectromagnetic and EMC measurement techniquesComputational electromagneticsSoftware radio.

The University’s expertise has been harnessed in a number of radicalapplications. Examples include:

Characterisation of indoor radio wave propagation for wirelesspersonal communication – undertaken in collaboration with BT, thisinvolved considerable work on wireless communications includinglayered space frequency equalization applied to MIMO multicarrierCDMA systems, multi-user detection of MIMO OFDM systems usingblind source separation, and power and bit allocation for MIMOsystems in frequency selective fadingPioneering work in the application of ground penetrating radar(GPR) and in automatic interpretation of non-destructive (NDT)data for utility detection and feature mapping. This was exploited forhigh-speed GPR rail track bed investigation in collaboration with siteinvestigation specialist Zetica.Development of novel techniques for automated interpretation ofultrasonic TOFD data for weld characterisation and inverse modelsfor the characterisation of buried unexploded bombs using boreholemagnetometry

Simulations of aerospace systems for the Royal Air Force’s currentgenerations of air-to-ground weapons, in association with the Ministryof Defence and QinetiQDeveloping an image processing toolbox for the detection, trackingand identification of missiles for airborne missile warning systemsRadio signal classification for the Ministry of DefenceMaximising navigational information from marine radar returns incollaboration with industry.

Facilities

The largest reverberation chamber in a UK universityA computing cluster for CPU-demanding or memory-demandingapplications.




2.2 Sensing and intelligent monitoringfor complex conditions

Keywords: Complex systems/processes; condition monitoring; sensortechnology; telemetry; software; system integration; data collection;information; emergent behaviour; trends/patterns; fault detection

OverviewSensors and monitoring systems are essential to countless industrial,social and economical processes. However, conventional monitoringsystems don’t address the increasing complexity in such processes,which can lead to the collection of vast amounts of data which do notalways provide insights into processes and potential problems/faultsthat may be of concern.

ExpertiseSensing expertiseThe University has extensive experience in optical fibre and non opticalfibre sensors for the monitoring of:

TemperaturePressureLiquid flow, level, conditionMovement and activitypHElectrical current and voltageLightColourSoundRadio frequencyWear and corrosionBattery conditionDriver fatigue.

In many applications the University harnesses a proprietary, patentedapproach based on chromaticity. In addition to more conventional sensorsand optical fibre based sensors, it has extensive experience of remoteCCTV scanning, acoustic and radiofrequency detectors.

Sensing systemsThe University designs systems which can be used to collect data in realtime and telemetrically transfer information via the Internet or mobile phone.It is researching a range of sensing systems, including:

Hybrid optical current transformerOptoacoustic measurementsFluid level, flow and qualitySizing and concentration of atmosphere-borne particles (PMIDS)Optical fibre temperature sensorContamination of various environmentsRemote temperature and stress monitoringLinear and rotating displacement measurementsSecurity and care systems.

The University of Liverpool’s Centre for Intelligent Monitoring Systems(CIMS) is an applied research centre which addresses the need forinformation rather than data. It employs a generic approach – combiningthe strengths of sensor technology, software and telemetry to provideholistic, integrated and intelligent solutions to the monitoring of complexsystems and the detection of emerging patterns.


Sensors andmonitoring systems are essentialto countless industrial, social and economicalprocesses. However, conventional monitoringsystems don’t address the increasingcomplexity in such processes, which can leadto the collection of vast amounts of data whichdo not always provide insights into processesand potential problems/faults that may beof concern.


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Turning data into informationCIMS’ approach permits outputs from different sensors positioned oncomplex processes to be combined to provide meaningful information,rather than a surfeit of data. This readily assimilated information can beused for condition monitoring and assessment and can identify unusualpatterns of behaviour relating to fault conditions. In addition, by bringingtogether and using complex data from more than one source, theapproach developed by CIMS provides systems that are self-evaluatingand predictive – ie intelligent monitoring systems.

Research, design and prototypingCIMS has the expertise and facilities required to develop concepts fromresearch through design to prototype integrated systems which arecommercially exploitable. It has extensive experience of working withbusiness to commercialise products through technology transfer,technology licensing, technology manufacture and systemdemonstration/installation.

ApplicationsApplications areas include:

Automotive, aerospace, railNeonatal care and healthcareDomiciliary careElectrical generation, transmission and usageEnvironmental and pollution monitoringFuel qualityBacteria growthWaste managementIndustrial processingPaints and coatingsSecuritySemiconductor materials.

Typical applications range from monitoring the centre of gravity of aircraftin flight or the wellbeing of people in the living environment, to themonitoring of regulated airborne pollutants and tracking changes incomplex industrial processes.

The University has particular expertise in the development of sensor andmonitoring systems to reduce the environmental impact of high currentelectrical discharges – mainly in electrical switchgear. It is currentlyworking on new mechanisms of current interruption.

2.3 e-Automation

Keywords: Large-scale distributed complex systems; real-time control;information processing; condition monitoring; computer networks;agent/multi-agent technologies; ontology systems

Overview‘e-Automation’ refers to a new generation of automation systems which usethe latest networking and agent technologies for information management,condition monitoring and real-time control of large-scale, distributed,complex industrial systems. This concept has been developed and refinedby the University of Liverpool and successfully applied to real-worldproblems.

FacilitiesThe University has a flagship research laboratory developed in partnershipwith National Instruments Corporation. The National Instrumentse-Automation Laboratory is also supported by National Grid plc.

ExpertiseThe Laboratory’s expertise encompasses advanced control techniques;computational intelligence; machine learning; and information processingand management. It extends to software intelligence, multi-agent andontology systems, computer networks, digital signal processors andembedded system technologies.



The University of Liverpool’s expertise inautonomous systems encompasses boththe practical construction of hardwarefor autonomous systems, the developmentof autonomous software to operate therelevant hardware, and detailed analysisof such software.

Sample applicationTransformer monitoringThe power transformer is one of the most important and expensivecomponents of power system plant. A large 400-kV unit can cost inexcess of £2 million. With more than 700 power transformers currentlyoperating in the UK’s national grid, it is essential to closely monitor theirin-service behaviour to avoid catastrophic failures, costly outages andloss of supply.

National Grid plc has been trialling an intelligent transformer monitoringsystem developed by the University’s e-Automation Laboratory. Installedfor pilot operation at one of the company’s sub-stations, it has been runsuccessfully on a supergrid transformer for more than a year.

Based on multi-agent and ontology technology, it comprises a series ofmodules including data acquisition, thermal model, data storage, loadability analysis and HTTP service. It has the potential to allow users toremotely monitor the working condition of all transformers in a network.National Grid plc plans to run simultaneous tests of the system in anumber of substations.

3.0 Complex SoftwareSoftware is now everywhere. It is evident in our interactions with emailsystems and online stores, but less obvious, perhaps, in some of thedevices we use every day: our cars, our boiler controllers, our washingmachines and digital televisions.

As the ubiquity of computer software increases, its complexity is also rising.Contemporary software doesn’t just follow a fixed list of instructions; it isexpected to be intelligent, adaptive, autonomous, interactive and resilient,even in the most unpredictable environments. These requirements makecontemporary software systems inherently complex – so much so thatthe breadth of its interactions may be beyond anyone’s comprehension.

The University of Liverpool has expertise in two key types of complexsoftware: autonomous systems, which allow a computational process todecide for itself what the best course of action is, and pervasive systems –networked processing devices and systems integrated into everydayobjects and activities. It also has expertise in computational markets – inother words, using intelligent software agents to manage electronic marketplaces, allocating resources to organise/streamline processes like financeand logistics.

3.1 Autonomous systems

Keywords: Autonomy; autonomous systems; autonomous software;autonomic systems; agent-based systems; reliability; trust; security

OverviewAutonomous systems are a response to the challenges associated withdirect human control of computer systems operating in dangerous orcomplex scenarios. They are used in hostile environments, remote areasor computational scenarios where speed is vital – for instance, electronictrading systems, where following the market is tedious and difficult forhuman users.

The principle behind an autonomous system is that it can ‘decide for itself’what its best course of action is in a given situation – and make thesedecisions without the need for human intervention. Can we be sure,however, that the system will indeed choose to do what it should do?Can we place our full trust in such systems? And what if the systemlearns new behaviour?

The University of Liverpool’s expertise in autonomous systemsencompasses both the practical construction of hardware forautonomous systems, the development of autonomous software tooperate the relevant hardware, and detailed analysis of such software.

This kind of analysis has identified a key requirement: it is vital tounderstand and control not only what the system does – but alsowhy it chooses to do this.



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ExpertiseThe University is particularly strong in the development of techniques,tools and applications based on the ‘agent’ concept. An agent is apowerful abstraction capturing the core elements of an autonomoussystem – uncertain models of its environment, the goals it wishes toachieve and the ways it has for deciding between conflicting goals.

Based on this abstract notion a whole field of work has developed,providing improved programming methods for developing autonomoussoftware, detailed analysis techniques for autonomous systems, andsophisticated mechanisms for effective collaboration and cooperationamongst autonomous entities.

The University of Liverpool specialises in:

Programming tools for autonomous software, specifically sophisticatedagent-based programming languages for developing autonomousapplications, including tools for developing bespoke languagesSoftware engineering methods for agent-based systemsMechanisms for ensuring co-operation, collaboration and negotiationbetween autonomous entitiesMathematical and logical methods for the modelling and analysisof agent-based systems, specifically automated verificationtechniques for exhaustively analysing the potential behaviours of amulti-agent system.

Specialist laboratories

The Liverpool Verification Laboratory specialises in the formal analysisand automated verification of autonomous systems. It has developedworld-leading agent verification tools and devised a route for thebespoke development of new agent languages which are bothsophisticated and verifiable.

The University’s Semantic Web Technologies Laboratory carries outresearch designed to support the development of the Semantic Weband the application of Semantic Web technologies.

Application areasThese currently range from aerospace, robotics and manufacturing tologistics, telecommunications and the Internet.

Information dissemination in public spacesOne significant application area has been the use of agents to supportinformation dissemination within public spaces. The University’s BluScreenproject has shown how agents can determine the most suitable contentfor display on a digital signage screen by exploiting game-theoreticapproaches, such as auctions and voting games, to detect multipleusers in an open environment.

Domain-specific information disseminationSince the preferences and information displayed can be domain-specific,ontological agreement between agents is critical. The University’sevolutionary ontology project has demonstrated that agents can exploitargumentation to converge on ontological definitions of concepts tosupport communication and conceptualisation of the displayed content.

Plans are now underway to migrate much of this work onto small mobilecomputing platforms such as Apple’s iPhone within the recently deployedLiverpool Computer Science MacLab.



The University of Liverpool bringscross-disciplinary expertise to suchproblems – from the application of ideasand concepts from economics, marketingand game-theory to the analysis andengineering of automated trading systemsand participating trading agents.

3.2 Computational marketsKeywords: Online markets; trading agents; computational economics;mechanism design; automated market design; alternative tradingsystems; dark pools; market modelling

OverviewThe rise of the Internet has led to many human activities moving online,particularly economic transactions. For instance, up to 70% of the sharestraded (by value) on the New York Stock Exchange each week are tradedby software programs which buy and sell shares automatically. Similarautomated trading systems operate in other commodity markets – eg.foreign exchange markets and markets for commodities like oil and coffee.

Despite the proliferation of automated trading systems, auctions and onlinetrading over the past decade, the science and engineering underpinningthese systems is still very immature. Many challenging problems have yetto be solved. One set of problems concerns the design and assessmentof effective trading strategies for automated software traders to use.What goals should the strategy seek to achieve? What historical marketinformation should be used? What learning mechanisms should beadopted? Another concerns the design and management of the tradingsystem itself. What overall goals should it seek to achieve? What rulesshould it follow? What behaviours should be encouraged or discouraged?

ExpertiseThe University of Liverpool brings cross-disciplinary expertise to suchproblems – from the application of ideas and concepts from economics,marketing and game-theory to the analysis and engineering of automatedtrading systems and participating trading agents.

Particular capabilities include:

The design, operation and management of automated tradingsystems and online marketplacesThe design and operation of automated trading strategies withinsuch markets (trading agents)The development of linked online marketplaces, such as those ina supply chain or those for markets of complementary goodsThe development of models of consumer decision-makingand tradingThe development of simulation models of marketplaces –for example modelling product diffusion over time, advertisingeffectiveness, word-of-mouth (WOM) impacts.

Facilities

JASA software platform (Java Auction Simulation API)JCAT software platform (Java CAT Market Design Tournamentplatform).

Application areasA key application in the medium term is the automated allocation ofanonymous computer processing resources – the so-called ‘Internetcloud’. This envisages the computer resources needed for large-scalebusiness or scientific processing tasks being provided automatically andanonymously, in the same way that electricity is provided to most homesand businesses. If this vision is realised, managers would not need tonegotiate use of the resources required for each new task, and businesseswould not need to concern themselves with providing the necessaryresources. Automated trading systems will be essential for the realisationof this vision.

The University is currently exploring this in collaboration withHewlett-Packard and an Irish start-up company, Ripple Software.


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3.3 Pervasive systems

Keywords: Pervasive systems; autonomic systems; ubiquitous systems;mobility; trusted computing

OverviewAs computational devices become smaller and faster, they arebecoming more and more prevalent at work, in our homes and in thewider environment. They are embedded in our mobile phones and PDAs,in most electrical appliances, in our clothes, our cars, in houses and streets.

Some of these computational devices operate in stand-alone mode,detecting and measuring. Others are designed to exploit advances inwireless communication and sensing capabilities by collaborating withother computational devices – forming a large, dynamic network withcapabilities ranging from sensing and computation to prediction andanalysis. Such systems are known as ‘pervasive systems’ or ‘ubiquitoussystems’ and can take very many different forms.

These systems present a number of challenges. In what innovative wayscould they be harnessed? How should the software be constructed inorder to achieve a particular system’s goals – and how can we ‘trust' suchsystems? Research undertaken by computer scientists at the Universityof Liverpool is helping to create solutions.

ExpertiseProgramming pervasive systemsPervasive systems are distributed, dynamic and interacting. They exhibitthree characteristics that are problematic from the perspective of traditionalsoftware development – they are autonomous, humans are an active andimportant part of the system, and they are truly mobile.

Engineering software for pervasive systems requires novel approaches,so the University is developing and applying sophisticated programminglanguages and development methods which combine autonomouscomputation with context-awareness.

Using pervasive systemsThe modularity and mobility of pervasive systems necessitates run-timeinteroperability between different components. As new and diverse devicesare deployed within the environment, or hitherto unseen services arediscovered, these components need to determine how to communicateand exploit the available services autonomously.

To facilitate this, the University is developing mechanisms to resolveheterogeneities in terminology and assumptions in interface definitions.It is currently investigating this in the context of discovering location-dependent services using mobile devices within cultural sites suchas museums and art galleries.

Creating trusted pervasive systemsPervasive systems typically contain numerous sensors/computationaldevices which can acquire and provide access to a great deal ofinformation and facilitate far-reaching computations. This raises questionsabout the reliability and security of such systems. If computational devices‘know’ our status and our position and can track our route, for instance,can we be sure that they won’t allow such sensitive information to becommunicated to undesirable parties?

The University is developing techniques for the mathematical analysis ofpervasive systems which will make it possible to assess the security andreliability of such systems before they are deployed.



Sensor networks can incorporate a widevariety of devices, including sensorsembedded in our immediate and widerenvironment – for instance, body sensors(eg. accelerometers, GPS and gyroscopes)concealed in clothes or mobile electronicsand standard wavelength/infrared cameras


Sensor networksSensor networks can incorporate a wide variety of devices, includingsensors embedded in our immediate and wider environment – for instance,body sensors (eg. accelerometers, GPS and gyroscopes) concealed inclothes or mobile electronics and standard wavelength/infrared cameras.

This diversity could facilitate novel applications – for instance, theelectronics industry might consider powering devices by scavengingbiomechanical human body energy generated by movement.

Since context-awareness is key, electrical engineers at the Universityhave used advanced signal/image processing algorithms, statistical dataanalysis and machine learning methods to combine and fuse differentsensory signals, enabling the detection of the various movements andactivities performed by humans.

Specialist laboratories

The Liverpool Verification Laboratory is developing techniques andtools for the modelling, analysis and security checking of designs forpervasive software.

The University’s Semantic Web Technologies Laboratory is developinggame-theoretic and argumentation-based techniques for autonomousresolution of semantic heterogeneity, and tools for the alignment of,and reasoning between, ontologies to support communication inpervasive environments.

4.0 e-BusinessKeywords: e-Business, enterprise resource planning (ERP);management information systems; SAP

OverviewThe advent, growth and wide acceptance of software, local area networksand the Internet has made it possible for businesses to harness informationand communication technologies to support business processes spanningthe entire value chain. ‘e-Business’ now encompasses electronic tenderingand purchasing, supply chain management, the electronic marketing,ordering and processing of orders, customer services, operationsmanagement and logistics.

The University of Liverpool was one of the first in the UK to grasp the fullpotential of e-business. It has been researching and developing innovativee-business solutions since the 1990s.

ExpertiseThe University’s expertise extends from the fundamental technologythrough the construction of entire systems to understanding andaddressing strategic issues. It has particular expertise in:

Management information systemsEnterprise resource planning (ERP)Supply chain integrationTrack-and-trace technologye-Marketplacese-Government.


Complex Software // e-Business 101

ApplicationsThe University applies its expertise to the conceptualisation, developmentand testing of novel e-Business applications. It does this in collaborationwith business and has collaborated with multinational companies (eg. theFord Motor Company, BAE Systems, Lear, Cargill and Unilever) andSMEs alike.

Sample applications include:

Managing offset work packagesOffset work packages can be difficult to manage if the supplier hasdifferent working methods and systems, making it difficult to spotproblems at an early stage, let alone assess knock-on effects. WhenAirbus UK offset work packages from its A340 and A320 programmesto Korean Aerospace Industries, it invited the University to analysethe business processes underpinning its collaboration with KAI.This revealed a number of 'mismatches' and inefficient processes.

The University re-engineered these processes and developed sharedelectronic applications to support them, including a top-level projectplanning system, a spreadsheet-based production scheduling system,a memo system for registering engineering enquiries and a reportingsystem to record what was achieved the previous week, any ongoingissues, actions planned for the following week and decisions whichAirbus UK needed to make. To access these shared applications,Airbus UK and KAI logged into a secure, Internet-based extranet.

e-QMS SystemThe University developed an e-QMS system for Alphasonics Ltd, acompany which designs and manufactures cleaning equipment forthe printing industry.

Facilities

Interactive computer labs with SAP, witness simulation/modellingand other advanced software development toolsExtensive server facilities.



Specialist Centres, Facilities and LaboratoriesFurther information on specialist centres, facilities and laboratories can befound in a dedicated section (see page 142). Those which exploit and/orcontribute to the development of Digital Technologies include:




Centre for Cell ImagingCentre for Intelligent Monitoring SystemsCentre for Mathematical Imaging TechniquesLiverpool Computer Science MacLabLiverpool Verification LaboratoryLiverpool NMR Centre for Structural BiologyMagnetic Resonance and Image Analysis Research CentreNational Instruments e-Automation LaboratorySemantic Web Technologies LaboratorySuperSTEM Laboratory


Liverpool SoftwareVerification Laboratory

Case Studies

Individual satellites have been deployed in spacefor more than 50 years. However, single largesatellites are impractical and inefficient as theyare heavy and prone to failure. An alternativeapproach is to deploy several much smallersatellites in formation, which work together tocarry out data collection/transmission tasks.

As these satellites cannot easily be controlled directly from Earth, theyare essentially autonomous – so how can we ensure that they willwork together, as required? And if a satellite should fail, can we relyon the others to self-organise to cope with this?

Computer scientists at the University of Liverpool are developing newprogramming languages for controlling such formation-flyingsatellites in collaboration with aerospace engineers at the Universityof Southampton. These languages mix high-level agent decision-making with traditional control systems used by aerospaceengineers. This approach gives the system more transparent andflexible mechanisms for selecting autonomous behaviour andsupporting co-operation.

These languages have a strong logical/mathematical basis, and arebeing developed within the University’s flexible software verificationframework. This means there is potential to carry out deep formalanalysis of the programmed behaviours in order to ensure that therequired behaviour is exhibited in all appropriate scenarios.



Management& Enterprise




Supporting entrepreneurshipGrowing enterprisesSupply chain managementLogisticsFostering innovationStrengthening leadershipFacilitating strategic changeMaking organisationsresilientQuality

Focus of Expertise

Private sectorPublic sectorCommunitiesRegionsEmerging marketsService industriesSocial challengese-Business

Services

Action researchMarket researchHistorical researchConsultancyMentoringMaster classesContinuous professionaldevelopmentMasters programmes

Application Areas

Manufacturing sectorRetailTourismFinancial servicesDistributionNon-departmental publicbodiesGovernment/localgovernmentUtilities

Overview

1.0 Entrepreneurshipand Business Start-up

2.0 Gaining andmaintaining acompetitive edge

2.1 Innovation2.2 Operations Management

and e-Business2.3 Accounting and finance2.4 Business continuity and

crisis management2.5 Knowledge, learning

and strategic change

3.0 Public SectorManagement

4.0 Managing andMarketing Services

5.0 International BusinessHistory

KeyCapabilitiesThe University of Liverpool has in-depthknowledge of many world regions – mostnotably the Balkans, Latin America, Westand South Africa, South Asia and China.It has expertise in economic development,modes of entry and the effective transferof competitive advantage to countries withdifferent business, legal and socio-culturalenvironments. Achieving the latter, inparticular, has become one of the trickiestaspects of international business strategy,leading to the development of a range ofmodels that can be applied in practice toovercome this range of challenges.

Reflecting the increasing importance of emerging markets as a focusfor growth and investment in the global economy, the University is ableto offer a range of expertise on business, government, law and culturesin emerging markets.

Much of its expertise resides in its full-spectrum management school,whose primary research focuses on growing enterprises, growinginnovation and growing communities and regions. These are mutuallyreinforcing and of great importance to the business world. Central tothis focus is the desire to prepare leaders for tomorrows challenges.

A real strength of the University is its ability to take ideas developed inone sector, such as manufacturing, and creatively apply these in verydifferent sectors – for example, applying a lean and agile philosophyand toolkit developed for the manufacturing sector to social care andhealth management.

The University of Liverpool Management School (ULMS) provides awide range of services, drawing from its extensive expertise, and isalways willing to discuss how these may be applied to the opportunitiesand problems faced by organisations. It has extensive experience ofworking with organisations in sensitive areas – be they concerned withcrisis, counter intelligence or boards of directors – and helping toimprove their effectiveness.


Management & Enterprise

1.0 Entrepreneurship and Business Start-upKeywords: Consultancy; mentoring; master classes; student projects;networks; regional engagement

OverviewIt is 30 years since the publication of a seminal report showing that a largeproportion of jobs created in the US had been generated not by Fortune500 or even Fortune 1,500 companies – but by small businesses and firms.This was an unexpected discovery which had an enduring impact oneconomists and policy-makers around the world. The Bolton Report,commission by the Labour Government in the 1970s, came to very similarconclusions about the importance of small firms to the UK economy.

The author, David Birch, subsequently distinguished two types of business:‘income substitution’ businesses, set up as an alternative means ofgenerating an income, and ‘entrepreneurial’ businesses, founded with aview to growing a substantial enterprise – and possibly selling it on andstarting all over again.

Since entrepreneurial businesses make a crucial contribution to thedevelopment of a dynamic economy, there is much to be gained fromlearning as much as possible about ‘entrepreneurship’.

In its purest form, ‘entrepreneurship’ refers to individuals who found andgrow new businesses. By extension, it also refers to individuals in small orlarge firms who are concerned with identifying new business opportunities –often by creating new products or processes through innovation.

The University of Liverpool promotes the importance of entrepreneurshipand business start-up to its own students and the wider community. Itprovides learning opportunities for would-be and actual entrepreneurs atboth an individual and an organisational level. It engages with small andmedium-sized businesses (SMEs) in the region and it helps businessintermediaries to engage more effectively.

ExpertiseThe University has a range of capabilities associated with fosteringentrepreneurship and facilitating business start-up and subsequentbusiness growth.

ServicesThe University:

Runs workshops on entrepreneurial leadership and business growthOffers bespoke consultancyHelps small, entrepreneurial firms to address issues by means ofprojects undertaken by Masters students.

ApplicationsStrengthening high-tech SMEsThe University is a member of the ‘IDEAS at Daresbury’ partnership, whosemission is to promote effective knowledge exchange at the interfacebetween SMEs, large companies, universities and the public sector sciencebase. ‘IDEAS’ stands for innovation, design, entrepreneurship and science.

Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus (DSIC) was set up to minimisebusiness failure and accelerate business growth in high-tech SMEs throughopen innovation. The IDEAS programme fosters interaction between high-tech businesses, the public sector science base of the region’s universitiesand Daresbury Laboratory, and organisations providing business support,such as Business Link, the NorthWest Regional Development Agency(NWDA) and UK Trade & Investment (UKTI).

IDEAS helps to evaluate and enhance the performance of start-upbusinesses based at DSIC and high-tech SMEs in the wider North West.It runs workshops on three critical issues: customer-focused innovation,internal resources and competencies, and networks and collaborations.Participants are then given bespoke support in the form of two or threedays’ academic consultancy and mentoring, intensive master classes andtwo to eight week projects undertaken on their behalf by Masters students.


Research shows that successfulorganisations continually stepoutside their comfort zone,embrace creative disorder andregularly break accepted norms.In other words, they innovate.

EntrepreneurshipandBusiness Start-up //GainingandMaintainingaCompetitive Edge 107

2.0 Gaining andMaintaining aCompetitive Edge

2.1 Innovation management

Keywords: Technology foresight; technology forecasting; creativity;invention; new product development; strategy; business model;leadership

OverviewResearch shows that successful organisations continually step outside theircomfort zone, embrace creative disorder and regularly break acceptednorms. In other words, they innovate.

Despite this, many organisations are reluctant to embrace innovation. It isa challenging concept: it seems to stand in direct opposition to conceptslike order, stability and conformance. And it is difficult to know where tostart. Companies may feel they lack the ability to identify or stimulate theircreative potential, let alone act on it. Moreover, innovation is challengingto implement. It requires bold leadership – particularly if it questionsconventional management wisdom or threatens established practices.

The University of Liverpool helps businesses to address three keyconsiderations: How do you identify innovation potential? How doyou initiate innovation? And how do you sustain it?

ExpertiseThe University’s Innovation Academy specialises in a range of business-contingent issues relating to technological, product, service, and businessmodel innovation. For instance:

Where to look for sources of innovationWhen to adopt an emerging technologyHow to refresh an existing product or service rangeHow to evolve from one business model to anotherWhat changes are required to make an organisation responsiveto innovation.

ServicesInteractive workshopsThese workshops help businesses and other organisations to overcomespecific innovation challenges they may be facing and deliver long-term,transformational value. These challenges range from issues relating toinnovation culture and strategy to issues arising from the proposedintroduction of specific processes, products or services.

The workshops are tailored to the needs of the specific organisation. Theydevelop a clear understanding of the organisation’s business objectives.If necessary, they transform the way the organisation perceives itself andresponds to competitive opportunities and threats. They generate a seriesof customised processes to address the issues identified, providingoutputs that are relevant and immediately applicable.

Executive educationThe University’s executive education forums help senior managers tounderstand and acquire competencies required to stimulate and embedinnovation within their own organisations. These one-day sessions fosterfresh thinking about innovation, as well as covering proven approachesto implementation of innovation. Peer-to-peer interaction is an importantfeature and participants are encouraged to share their experiences ofinnovation management and learn from each other.

ResearchInnovation Academy researchers often study business-related issues byimmersing themselves in businesses confronting particular issues. TheAcademy also draws on a wide range of research conducted by theUniversity itself and by third parties, addressing a broad spectrum ofchallenges faced by businesses. By capturing and distilling leading-edgeapproaches and concepts, it ensures that its clients benefit from the mostup-to-date thought leadership and support.



For further information on e-Business see section 4.0 ofDigital Technologies, page 101.

For further information on agility see section 1.5 ofAdvanced Manufacturing, page 56

Operations management is concerned withthe processes by which inputs, in the form ofmaterials, labour and energy, are convertedinto outputs, in the form of goods and services.It aims to ensure that operations are efficient –using as little resource as necessary, andeffective – in that theymeet customers’requirements.

2.2 Operations management and e-Business

Keywords: Operations management; supply chain management;logistics; management information systems; agility

OverviewOperations management is concerned with the processes by which inputs,in the form of materials, labour and energy, are converted into outputs,in the form of goods and services. It aims to ensure that operations areefficient – using as little resource as necessary, and effective – in thatthey meet customers’ requirements.

The University of Liverpool’s research in this area aims to help improvethe operations of individual organisations and whole supply chains. TheUniversity works in close partnership with business – in particular withthe manufacturing, logistics and service sectors, and with public sectororganisations. Its management expertise is enhanced by the involvementof chartered engineers, enabling it to span the gap between managementand technology with ease.

The University has amassed considerable expertise in improving businesscompetitiveness through lean enterprise, agility, enhanced logistics andmore effective supply chain management. It was one of the first in the UK toextend this into e-business and has a track record of devising and applyingnovel applications of e-Business and Internet technologies.

Its the Agility and Supply Chain Management Centre specialises in leanand agile manufacturing, bringing together experts in operationsmanagement and marketing.

Expertise

Supply chain management, including:Mass customisation and build-to-order concepts and theirimplications for supply chain managementCustomer-driven supply network designLean and responsive approaches to operations and supplychain designSupply network strategy development and performancemeasurementOperations strategy developmentTechnological innovation in supply chainsCollaborative planning.

Logistics, including:Outsourcing/purchasing/commissioning strategiesPhysical distribution and logistics, including third partylogistics operationsOptimisation of schedules and routes (distribution planning)using meta-heuristics, iterative search and artificial intelligencetechniques – eg. genetic algorithms and simulated annealingRail freight and its integration within wider supplychain managementTrack and trace technologies, such as radio frequency identification(RFID), and emergent business strategiesThe application of ‘lean thinking’, including tools such as valuestream mapping, 5S, Kaizen.

The development of agility within businesses and their operationsto meet the challenges of turbulent market placesThe optimisation of operations – eg. scheduling, resource allocation,layout, etcSimulation, to help in process and supply chain design andoptimisationTotal Quality Management (TQM), continuous improvement, SPC,benchmarking, etce-Business, enterprise resource planning (ERP) and managementinformation systems; expertise spans the fundamental technology,through the construction of entire systems to understanding strategicissuesSustainability and resilience to resource depletion – most notably‘peak oil’.


ApplicationsThe University’s expertise has been harnessed in numerous applications –for instance:

Intermodal port managementIt has devised a dynamic scheduling approach for port booking systems –assessing the priorities of booked deliveries by lorries queuing at LiverpoolContainer Port. It has created a prototype workflow model for integratedmaritime logistics network design, to enable the port to integrate shippingoperations and logistics-forwarding services with port operations controland customers’ operations.

Design of automatic identification and data collection(AIDC) system for logistics supply chainsThe University is developing approaches which will facilitate the optimaldesign of integrated tracking solutions through logistic supply chains –aligning standard functionality, technical specifications with differentbusiness contexts and interests in a logistics chain.

Resilient multi-plant networksIt is currently working on the design and prototyping of a user innovationplatform capable of harnessing the collective intelligence of a supply chainnetwork to support mass customisation opportunities.

Facilities and servicesInteractive computer labs with server facilities, SAP, simulation/modellingsoftware and other advanced software development tools.

2.3 Accounting and finance

Keywords: Financial reporting; international accounting standards;corporate governance

OverviewThe University has extensive expertise in the areas of financial reporting,corporate governance and finance.

ExpertiseFinancial reportingThe University has particular expertise in the application of internationalfinancial reporting standards (IFRS) which have been implementedthroughout the EU over the past few years. This is founded on researchinto a number of UK organisations which have adopted IFRS.

Corporate governanceThe University’s expertise derives from research into a number ofdifferent aspects of corporate governance. Current projects relate tocompanies’ ownership structures and their effect on corporate value, theimpact of Board characteristics on a company’s performance and its riskof default, the effect of ownership structure on the likelihood of filing forbankruptcy and the design and practice of executive incentive andremuneration structures.

FinanceThe University’s research expertise encompasses liquidity, financialflexibility and asset prices, and mutual fund performance.

109GainingandMaintainingaCompetitive Edge



2.4 Business continuity and crisis management

Keywords: Planning; simulation; learning; knowledge management;resilience; BS25999; counter-terrorism

OverviewBusiness continuity requires analysis and planning. It encompassespolicies, guidelines, standards, and procedures implemented by anorganisation to ensure that it can maintain its proper relationship withsuppliers, customers and third parties like banks, regulators and auditorsunder normal, day-to-day operating conditions. It is the rationale behindoperations like project management, system back-up, documentmanagement and so on.

Crisis management is concerned with the ways in which organisationsrespond to unpredictable events which threaten the organisation itself, itsstakeholders and/or the public. Examples of such events include naturaldisasters, technology failures such as power cuts, lawsuits, rumours,strikes, fraud, maverick actions like the tainting of food products, thedirect or indirect result of terrorist attacks.

The University of Liverpool has expertise in business continuity and aparticularly strong track record of research into organisational preparationsfor and responses to crisis, and learning from the experience – drawingon disciplines as diverse as psychology, engineering and management.

ExpertiseThe University can provide comprehensive support to organisationsconcerned with structural and technical resilience and is currentlydeveloping a framework to help organisations exploit social capital moreeffectively as a key means of building resilience. This will complementits work on materials, building and structural resilience.

Its expertise encompasses:

Knowledge managementMapping strategic strength and vulnerabilityBusiness continuityResilient materialsCounter terrorismOrganisational learning and crisis.

ApplicationsThe University has a track record of harnessing its expertise for the benefitof individual organisations. It has undertaken crisis simulations, businesscontinuity planning and vulnerability analyses, among other projects, forclients as diverse as BP, Ernst and Young, PricewaterhouseCoopers,Emirates, RBS, Merrill Lynch, BNP Paribas, J Sainsbury and thegovernment of Lesotho.

The institution recently completed a three-year, industry-sponsored studyof business continuity practice across numerous different sectors. Thisyielded a rich picture of current management practice in preparing forcrisis and valuable insights into what constitutes good practice, as wellas a better understanding of the impact of the new business continuitystandard, BS25999.

Services

Preparing for BS25999Crisis auditingCrisis simulationsCrisis management training.


Knowledgeand learning enable organisationsto analyse their current situation and adapttheir strategies and practices to help themreach their desired situation. They can alsobe a source of differentiation fromcompetitors and a foundation for impactfulbusiness results.

GainingandMaintainingaCompetitive Edge 111

2.5 Knowledge, learning and strategic change

Keywords: Organisational learning practice; strategic change;knowledge management; dynamic capability

OverviewMaintaining an organisation’s competitiveness requires ongoing monitoringof internal and external forces affecting the organisation itself and itsoperating environment. In order to respond proactively to uncertaintiesinherent in the ever-changing global market place, strategies and practicesmust be reviewed and may need to be revised.

Knowledge and learning enable organisations to analyse their currentsituation and adapt their strategies and practices to help them reach theirdesired situation. They can also be a source of differentiation fromcompetitors and a foundation for impactful business results.

Mobilising existing knowledge and developing the capacity to learn whilstresponding dynamically are critical capabilities exhibited by leaders andorganisations that are helping to shape their markets.

ExpertiseThe University has extensive expertise in reviewing organisational strategiesand practices and harnessing knowledge and learning in support ofstrategic change. This has been garnered through research carried outin organisations from a wide range of sectors – for example, financialservices, management consulting, biopharmaceuticals, engineering,aerospace and construction.

This research has enabled the University to acquire theoretical andpractical insights which can be applied generically – providing a basis forthe design and introduction of pragmatic initiatives. The institution has atrack record of designing learning and knowledge management strategies,and instigating successful cultural change programmes.

Much of this work has been undertaken in collaboration with theorganisations concerned. GNOSIS is a research initiative which activelyengages academics, business practitioners and policy makers in theco-creation of knowledge for action. Its objective is to deliver impactthrough ideas that make a difference to policy, business practiceand scholarship.

Services

Collaborative research drawing on action learning principlesConsultancyCoaching sessions for senior executivesWorkshops on basic/advanced principles of managing learning,knowledge and change in organisationsKnowledge/learning/innovation auditsExecutive-in-Residence initiatives enabling senior executives tospend time in GNOSIS actively working on specific researchprojects and developing critical thinking skills that enhancestrategic decision making.



Expectations of quality remain high andthere is a demand for new and innovativeresponses from national, regional and localpublic agencies alike – yet the resourcessupporting innovation and themaintenanceof quality seem likely to diminish.

3.0 Public Sector ManagementKeywords: National government; devolved government; localgovernment; health services; housing; partnership; innovation;policy-making; governance; accountability; diversity

OverviewIn the present climate, the challenges facing public service managers arebecoming more acute. Expectations of quality remain high and there is ademand for new and innovative responses from national, regional and localpublic agencies alike – yet the resources supporting innovation and themaintenance of quality seem likely to diminish.

Leaders are being asked to work in new ways, with new partners, toachieve a concerted impact which is demonstrable and measurable.This means that building trust, developing shared vision and creatingspaces for innovative local responses to the social, environmental andeconomic challenges of the coming years must lie at the heart ofcontemporary public sector management. This, in turn, demands agreat deal more flexibility in the way we think about services and theirdelivery, new ways of working, and new skills.

ExpertiseThe University of Liverpool has a long-standing reputation in the field ofpublic management research, education and training. This derives fromthe University’s conviction that it can help to transform public servicesby working in partnership with public sector agencies – and from actingupon this conviction.

It has an excellent track record, examples include University expertsworking as non-executives on parliamentary services boards – with theWales TUC, with Assembly Government-sponsored bodies in Wales,and with non-departmental public bodies in England.

University staff have also acted as expert advisors to a range ofgovernment and parliamentary authorities – advising, for example, onpoliticians' pay and expenses (expert advisor to the Sir Roger Jones Panelon Assembly Members' Pay and Support, Oct 2008-July 2009); on selectand scrutiny committee operation; on accountability lessons betweenpublic, private and third sectors; and on coalition and minority governmentformation and operation.

They have also worked on projects specifically commissioned by politicalparties. Two such initiatives involved improving diversity profiles in theirapproved election candidate lists, and projects commissioned by individualpoliticians at both local and national levels.

The University is currently working with a number of national and localagencies to foster better policy-making, develop middle-managers, andtransform services.

Facilities and services

Short courses for managers on contemporary challengesContinuing Professional Development programmesMasters programmes aimed at graduate trainees ormiddle-managersResearch and consultancy services.


Public SectorManagement //ManagingandMarketing // International BusinessHistory 113

4.0 Managing andMarketing ServicesKeywords: Tourism marketing/management; retailmarketing/management; place marketing/management;consumer behaviour; customer experience

OverviewOrganisations offering services are found in the private, publicand voluntary sectors. They may be microbusinesses or very largeorganisations – such as the National Health Service. Service-basedorganisations differ in several key ways from businesses offeringproducts. This has led to the development of different approaches tothe management of such businesses and the marketing of their offerings.

ExpertiseThe University’s expertise in service management encompasses areaslike service orientation, service innovation, ‘servicescape’ design, servicequality and the service marketing mix. It is currently conducting researchinto other issues of interest to service organisations – such as the service-dominant logic of marketing and service science.

The University specialises in understanding the customer/consumerexperience. It has considerable expertise in research methods rangingfrom conventional questionnaire surveys, focus groups and in-depthinterviews to more innovative methods – including multiple auto-ethnographic accounts and customer-critic approaches, which aremore appropriate for researching consumer life-worlds and experiences.

The University’s Centre for Experiential Consumption Studies takes aninterdisciplinary approach to the study of the consumer experience andconsumption. Through continued support and development of existingconsumer groups it conducts research into a wide range of experientialconsumption topics, relevant to consumers and their quality of life,as well as clients in private, public and not-for-profit sectors.

ApplicationsThe University has worked with numerous organisations interested inimproving customer experiences. These range from small and medium-sized businesses and larger companies – such as the Mersey Partnership,The Co-operative Travel and Brand Vista – to public sector organisationsincluding the British Library.

5.0 International Business HistoryKeywords: Corporate history; longitudinal studies; strategy; structure;competitive positioning; financial composition; corporate identity;stakeholder engagement; strategic decision-making

OverviewThe University of Liverpool has considerable expertise in identifyingbusinesses which have had a significant impact on the economy ofBritain and other countries, and researching their histories. Its expertiseextends from British to European, North American, Latin American,Far Eastern and African business history.

The resulting histories can have a profound impact on the way firmsperceive themselves and engender a stronger sense of corporateidentity. They can encourage stakeholders to identify more closely withthe firm or organisation. They can explain an organisation’s past strategies,structures and competitive positions and inform its understanding of itscurrent position.

This kind of research can also inform current strategic, financial andmarketing decision-making, and influence knowledge and technologytransfer strategies.

ApplicationsThe University is currently working with the Co-operative Group, whoseunique story is particularly resonant in view of the current crisis in modernfinancial capitalism and the vicissitudes associated with orthodox economicthinking.

University historians are producing a definitive history of this importantorganisation, and making a range of contributions to its educationalactivities – including an interactive website and material for schools.

Facilities and services

Extensive knowledge of available resourcesArchival experienceLibrary databases.



Specialist Centres, Facilities and LaboratoriesFurther information on specialist centres, facilities and laboratories canbe found in a dedicated section (see page 142). Those most relevant toManagement & Enterprise include:




Agility and Supply Chain Management CentreCentre for Enterprise and Entrepreneurial LeadershipCentre for Experiential Consumption StudiesInnovation Academy


Business Continuity

Case Studies

Business continuity is concerned with minimisingthe risk of crisis and developing the ability torespond to unexpected events in ways thatprotect customers, communities and otherstakeholders by enabling organisations tocontinue their value-adding activities.

In an effort to protect and enhance the City of London’s competitiveposition internationally, the Financial Services Authority (FSA)organises a regular business continuity benchmarking survey ofutilities and large finance sector organisations. Now, following therecent launch of the Business Continuity Standards (BS25999),business continuity practice will diffuse across all business sectors.

Research being undertaken by the University of Liverpool shouldfacilitate evidence-based development of business continuity practicein years to come. It is being sponsored by a consortiumof organisations, including the Cabinet Office, the BBC, ICM, BP andthe Royal Bank of Scotland.

Preliminary findings from this three-year study challenge the FSA’sfocus on the protection of organisations’ facilities and IT systems.They suggest that, as a first step, organisations should identify howthey create value, rather than focusing immediately on facilities and IT.

“This project illustrates the real valueof research; bringing together Universityexpertise, private and public sector know-how, with Government, working togetherto develop not only business resiliencebut challenging in a constructive way,the orthodoxy around how we prepareforand respond to crises.”

Professor Dominic ElliottUniversity of Liverpool Management School



Safety &Security




Measure development/validationAssessment/benchmarkingPredictionImprovementDebriefingSimulation-based trainingDetectionSustainability

Focus of Expertise

EmployeesOrganisationsCrowds/the publicSystems/processesSoftwareFoodMaterialsPharmaceuticals

Relevant Disciplines

Psychology/socialpsychologyManagementMathematics/computingPhysicsClimate scienceCrop sciencePhysicsInfectious diseases/pestsPharmacogenetics


AgricultureAir travelConstructionFinancial servicesFisheriesFoodFootballLogisticsNational securityOil & gasPetrochemicalPharmaceuticalPolicePower generationSteel

1.0 OrganisationalSafety and Risk

1.1 Industrial safety1.2 Operational risk1.3 Occupational health

and safety

2.0 Public Safety2.1 Managing crowds2.2 Managing critical

and major incidents

3.0 Security3.1 Homeland security3.2 Food security

KeyCapabilities

Safety is concerned with identifying conditionsin public spaces, infrastructure and transport,in workplaces and other institutions, in ourproperties, possessions and tools, and in oursocial, medical, consumer and businessdealings. If not addressed, it could inadvertentlylead to physical, occupational, social, financial,political, emotional, psychological, spiritual oreducational harm or damage as a result of poordesign, inappropriate strategies, error, accidentor failure.

‘Security’ is concerned with preventing or minimising the risk of deliberateattempts – by terrorists, for example – to threaten people, structures andprocesses which should otherwise be safe. The University of Liverpool isactive in both arenas.


Safety & Security

1.0 Organisational Safety and RiskTraditionally safety and risk culture have been associated with industryand major hazard sites. There is a long history of focusing on accidentsand injuries in industry, going back to the industrial revolution. At its mostbasic level, this relates to direct physical damage to workers from themachinery being operated. As we have become more aware, occupationalhealth has gained attention; this addresses some of the less directconsequences of poor work environments which may lead to stress and,from that, to ill health. It is only recently that concern with such issues hasbeen extended to encompass the implications for more generalperformance – for the health of the organisation itself.

Central to this is the organisation’s operational risk culture. Operationalrisk is the risk that arises from a variety of activities within an organisation.It is a consequence of its processes, procedures and the way inwhich these are applied or violated. This is different from, for example,market risk, which is a result of external market forces that are part ofeveryday business.

Although industrial safety and physical injury may seem far removed from amajor financial loss within a bank, evidence suggests that the fundamentalprocesses are the same across the different sectors and outcomes.University of Liverpool research shows that similar cultural and attitudinalfactors play a role in both industrial safety and loss in the financial sector.

1.1 Industrial safety

Keywords: Accident rates; plateau; safety culture; benchmarking; safetyattitudes; safety performance; safety improvement; lost time reduction

OverviewAfter major disasters, media attention often focuses on the safety of thehardware and the competence of the operators – for instance, the signals,the track and the driver, in the case of a rail crash. However, the root of theproblem could lie in the organisation's safety culture.

In the 1970s and early 1980s, there was a strong emphasis on improvingindustrial safety through changes to hardware and working practices.This led to accident rates falling significantly – but many organisationsfound that their accident rates reached a plateau, below which they wereunable to go. Inquiries often revealed that insufficient attention had beenpaid to human factors like attitudes to safety, and the climate and cultureof the organisation.

The University of Liverpool has long-established expertise in bench-markingindividual companies’ safety attitudes, developing bespoke programmes ofsafety improvement initiatives, and re-assessing safety attitudes followingtheir implementation.

ExpertiseIn the 1990s, University psychologists developed a unique measure ofsafety attitudes and demonstrated a correlation between safety attitudesand safety performance in a major steel manufacturer. The Health & SafetyExecutive contracted the University to develop more generic measures andto validate them in a wide range of companies.

This led to the development of a standardised 'safety attitude questionnaire'which can be used throughout industry, and can be adapted to meetidiosyncratic needs of particular industries or companies.

The safety attitude questionnaire has been translated into numerouslanguages including German, French, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Greekand Chinese. Research in other countries has consistently demonstrated aclear correlation between safety performance and safety attitude, indicatingthat the measure developed has cross-cultural validity.

ApplicationsThe University originally devised and tested its early measure of safetyattitudes in collaboration with British Steel. When the companyimplemented the safety initiatives recommended by the University, thenumber of ‘lost time’ accidents reduced to zero in several hazardousplants. British Steel subsequently embedded these safety initiatives in itstotal quality performance programme.

Since then the University has worked with well over 100 companies andindustrial sites in the UK and mainland Europe – principally in the steel,chemical, oil and power generation industries, and, more recently, theconstruction industry. Its clients include BP, Calor, Arbed, Nuclear Electric,Scottish Power and Scottish Hydro-Electric.


1.2 Operational risk

Keywords: Financial services; risk culture; benchmarking; risk attitudes;risk performance; correlation; predictive measures

OverviewIn 2008, Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy citing debts of $613 billion,while RBS, Citigroup and Wells Fargo lost $59.3 billion, $53 billion and$47.8 billion respectively and were saved from bankruptcy by injections ofcash from tax payers. Directly or indirectly, these catastrophic losses werea result of sub-prime mortgage lending.

On a less eye-watering scale, several banks have lost more than$1 billion due to single traders taking advantage of inadequate controls.Many more have sustained relatively trivial losses which, when combined,add up to a non-trivial loss. These sums may not rock a bank to itsfoundations, but they ramp up its risk profile, particularly if the lossesresult from operational weaknesses.

Operations involve a complex and interdependent mix of people, systemsand processes, and responsibility for minimising operational risk ofteninvolves several different departments. This makes operational risk acultural as well as a managerial issue.

The University of Liverpool was ahead of the banking crisis in profilingoperational risk in financial service companies, in the same way thatindustrial companies are profiled in respect of their safety culture. Themeasures it developed have demonstrated the relationship betweenoperational risk culture and various areas of finance including productselling, trading and general banking.

ExpertiseThe University was the first to develop and use a set of empirically-basedorganisational risk culture measures which it devised, tested and refinedwith the support of the Financial Services Authority (FSA), the Institute ofInternal Auditors (IIA) and six financial services companies. Thesemeasures provided clear evidence that certain risk culture factors arecapable of predicting a financial organisation’s propensity for errors whichcould lead to significant financial losses.

There were significant differences between the six organisations on almostall the factors measured. There was a clear correlation between the level oflosses sustained and the nature of the organisation’s risk culture. The lesswell a company performed against four particular measures, the greaterwere their losses.

ApplicationsThe banking crisis underlines the need for financial institutions to gain muchbetter insights into their operational risk culture. The University is keen toapply its expertise for the benefit of this sector and the economyas a whole.

1.3 Occupational health and safety

Keywords: Accidents; behaviour modification; health; risk assessment;stress

OverviewOccupational health and safety (OHS) is concerned with the managementof workplace risk through better understanding and management ofemployee behaviour. In broad terms, OHS focuses on the cultural andattitudinal factors that lead to risk-taking behaviours (for example, short-cuts) and stress – and from these, ill-health. This focus is based on a bodyof evidence showing that by addressing human and cultural factors it ispossible to reduce accidents and stress-related ill health beyond thatachieved by improving hardware and working practices alone.

The University of Liverpool has a track record of research carried out incollaboration with industry and other sectors exposed to some form of risk.These collaborations have informed the development and administration ofbespoke applications designed to identify risk and introduce appropriateimprovement initiatives.

The University of Liverpool has a track recordof research carried out in collaboration withindustry and other sectors exposed to someform of risk. These collaborations haveinformed the development andadministration of bespoke applicationsdesigned to identify risk and introduceappropriate improvement initiatives.

Organisational Safety andRisk 119


Safety & Security

Why does the psychology ofa crowd sometimes differ fromthat of the individuals formingthe crowd?

ExpertiseThe University’s collaboration with the UK’s Health and Safety Executiveinitiated the development of a proven tool for identifying an organisation’srisk of accidents by measuring employees’ attitudes towards safety.

The University also has growing expertise in the psychological processesunderlying OHS management – derived from work on the importance oftrust (carried out in the oil and gas industry) and work on the role ofemployees’ motivation (focusing particularly on the construction industry).

It is currently researching ways to promote active safety engagementamong supervisors with support from the Institution of Occupational Safetyand Health. This understanding is vital for the promotion of an effectivemanagement system that promotes healthier and safer employees.

Services

Company-wide safety climate surveysFocus groups on safety/health related issues with the full range ofoccupational groupsSafety interventionsShort-term, solution-driven research.

ApplicationsThe tool developed by the University to measure employees’ safetyattitudes has been used in a number of UK and European industrialcontexts to benchmark safety and to form the basis of strategicinterventions. Follow-up surveys and monitoring have shown significantimprovements in safety performance.

Interventions have been carried out with major national and internationalutilities companies, including power generation and distribution; heavyindustry in a number of European countries; the petrol-chemical industryindustry. The broad but detailed foundation provided by the safety attitudemeasure has been important in ensuring the success of the University’sinterventions.

2.0 Public Safety2.1 Managing crowds

Keywords: Individuals; crowds; crowd psychology; public orderpolicing; events; violence; escalation; de-escalation; overwhelming force;indiscriminate force; low-profile policing

Overview'Crowd' is a neutral term used to describe a lot of individuals goingabout their business in the same area – commuting perhaps, orshopping – as well as groups of people with a common purpose, like tennisfans watching the big screen outside Wimbledon. However, crowds caneffect dramatic social change, by-passing established processes –as in the French Revolution and more recently the ‘Orange Revolution’in Ukraine in 2004-05. Crowds forming for peaceful purposes can changecharacter, turning demonstrations into riots – like the poll-tax protests inLondon in 1990.

Why does the psychology of a crowd sometimes differ from that of theindividuals forming the crowd? The most persuasive theorist was GustaveLe Bon, who pathologised crows, arguing that they drove people toabandon personal responsibility, surrender to contagious emotions andcarry out irrational actions. His ideas attracted the interest of Hitler andMussolini, and influenced policing methods around the world.

Today we know that if police forces adopt high-profile policing methodsbased on Le Bon’s theories, they can inadvertently contribute to theprocess through which collective violence emerges in crowds.

The University of Liverpool has played a key role in obtaining empiricalevidence showing that indiscriminate use of overwhelming force iscounter-productive, and that crowds respond most positively to low-profilepolicing. The institution is now one of the world’s leading centres ofscientific expertise on crowd psychology and public order policing, andhas particular expertise in crowd management approaches in relation tofootball matches with an international dimension.


ExpertiseThe University’s expertise is derived primarily from gathering data on thedevelopment of riots at major football tournaments like the EuropeanChampionships and the World Cup. This encompasses structured,quantitative data, recorded in real time in the field, and qualitative datagathered from the police and fans.

After observing events at dozens of international matches, researchersfound that the risk posed by crowd events is dynamic: it moves along acontinuum from low to high – and sometimes back again. This movementis determined by group interaction, and this can be managed more – orless – effectively by different forms of police deployment.

Thanks to the University’s research, European police forces now have asolid scientific basis for accepting that the nature of their own interactionswith crowds – like groups of football supporters – exerts a strong influenceon crowd behaviour and on the outcome of initial disturbances.

ApplicationsConsultancyThe University was a leading consultant to the Public Security Police inPortugal (PSP) during its preparations for the 2004 European FootballChampionships.

The University has also worked with a variety of other police, governmental,football and fan organisations, including the Council of the EuropeanUnion, CEPOL (the European Police College), the UK Home Office,the Associations of Chief Police Officers in England, Wales & Scotland,the United Kingdom Football Policing Unit, Police Academies of theNetherlands, Portugal, Scotland and Sweden, the New South WalesPolice in Australia, UEFA, FIFA’s Daniel Nivel Foundation, and theFootball Supporters Federation.

The University has also provided consultancy to Her Majesty’s Inspectorateof the Constabulary in its inquiry of public order policing following theG20 Demonstrations in London in 2009.

Handbooks and trainingIn 2005, the University’s research findings and conclusions wereincorporated into the European Union Handbook on International PoliceCooperation and Measures to Prevent and Control Violence in the areaof football related violence.

The University played a major role in developing a framework for a pan-European training programme for police personell, funded by the EuropeanCommission. This involves a formal partnership between 29 Europeancountries at the level of Interior Ministry or National Police Authority.

Drawing upon its expertise, the University offers a professionaldevelopment course in major event management that is relevantfor those dealing with large scale crowd events.

Public Safety 121


Safety & Security

Natural disasters on the scaleof Hurricane Katrina and theIndian Ocean tsunami arecritical incidents with fewparallels, but small-scaleincidents can also presentsignificant challenges.

For further information see ‘specialist centres, facilties & laboratories’on page 142.

2.2 Managing critical andmajor incidents

Keywords: Natural disasters; accidents; terrorist attacks; criminalbehaviour; pandemic; operational practice; retrospective debriefing;prospective assessment; simulation-based-training; fidelity;immersion; resilience

OverviewNatural disasters on the scale of Hurricane Katrina and the Indian Oceantsunami are critical incidents with few parallels, but small-scale incidents canalso present significant challenges. Even the murder of a single individual,such as the former Russian security agent Alexander Litvinenko, can havesignificant international repercussions. Decisions made by agenciescoordinating the response can have a beneficial impact on the lives ofindividuals, families and communities involved – or a shattering impact.

Although the quality of military decision-making has benefited fromindependent analysis for some years, until recently there was littleresearch on police decision-making. This is no longer the case, thanksto the University of Liverpool, which has focused its attention on themanagement of critical and major incidents.

The University’s research in this area is guided by practitioners’ needs.Its outputs have both operational and strategic value. Its analyses havehelped to shape developments in critical incident management byhighlighting best operational practice and advising on methods to enhancedecision-making skills and other competencies. It has helped to build futureresilience in areas as diverse as counter-terrorism, rape and murderinvestigations, rescue and recovery following disasters for a wide range ofpublic sector agencies at levels ranging from local (for example, individualpolice forces) to national (such as the Home Office) and international(including the US Department for Homeland Security).

The University’s expertise is derived primarily from the work of itsspecialist Centre for Critical and Major Incident Psychology (CAMI). Thiswas founded on two key principles: pragmatic research which has realworld value, enabling CAMI to provide the scientific evidence required tohelp governments, the public sector and industry to become more agileand responsive in enhancing public safety, and training, which CAMIprovides to professionals from police services and other agencies.

Knowledge exchange is a central tenet of CAMI’s work. In the past fiveyears it has contributed to the training of more than 800 professionalsfrom police services and other agencies and gathered (as data) theexperiences of over 4,000. Through CAMI, the University has been ableto establish the only dedicated postgraduate course within a RussellGroup university aimed directly at a student cohort of serving officers,with graduates ranking from Detective Sergeant to Chief Superintendent.

ExpertiseMuch of the University’s expertise has been gained through the exploitationof two particular technologies devised at the behest of Britain’s Associationof Chief Police Officers – a debriefing e-focus group tool known as ‘10kV’and a simulation-based training system called ‘Hydra’.

10kV10kV enables people who were involved in coordinating a critical incidentto discuss it in-depth, in a structured way – and, above all, anonymously.Its name reflects the fact that co-ordinating a critical incident can feel likebeing hit by a significant voltage.

Launched in 1999, 10kV has been deployed to capture contemporaneousrecords of the experiences of professionals involved in the most high profilepolicing incidents of the last decade – for example, the Soham murders,the explosion at the Buncefield oil depot, the Ipswich prostitute murders,the bombs detonated in London in July 2005, the poisoning of AlexanderLitvinenko, hostage negotiations in Iraq, a hijack in Athens and the IndianOcean tsunami. It has also been used prospectively to assess securitypreparations for the 2012 Olympics.


Public Safety // Security 123

HydraEarly involvement in Hydra has helped to make the University of Liverpoolthe nonpareil for expertise in simulation based training (SBT). SBTscenarios range from terrorist attack to weather-related incidents, suchas climate change floods or a tsunami, and disease pandemics, as wellas threats to critical infrastructure such as grid failure. All threaten publicsafety; all involve high stakes and significant physical, financial andemotional risk. Hydra-based SBT has been delivered to practitionersfrom a range of agencies in the UK and overseas, including Singapore,US, China, Australia, Canada.

Some incidents happen only once in a career, so SBT is an indispensiblemeans of developing expertise. The University is at the forefront of researchcontributing to public policy and training in this area. The emerging picturereveals that many agencies still train for emergency preparedness byrelying on table-top exercises with inadequate fidelity and little evaluation oftheir pedagogical value. In light of this, the University is conducting ongoingresearch into immersion and enhancing psychological fidelity in SBT.

Other applicationsIn addition to delivering SBT and facilitating debriefs of front-line operations,the University makes significant contributions to public policy. For instance,it acts as an advisor to UK police forces on suspect interviewing, on the useand distribution of controlled drugs, and the development of policyon the policing of illegal drug use, and to the fire service on patterns ofoffender behaviour in relation to arson.

An ongoing counter-terrorism project is examining the causes ofradicalisation among vulnerable groups, for instance young people.This will inform the development of a tool to help practitioners identifysigns of vulnerability at the earliest stages and intervention strategiesto inhibit further radicalisation.

Facilities

Hydra suite – the only Hydra simulation training system in theworld to be installed in a university10kV debrief suite – only permanent installation in the worldThe Henri Tajfel Social Identity Laboratory – incorporating digitalrecording and editing suites designed to facilitate the study ofsmall group and inter-group interaction.

Services

SBT advice and designCritical incident trainingInvestigative advice and trainingSuspect interviewing advice.


Safety & Security

For further applications of gamma radiation, see section 1.3 ofDigital Technologies, page 91.

3.0 Security3.1 Homeland security

Keywords: Radioactive materials; gamma radiation detection; chargecollection in semiconductor devices; pulse shape analysis techniques;explosives; rapid luggage screening; neutron bombardment;elemental composition

OverviewThe destruction of two passenger planes in the 1980s by bombs hidden inhold-luggage introduced the world to a new and deadly terrorist threat.Airport security has tightened considerably, but the authorities lack some ofthe tools needed to do their work efficiently and effectively – for instance, acommercially viable way of identifying explosives in luggage without theneed to investigate by hand.

Nuclear terrorism is another major concern. It is believed that AlexanderLitvinenko was poisoned by a radioactive isotope, polonium-210, whichwas almost certainly smuggled into the UK. Radioactive materials couldalso wreak havoc on a much larger scale if they were used to make ‘dirtybombs’. Their existence alone could instil fear and panic in targetpopulations because of the threat of radiation poisoning. If they wereactually deployed, the immediate area would be contaminated for sometime, impeding clear-up operations, disrupting households and damagingthe economy.

Radioactive materials emit gamma rays, and explosives can be induced toemit gamma rays – so gamma ray detection offers a means of protectingair travellers and communities.

ExpertiseThe University has particular expertise in the development of the technologyneeded for gamma ray detection, gained through its nuclear physicsresearch. Its expertise encompasses a wide range of radiation detectortechnologies, in particular using sensors that have a position-sensitivereadout.

It has one of only three laboratories in the world which can characteriseposition-sensitive semiconductor detectors (including germanium andcadmium zinc telluride) that allow gamma-ray interaction positions to bedetermined to millimetre accuracy with the aid of pulse shape analysis.

ApplicationsThis expertise has already been harnessed in the development ofnovel devices.

Portable gamma ray spectrometerSince a number of the isotopes that are of interest in relation tohomeland security are gamma ray emitters, they can be identifiedthrough the spectroscopic measurement of the gamma rays theydischarge. A spectroscopic detector that can also provide an imageof the source, indicating its size and distribution, for example, wouldbe invaluable in detecting the illicit movement of radioactive material.

The University has co-developed a portable gamma ray spectrometerwith radiation detectors made from cadmium zinc telluride (CZT), whichcan function at ambient temperatures. CZT’s spectral response wasenhanced using charge correction algorithms informed by pulse shapeanalysis techniques developed to track the movement of gamma rayinteractions through germanium detectors with millimetre precision.This system will produce spectroscopic images that can both determinethe isotopes present and their location. This work is being carried out incollaboration with Centronic, Corus Northern Engineering and JohnCaunt Scientific Ltd. A demonstrator system is close to completion andwill produce spectroscopic images of any gamma ray-emitting isotope.If this proves successful, these companies will consider commercialisation.

The University is also working with BAE Systems on the developmentof a robust gamma ray spectrometer capable of being deployedin hostile working environments, where additional care needs to betaken in understanding the sensor performance in the particularworking environment.

The University has particularexpertise in the developmentof the technology needed forgamma ray detection, gainedthrough its nuclear physicsresearch. Its expertiseencompasses a wide rangeof radiation detector technologies,in particular using sensors thathave a position-sensitive readout.


Security 125

Detecting the ‘atomic fingerprint’ of explosivesAirports urgently need a commercially viable way of rapidly identifyingexplosives in luggage, without the need to investigate by hand. The X-raytechnology currently used to screen hold luggage is chemically blind;it can identify organic substances but cannot unambiguously discriminatebetween harmless substances such as cheese and potentially harmfulones, like Semtex.

In principle, technology based on neutron bombardment would overcomethis problem by identifying the elemental composition of items packed inhold luggage. These could then be compared to a database of 90,000chemicals, only two of which have the same composition as explosives.

The basic research required to translate this idea into viable technologywas carried out by four universities, led by the University of Liverpool.A prototype is nearing completion and will soon be tested using realexplosives. The project was undertaken in collaboration with industrypartners like John Caunt Scientific Ltd and BAE Systems, with the HomeOffice Scientific Development Branch, which advised on security policies,and with Manchester Airport plc, which advised on the airport environment.

3.2 Food security

Keywords: Population growth; availability; quality; access; climatechange; sustainability; engineering; resilience

OverviewThere is growing international recognition that the convergence of severaldifferent trends – most notably the world’s ever-increasing population,growing shortages of natural resources and climate change – is likely tothreaten global food security within a single generation, creating what theGovernment’s Chief Scientist, Professor Sir John Beddington, describesas ‘a perfect storm by 2030’.

‘Food security’ – defined as physical and economic access to food forall people at all times to meet dietary needs and food preferences –encapsulates a wide range of issues and concerns. Supply is one suchexample, encompassing subsidiary issues like volume, provenance anddiversity and resilience in the face of disruptions to the production andprocessing of raw food materials. Access is another, due to concerns abouttransport and distribution as well as food safety along the supply chain.Others include affordability and the related issue of poverty, sustainability infood production, including cropping and rearing practices, food quality andnutrition and impacts on health – and the related issueof consumer confidence.

Addressing the future global and national challenges of food securityrequires skills from many different disciplines and collaborations acrossdisciplinary boundaries. The University of Liverpool has relevant expertisein many relevant disciplines, ranging right across the institution from thehealth and life sciences to science and engineering and the social sciences.

Expertise

The University’s expertise encompasses:

Crop science and plant biotechnologyNutrient cyclingInsect pest management and infectious diseasesMarine and fisheries resources and managementRestoring degraded environmentsThe impact of climate change on health, water resourcesand food productionFood-borne diseasesFood security and livestockCarbon footprinting and farming sustainabilityStrategic supply chain management.


Safety & Security

Specialist Centres,Facilities and LaboratoriesFurther information on specialist centres, facilities and laboratoriescan be found in a dedicated section (see page 142). Those whichexploit and/or contribute to the development of safety & securityinclude:

Centre for Critical & Major Incident Psychology (CAMI)Centre for Drug Safety Science




To identify and capitalise on synergistic and complementary capabilitieswithin the institution, the University has recently established a ‘virtual’food security forum. This is fostering joined-up thinking and an integratedapproach to tackling the challenges posed by threats to food security,taking account of priorities set by governments and their agencies,NGOs, international agencies – and by business.

NetworkThe forum runs a network to provide a means of exchanging knowledge andideas amongst organisations – exploring the potential for innovativecollaborations and helping to shape and gain support for new initiatives.E-resources will be available via a dedicated website. Membership of thisnetwork is open to all individuals and organisations from the public, voluntaryand private sectors

The network will offer:

A series of bimonthly seminars, presented by experts from theUniversity and the wider worldThink-tank sessions to anticipate and shape the future direction ofresearchA channel for public engagement in food security policy, scienceand technology.

The seminars will be organised around interdisciplinary themes relating tofood security – for instance, genomic initiatives in crop science; livestockhealth; globalisation of food supply; the impacts of climate change on marineand terrestrial food production; natural resource management, carbonfootprint, food and health; and poverty alleviation.

Summaries of ‘think-tank’ discussions will be circulated to network members,while seminars will be video-recorded and published on the website.

In the immediate future, the network is focusing on:

The future and impact of biofuelsFood safety and animal zoonosesGenome sequencing and allele mining for new crop cultivarsand functional foodsAssessing ecosystem services, and their role in food productionand poverty alleviationUsing down-scaled global climate model outputs to regionalscenarios in support of climate change adaptation for food securityManaging food supply chains in a changing globalised world.


Security // Specialist Centres// Case Studies 127

Managing Crowds

Case Studies

Gangs of marauding football hooligansbattling with riot police might seem likean inevitable feature of major internationalfootball competitions, but that’s a misconception.By treating football violence as a crowdmanagement problem, social psychologistsfrom the University of Liverpool have helped toidentify and develop policing techniques whichcanminimise the impact of hooligans on large‘tribal’ crowds.

These techniques were put to the test at the 2004 EuropeanChampionships. Two years earlier, the host nation’s PublicSecurity Police (PSP) had invited Liverpool researchers and theirDutch collaborators to observe policing in Oporto and advise howit might be improved. The researchers presented their findings andrecommendations to all of Portugal's police commanders in 2003.

At the start of 2004, the PSP developed its policing strategy forEuro2004 – opting for low-profile policing whilst maintaining acapacity for rapid intervention, but calling on this only when anincrease in risk warranted it. This strategy was tested at threepotentially high-risk pre-Euro 2004 matches, where it was possibleto compare the impact of the national republic guard's traditionalhigh-profile policing methods with the PSP's new low-profileapproach. The fans' behaviour vindicated the PSP's low-profileapproach and reinforced earlier findings concerning the negativeimpact of routinely employing traditional high-profile policingirrespective of risk levels.

As a result of this research, European police forces have a solidscientific basis for accepting that the nature of their own interactionswith groups of football supporters exerts a strong influence on crowdbehaviour and on the outcome of initial disturbances. In 2005, thesescientific findings were encapsulated in addendums to the EuropeanUnion Handbook on International Police Cooperation and Measuresto Prevent & Control Violence & Disturbances in Connection withFootball Matches with an International Dimension.


Cities, Culture&Regeneration



TheoryEvidence baseEvaluation/impactassessmentStrategic/geodemographicanalysisProfilingDesign & modellingExhibitions/curationConservationTranslation & culturalawarenessPartnership

Focus of Expertise

Urban space/landscapesUrban renewalCultural policyCreativityCommunitiesInclusion/exclusionCultural industriesEuropean Capital of CultureLiteracy/readingSports

Disciplines

EconomicsHumanGeographyPlanningSociology & social policyHistoryArchitectureFilm studiesMusicArchive studiesModern languages


ArchitectureBusinessesCultural practitionersEconomic developmentHeritageNHS Trusts/hospitalsLibrariesMuseums & galleriesPolicy-makersSports bodiesTrade union & membersVisual arts

1.0 Research1.1 Regeneration potential

of cultural and creativeindustries

1.2 Social cohesion1.3 Culture research1.4 Architecture and the

visual arts1.5 History & heritage

management1.6 Film and media1.7 Music

2.0 Initiatives2.1 Community and

workplace engagement2.2 Active engagement in

culture

3.0 Consultancy andOutreach

3.1 Sports3.2 Languages and culture

KeyCapabilities

Many major cities are seeking to reinventthemselves in the face of profound social,technological and economic change.Cultural provision, in particular, has cometo play an increasingly important role inunderpinning urban regeneration.

The University is a key player in researching the relationships betweencultural policy, urban renewal, regeneration, inclusion and exclusion,as well as the governance of urban space, urban communities, orderand disorder. Much of this work has had a particular, though not exclusive,focus on Liverpool and its region, while emerging research has a broaderfocus on European cultural policy interventions.

Following the success of Liverpool’s year as European Capital ofCulture in 2008, the University has built up further knowledge andexpertise in relation to the arts and culture, and has been commissionedto assess the wider legacy of the lead-up to 2008 and the year itself.

The University is actively engaged in the cultural life and wellbeing ofthe city, and has pioneered a number of innovative initiatives, someof which are described in this section.

Its well-established relationships with the city’s many quality culturalinstitutions help to ensure that the cultural landscape in Liverpool isinterconnected, enabling the city to build upon its unique concentrationof cultural assets as it assumes a leading role in shaping the futureaward of British Capital of Culture.




1.0 Research1.1 Regeneration potential of cultural

and creative industries

Keywords: Evidence base; interdisciplinary research; conceptual rigour;empirical studies; policy-makers; communities; creativity

As part of the broader ‘knowledge economy’, cultural and creativeindustries such as media, advertising, architecture, art, music, andsoftware production are increasingly presented as a coherent growthsector in urban economies. Their activities have become a central plankof the place-marketing strategies that those governing urban regenerationuse to attract tourists and other inward investment.

However, despite the frequency with which politically and economically-motivated claims are made for the centrality of such cultural productionto urban regeneration in the UK, the evidence base supporting them isuneven at best. Similarly, the rapid changes associated with urbanregeneration – specifically the expansion of residential and retail space –can disrupt the very environs that give rise to the creativity crucial to thecultural industries.

The University of Liverpool studies the challenges and opportunities thatregeneration presents for urban policy-makers, for those who are activein cultural industries, and for communities affected by the rapid changeswhich can accompany urban regeneration. Its research is interdisciplinaryand conceptually rigorous – informed by a range of theories relating tofundamental shifts in urban cultural governance and the urban economy.It seeks to assess the social, economic and political relationshipsassociated with urban regeneration, and crucially, it includes criticalscrutiny of the role of community participation in the process.

The results of this research enable the University to contribute in aninformed way to debates about the nature of urban regeneration and localeconomic change. It engages with policy-makers, community activists andacademic researchers in relation to cultural policy in the city, particularly inthe context of Liverpool, European Capital of Culture 2008 and its legacy.

As part of the broader ‘knowledge economy’,cultural and creative industries such asmedia, advertising, architecture, art, music,and software production are increasinglypresented as a coherent growth sector inurban economies.

Expertise

Interdisciplinary expertise in the study of the contemporary city,drawing on insights from sociology, human geography, planning,political science, and economics

Conceptually-grounded empirical enquiry embedded in currentacademic research debates, which connects with concerns ofpolicy-makers

Postgraduate taught programmes grounded in social researchmethodologies that equip students with the capacity to assessclaims made for regeneration relative to existing evidence.


Research 131

1.2 Social cohesion

Keywords: Social policy; sociology; political science; social exclusion;social inclusion

Social cohesion is a term used in social policy, sociology and politicalscience to describe the ‘glue’ that brings people together in society,covering many different kinds of social phenomena. It has becomean important theme in British social policy, in which the University ofLiverpool plays an eminent role through its Merseyside Social InclusionObservatory (MSIO).

The Observatory brings together a unique partnership of organisations fromthe public, private, voluntary and community sectors to identify what leadsto social exclusion and effective routes out of it. It is the only centre of itstype in the UK as it has an explicit focus on social inclusion and broadereconomic issues, as well as primarily engaging in both qualitative andquantitative research.

Merseyside Social Inclusion Observatory focuses on policy-relevantresearch, effective community engagement and best practice, particularlythrough the development of linkages with regeneration-focused policies,programmes and activities.

It works closely with the Government Office for the North West(GONW), the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), theLearning and Skills Council, local authorities and other voluntary andcommunity sector bodies.

ActivitiesKey activities at a pan-Merseyside level include:

Geodemographic analysis: the use of small area data to constructnational classifications of neighbourhoods based on their social,economic and demographic characteristics and their applicationwithin urban policy (in terms of the ‘efficiency’ and ‘completeness’of targeted policies)Breaking the intergenerational cycle: an examination ofintergenerational poverty and disadvantage with a particular focuson factors which provide early signals of future disadvantage,especially amongst young NEETs (those Not in Employment,Education or Training)The role of community planning in responding to issues of socialexclusion and implications for national and international approachesto the governance of local neighbourhoodsCity regionalism, urban regeneration and social inclusion: a focuson developing appropriate governance and delivery frameworksconducive to improving the economic and social conditions of thepopulation across Greater Merseyside and beyondSocial exclusion and local government reorganisation: analysis ofthe impacts of local government reorganisation in the UK, andimplications for the delivery of regeneration policies and programmesBlack and minority ethnic (BME) communities: using detailed data toproduce a profile of the BME population, including housing, labourmarket, education, crime, health and travel to work and learningpatterns, as well as the effectiveness of new governance mechanisms,such as Local Area Agreements (LAAs) in responding to BME needsConsideration of the impact of economic migrant workers, includingtheir relative contribution to the local, regional and national economy,their impact within particular neighbourhoods and their contributionand demands upon particular service areas such as housing,education, and healthStrategic analysis or assessment of the impact of specific policyinitiatives and programmes such as the Housing Market RenewalInitiative (HMRI)Entrepreneurship, deprivation and worklessness: an examinationof causal linkages and the effectiveness of policy responsesNeighbourhood profiling: identifying a prevention strategy for socialexclusion and deprivation, by analysing the root causes of deprivation,and identifying actions needed and resources available toorganisations across Greater Merseyside.



1.3 Culture research

Keywords: Impact assessment; culture-led regeneration; cultural policy;major event; media representation of city/urban environments;local identity; sense of place

The arts, culture and creative practice could be viewed as ‘soft’ options –add-on luxuries which have little relevance to society; their value could bedetermined solely in terms of crude economic measurements such asemployment and tourism. Equally, they could be valued in terms of theircontribution to quality of life and national health, and their enhancementof a modern creative education.

In an increasingly tough economic environment, evaluating arts, culture andcreative practice requires a robust methodology. The developmentand deployment of suitable methodologies is one of the University ofLiverpool’s strengths. It is one strand of its broad-ranging expertise –gained through a long history of interdisciplinary research and successfulcollaborative relationships with practitioners, policy-makers andprofessional institutes.

ExpertiseThe University’s expertise encompasses:

Investigating the role of arts, culture and creative practice inthe contemporary world from a range of critical perspectivesacross disciplinesLeading the development of a national evidence base for cultureAssessing the impact of cultural policy interventions oneconomic growthMeasuring the vibrancy and sustainability of the city’s cultural systemUnderstanding cultural engagement, access and participationCreating new tools for assessing the impact of cultural activity onquality of lifeAssessing the impact of large scale events on city image andself-perceptionAssessing the impact of culture-led regeneration across economic,social, physical and cultural dimensionsStrategic thinking and partnership development in culture-ledregeneration: the philosophy and management process.

ApplicationsImpacts 08Impacts 08 is a longitudinal research programme set up to evaluate theeconomic, social and cultural impact of the European Capital of Culture(ECOC). Team members draw on academic research strengths but pridethemselves on generating data and reflections of direct use in policydevelopment, implementation and review.

The research programme offers an innovative, holistic approach tomeasuring the impacts of culture-led regeneration. It goes beyond theusual quantitative indicators - taking into account the lived experiences ofthe people of Liverpool, instead of focusing exclusively on job creation andtourism growth. Economic outputs are made more meaningful by situatingthem within a wide variety of other outputs, outcomes and qualitative data.

Impacts 08 has constructed an evaluation framework and grown theevidence base for the impact of culture upon regeneration and cityrenaissance to inform national debate, influence funding decisions andassist regional cultural planning. It has also helped individual organisationsto consider how they operate and how they can assess and articulate theirvalue by fostering the development of monitoring and evaluation capacitywithin the cultural sector. It has achieved this partly through providing anevidence base to inform the Arts Council England-funded Thrive!programme in the city-region and supplying regular updates to theLiverpool City Council, Liverpool Culture Company and the NorthwestRegional Development Agency (NWDA).

The research programme offers aninnovative, holistic approach to measuringthe impacts of culture-led regeneration.Impacts 08 has constructed its evaluation framework in such a way thatit can be applied to other settings – creating an exportable model that willadd to the reputation of the city as a leader on Cultural policy, for example,informing future. European Capitals of Culture and the London 2012Olympic Games. It has generated increasing interest from practitionersand policy-makers elsewhere in the North West of England, in the widerUK and the European Union.

The University recently won a significant European Commission contractto establish an international cultural policy research exchange network inconjunction with Marseilles, Turku and Stavanger – to share best practicewith future Capitals of Culture.


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Northwest Culture ObservatoryThe work of Impacts 08 is complemented by that of the Northwest CultureObservatory, which is led by the University and run in collaboration withLiverpool John Moores University and Liverpool Hope University.

The Observatory functions as the region’s strategic culture researchintelligence network. It makes sense of the needs of different groupsin policy communities; interprets and conveys such needs to theacademic community; champions evidence-based research; andbuilds intellectual capacity.

In 2010 the University and its partners will be working to bring together theObservatory’s role with that of Impacts 08 as part of what may become abroader Liverpool Institute for Culture Research. Harnessing the expertiseof Impacts 08 and the Observatory’s networks, the Institute would aim tofoster cutting-edge research on arts and culture, and translate anddisseminate its findings to policy communities and practitioners in anaccessible manner.

1.4 Architecture and the visual arts

Keywords: Architecture; visual arts; museums; galleries; mediaorganisations

The University of Liverpool has a long and distinguished record of researchin the field of architecture, with present strengths in:

New architectural types such as portable, temporary and flexiblebuildings and structuresComputer-mediated design methodsEmerging modelling technologiesPrediction and simulation of the visual and acoustic aspects ofour built environmentAdvanced methods of monitoring and predicting building life cyclesThe inter-relationship between architecture and the visual artsHistoric and developing architecture, particularly in relation to citiesand urban situations.

Acoustics and lighting engineering designResearch into building acoustics and lighting engineering design is oneof the University’s key strengths. This includes research on low-frequencysound transmission in buildings, which has resulted in the developmentof methods to predict the extent to which properties are likely to beaffected by noise from mechanical services, road traffic and domesticentertainment systems.

Researchers are currently investigating the acoustic properties ofbiomass materials and the design and testing of new materials forhighway noise barriers.

Emerging modelling technologiesThe University also focuses on the development and applicationof emerging modelling technologies to improve decision-makingprocesses in the life cycle of building assets. The research, undertaken incollaboration with the NHS, is providing innovative methods of estimatingand benchmarking facilities-management costs in acute-care hospitals.This has attracted interest in policy circles in the EU and the InternationalOrganisation for Standardisation (ISO), among others.

Work on risk in relation to design, scheduling and cash flow, utilisesinnovative complexity and stochastic techniques to develop decisionsupport systems.



FacilitiesThe University has major specialised facilities, including:

Controlled environment roomsNoise transmission suitesAn anechoic chamberA lighting laboratory with an artificial sky.

The University is also the home of CAVA, the Centre for Architectureand the Visual Arts, a research agency and key forum for debate in theUniversity and the wider world. The Centre has a track record of successfulcollaborations with visual arts organisations in the organisation of seminars,conferences, publications and exhibitions.

1.5 History and heritagemanagement

Keywords: Archival/library resources; print; media; music; slavery;merchant houses; Museum of Liverpool; Victoria Gallery & Museum

The University of Liverpool brings interdisciplinary strength to the studyof the city’s past, especially in fields such as the historic built environment,the histories of print, media and music, and the conservation andpromotion of archival and library resources.

Its Centre for Archive Studies has an international reputation for researchinto the theory and historical development of archival practice. It alsoprovides continuing professional development and postgraduatecourses in archive and records management.

The University has built close working relationships with history andheritage organisations in Liverpool and further afield. It is a member of theWorld Heritage Site Steering Group and is an active advocate of the policyof regeneration through conservation. It has contributed to exhibitions andcollections, and played prominent roles in a series of major history andheritage events.

Museums, collections and exhibitionsUniversity researchers have played an important role in many of the city’srecent museum developments, feeding original research directly into widerpublic dissemination. Knowledge exchange between the University andNational Museums Liverpool has helped create exhibitions and developcollections in Egyptology, popular and classical music, architecture andpublic space, slavery studies, and Liverpool history. Researcher have alsocontributed to the prestigious new Museum of Liverpool.

Recent projects illustrating the range of expertise available include:

Victoria Gallery & Museum: a prestigious architectural conservationproject that created a new museum for the University and the city,with an extensive outreach and educational missionLiverpool in Print, in collaboration with Liverpool Record Office:computerising the fragile and unique resources of Liverpool CentralLibrary’s Local Studies Catalogue, while adding finding guides andreading lists to open up the collection to scholars and interestedreaders at all levels.Leverhulme Mercantile Liverpool, in collaboration with MerseysideMaritime Museum – a project co-funded by the Arts & HumanitiesResearch Council and English Heritage which researched Liverpool’sVictorian business elite. Its outputs included an exhibition at NationalMuseums Liverpool venues of early photographs of the interiors ofmerchant houses in Liverpool.

EventsThe University has played a prominent role in a series of major historyand heritage events in recent years. It was a key partner in the Big HistoryShow (2007), which attracted 6,000 people to St George’s Hall, andco-sponsored Liverpool 800 (2006), the city’s best-selling anniversaryhistory book, which is being adopted as a model by other cities.


1.6 Film andmedia

Keywords: Film footage of Liverpool; amateur & professional;documentaries; features; TV films; catalogue; oral histories;GIS; digital map

Today, Liverpool is reputed to be the second-most filmed city in the UK.It has ‘doubled’ for London, Paris, New York, Moscow, Dublin, Venice andBerlin – and is also a setting for numerous films in its own right. This is nota new phenomenon: the city has been documented and represented infilm for more than a century, but much of the material was fragmented,dispersed and in private collections.

Working in close collaboration with private individuals and collectors andlocal, regional and national organisations such as National MuseumsLiverpool, North West Film Archive, Northwest Vision and Media and theBritish Film Institute, the University of Liverpool recently brought togetherand documented around 1,700 films made in or about the city between1897 and 1984. The ‘City in Film’ project was funded by the Arts &Humanities Research Council (AHRC).

OutputsCity in FilmThe University has set up an online searchable catalogue. This provides afirm foundation for studying the many and various ways in which movingimage materials, including early actualities, amateur footage, independentproductions, television documentaries and feature films, depict the city'sarchitecture and urban landscapes.

This resource facilitates new understanding of the ways in which weexperience and remember place, and the role of moving images in shapingthe design of the contemporary urban environment.

www.liv.ac.uk/lsa/cityinfilm/catalogue

Mapping the City in FilmIn this follow-on project the University is exploring the relationshipbetween film, memory and the urban landscape. Amateur andindependent filmmakers on Merseyside have documented and visuallymapped Liverpool's urban landscapes since the 1920s. The project iscollecting oral histories of these organisations.

Using geo-spatial geographical information systems (GIS) software, it isstudying the relationship between mapping and moving images practices.Working in partnership with the new Museum of Liverpool, it is creating adigital map of the city’s history. Together with stories from filmmakers abouthow and why the films were made, this will become part of a permanentexhibition in the History Detectives gallery, scheduled for opening in 2010/11.

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1.7 Music

Keywords: Popular music scholarship & research; training; conferences& symposia; popular music sound recordings & artifacts

The University established its Institute of Popular Music (IPM) in 1988 as thefirst academic centre in the UK created specifically for the study of popularmusic. The main focus of the IPM is research – often undertaken incollaboration with local and national organisations. One such projectinvolves disseminating some of the IPM's expertise on Liverpool's popularmusic history via an online resource.

The Institute of Popular Music also promotes research through events,conferences and symposia, and publications of international standing. Italso supports a number of postgraduate research students working withinthe University on popular music projects, and provides subject-specificresearch training to postgraduates both within and from outside theUniversity in conjunction with the Institute of Musical Research, London.

The Institute of Popular Music research and teaching are supported by awide range of resources, including an extensive collection of popular musicsound recordings and artifacts.

This has allowed the Institute of Popular Music and its academic staff toengage directly with local and regional cultural organisations in thedevelopment and delivery of large public events like The Beat Goes Onexhibition in partnership with National Museums Liverpool.

This exhibition highlighted the remarkable achievementsof Merseyside artists over the years – people who have influencedgenerations of musicians. Visitors were able to learn about and hearexamples of the different cultural and musical traditions within the regionand its vibrant music and club scenes.

2.0 Initiatives2.1 Community and workplace engagement

Keywords: Trade unions; community & workplace engagement;lifelong learning; work-based learning

The University of Liverpool’s expertise in this area encompasses:

Understanding the role of work-based lifelong learning and the roleof stakeholdersDeveloping understanding of the role of education in the work-placePromoting trade union members’ (and the wider society’s) accessto educationPromoting cultural engagement and community cohesion throughlearning.

Over the years, the University and the North West’s largest public sectorunion, UNISON, have developed a multifaceted relationship which hasfostered a series of initiatives that build on this expertise.

Trade Union and University Lifelong Learning PartnershipTrade unions and universities like Liverpool share the recognition that socialpromotion and mobility can be directly enhanced through participation inwork-based lifelong learning. To innovate and strengthen the collaborationsbetween the institutions, TULIP - Trade Union and University LifelongLearning in Partnership - was launched, supported by EU Leonardofunding. This network of 14 partners from nine countries, represents tradeunions, universities and a university lifelong learning network, and aims toimprove the quality and delivery of work-based lifelong learning to tradeunion members and employees.

TULIP presents models which describe ways in which the two sectors canwork together to open the doors to learning for trade union members. Italso offers resources which can support the development of cooperationand the opportunity to link with experienced colleagues.

The University has a clear commitment to equity and diversity and a longtradition of work with adult learners and offers innovative, more flexiblecourses of study relevant to working lives. The trade union sector is anatural partner in pursuit of the University’s lifelong learning activities.


Lifelong learning, reading and workIn order to open up lifelong learning activities to UNISON’s target audience– mainly low-paid women, many of whom have few formal qualifications –the University’s Centre for Lifelong Learning and UNISON formed anumber of reading groups.

Shared reading activities stimulate critical thinking, analytical skills,the construction of argument and the precise articulation of concepts,emotions and ideas – all essential to fulfilling and effective workplaceperformance. In addition, reading remains not only an essential skill foranyone involved at any level of educational activity, but is also a gatewayto all areas of higher education.

In another initiative the University invites UNISON members with an interestin the arts to participate in group activities that raise awareness of the placeof art in society. The University and the union share the same rationale:bring together individuals from very different backgrounds andcircumstances to introduce them to the idea that they may be able topursue their interests through participating in University lifelong learningactivities. Simply put, to show participants how education can beaccessible and relevant to their daily lives; foster understanding thatlearning can be lifelong; and show that it does not depend on traditionalstructures of education.

Working with voluntary sector organisationsTo strengthen collaborations between universities and voluntary sectororganisations, the University is participating in ‘VALUE’ – Volunteering &Lifelong Learning in Universities in Europe. This is a network of 20 partnersfrom 13 countries, represents individual organisations and Europeannetworks in both sectors.

VALUE aims to bring the two sectors together to share ideas and modelsand to explore the potential for developing new university lifelong learningopportunities for both volunteers and staff in volunteering organisations.At the centre of the network’s investigations are volunteers and thesophisticated learning – both formal and informal – that they experiencein their volunteering work.

VALUE is also developing a freely accessible resource base includingreports, case studies and bibliographic references which is availableon the network website, www.valuenetwork.org.uk.

ESRC Collaborative StudentshipIn this initiative, a PhD student has been given access to UNISONmembers; to the union’s records on international development and financialassistance; and to international events.

The research carried out by the student has provided UNISON with insightsinto its members’ perspectives on current international policies, and tointegral research on the changing nature of the sector and what thismeans for their members.

To strengthen collaborationsbetween universities andvoluntary sector organisations,the University is participatingin ‘VALUE’ – Volunteering & LifelongLearning in Universities in Europe.

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Its innovative social outreach project –‘Get Into Reading’ – is a unique sharedreading programme in whichmore than120 groups across Merseysidemeet weekly toenjoy books and poems together, guided bytrained facilitators.

2.2 Active engagement in culture

Keywords: Students; graduates; creative economy; social out-reach;literacy; reading

The University of Liverpool itself – through its staff, its graduates and itsstudents – actively contributes to the cultural life and wellbeing of the city.It is also engaged in initiatives designed to encourage its graduates tocontribute to the city’s creative economy.

The Reader OrganisationThe University is a sponsor of The Reader Organisation (TRO) – its firstarts spin-out organisation. Founded as The Reader magazine in 1997,The Reader Organisation is now helping to bring about a readingrevolution, addressing the sad fact that nearly a quarter of the adultpopulation has difficulties with reading. 'Literacy' is not just the abilityto read, but the state of being a reader. The Reader Organisation fostersthis by adopting a radical approach which is firmly centred on making theserious pleasure of reading available, in many different ways, to as manypeople as possible.

Its innovative social outreach project – ‘Get Into Reading’ – is a uniqueshared reading programme in which more than 120 groups acrossMerseyside meet weekly to enjoy books and poems together, guided bytrained facilitators. By making the content of great books available to allthrough a culture of shared reading, TRO also helps group members tovalue books as a source of shared meanings.

The Reader Organisation works in partnership with organisations likeLiverpool Primary Care Trust, Mersey Care NHS Trust, Bibby Line Group,Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and Wirral Metropolitan BoroughCouncil. It operates in care homes, libraries, hostels for the homeless,drug rehabilitation centres, schools, prisons, community centres andhospitals. Reading group members include looked-after children, companyemployees, people with learning disabilities, dementia, brain injury andother neurological conditions, carers, excluded youngsters and ordinarypeople doing their best to live their lives in deprived communities.

The Reader Organisation also delivers the annual Penny Readings,Liverpool Reads (a big book give-away) and Community Shakespeare,all of which aim to positively engage local communities with reading andwith each other.

The Reader Organisation is still supported by the University of Liverpool,has its base on campus, and relies on staff and student involvement tocontinue its valuable work. It is currently collaborating with University ofLiverpool researchers on several projects related to the emerging disciplineof reading and health. Funded by the NHS, the Department of Health, theMinistry of Justice and the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC),these cutting edge projects have the potential to influence public policy andservice commissioning.

Culture CampusThe University is a key shareholder in Culture Campus, an internationalcentre for learning, research, advocacy, development, participation andexpression in contemporary visual, media and popular culture.

This brings together the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John MooresUniversity, Liverpool Hope University, the Foundation for Art & CreativeTechnology (FACT), Tate Liverpool, Liverpool Biennial of ContemporaryArt and the other members of the Liverpool Arts and RegenerationConsortium (LARC).

Its mission is to inspire the best quality graduates to contribute to thecultural sector and the wider creative economy in Liverpool. It lobbiesand guides Liverpool’s major educational institutions on what the creativesector is looking for from its new recruits, establishes and nurturescollaborations.


The University conducts research into sports –particularly football, and has considerableexpertise in researching the economic andsocial impact of professional sports.

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3.0 Consultancy and Outreach3.1 Sports

Keywords: Football; business; finance; law; media; marketing;international relations

The University conducts research into sports – particularly football, andhas considerable expertise in researching the economic and social impactof professional sports. Other investigations have focused on the policing offootball fans; football and gender; corporate social responsibility;international relations; and the media in Europe.

It exploits the insights it gains in the form of executive short courses for theindustry and consultancy for organisations like Liverpool FC and EvertonFC, Liverpool City Council, FIFA, the All Party Parliamentary Football Groupand the European Commission. It recently completed a review of minifootball in Wales, for instance, which has stimulated far reaching changesin the format, size and approach to the junior game there.

The University also has experience of:

Work around sports governing bodies and issues of effective BoardleadershipAccountability in relation to sportAdvancing equality in and through sportAdvocacy and development through junior sports programmesAdvisory work – for example, via the UEFA football developmentexchange study programme and with Kurdistan’s Ministry of SportAppointment to public sports bodies – including UK Sport, theSports Council for Wales and the Welsh Football Trust.

The University is frequently invited to provide an expert opinion to nationaland international media.

3.2 Languages and culture

Keywords: Languages; cultures; translation; cross-cultural knowledge

The University has extensive expertise in a range of languages and cultures– both European and non-European. It has a track record of advisingexternal organisations and individuals in need of country or region-specificguidance. Its specialists are often invited to provide an expert opinion; inthis capacity it has advised the national and international media, theForeign & Commonwealth Office, and, recently, Scotland’s Parliament,which sought guidance on issues relating to the linguistic landscape andlanguage use in Scotland.

The University also has expertise in cross-cultural translation –encompassing, for a range of languages and cultures, semiotics,semantics and sociolinguistics; translation (in the widest understandingof the field); intercultural awareness; and cross-cultural analysis.


Case StudiesImpacts 08

Thirty years ago the arts were seen as spirituallyrewarding for creative individuals and peoplecapable of appreciating their output. Today,they are expected to contribute to economicand social regeneration, too – but what dothey actually achieve?

Members of Impacts 08 team experts in assessing this.Pioneering methodologies developed to assess the long-termimpacts of the European City of Culture on Glasgow are nowbeing refined, extended and applied to Liverpool. A six-year projectcommissioned by Liverpool City Council is evaluating the long-termeconomic, social, cultural and environmental impacts of Liverpool’syear as European Capital of Culture – from the pre-bid phase to 2010and beyond.

“I would recommend working withthe University to other organisations.There are people in the Universityfrom top to bottom who are dedicatedto ensuring that they look out to theworld and that make sure that thiscity and its residents are going tobenefit from it.”

John KellyExecutive Director of Regeneration, Liverpool City Council

Specialist Centres,Facilities and LaboratoriesFurther information on specialist centres, facilities and laboratoriescan be found in a dedicated section (see page 142). Those mostrelevant to Cities, Culture and Regeneration include:




Centre for Architecture and Visual ArtsCentre for the Study of International SlaveryEighteen-Century Worlds Research CentreCulture Campus LiverpoolImpacts 08Institute for Popular MusicMerseyside Social Inclusion ObservatoryNorthwest Culture ObservatoryThe Reader Organisation




Its my Park Arena Housing

A University historian initiated a project whichset out to address some of the wider issuesaffecting children and young people. Theproject fostered a better understanding of thehistorical importance of their local park andcreated opportunities for the development ofeducational and social skills. It has had a visibleimpact on the local community, particularly onchildren at primary level.

It was supported by a grant in excess of £450,000 from the HeritageLottery Fund and is a good illustration of the way in which Universityresearch can be used to improve peoples’ lives through civicengagement.

In an innovative Knowledge Transfer Partnership(KTP), the University of Liverpool and ArenaHousing Association worked together on ahousing-led regeneration project in Liverpool.

The Liverpool areas of Anfield and Breckfield are the site of thecountry’s largest regeneration project. More than 1,800 homesare to be demolished, with approximately 1,000 homes beingbuilt in their place. Over £45million was spent on the schemeduring 2006-08 alone.

The KTP project set out to secure the sustainability and stabilityof the area and look for ways to stimulate new enterprises, improvehealth and security, and open up new opportunities for training andemployment.

In the long-term, the project plans to set up a community-ledorganisation that will have the resources to develop the areaphysically, economically and socially without being dependenton government grants.

Arena Housing has benefited from the project in a number ofways. The KTP kickstarted a major shift in the thought process withinthe organisation, which realised that its own assets are an incomegenerating base that could form the core of sustainable regeneration.The proposed solution was an asset-owning community-led vehiclewhich can maintain its own housing stock, empower the localcommunity and help regenerate the area.

“The project has enhancedour reputation as an innovativeand forward thinking organisationand given Arena good publicity.”

Brian CroninChief Executive, The Arena Group


Specialist Centres,Facilities & Laboratories


The University of Liverpool has established a number of centres ofspecialist expertise geared to working with external organisations.Dedicated staff within these centres are focused on meeting therequirements of business, industry and public sector organisations

Specialist Centres

The University also has a range of facilities and laboratories whichmatch its expertise in science and engineering, health and life sciences,and humanities and social sciences. We provide access for organisationsto utilise our facilities on a one-off or regular basis.

Below is a list of expertise that provides links and access to theUniversity's specialist centres, facilities and laboratories. If you can’tfind what you're looking for or need further assistance please contactthe Business Gateway.

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Management & Enterprise Advanced Manufacturing

The Agility and Supply Chain Management Centre assistslocal companies in the manufacturing sector to grow by using thetools and techniques associated with best practices. The Centrehas developed an implementation framework which comprises aset of auditing and planning tools to guide companies throughthe agility adoption stages. It offers a number of services rangingfrom awareness seminars and general and bespoke workshops,to detailed projects to improve internal company processes andestablish a better understanding of growth opportunities. The latterincludes assisting companies to develop new business processes,new products and target new markets. The model used by theCentre capitalises on the availability of additional resources suchas PhD and MSc graduate projects that can be tailored to theneeds of companies.www.agilitycentre.com

Health & Wellbeing

Biomedical Research Centre in Microbial Diseases is apioneering centre set up by the Royal Liverpool and BroadgreenUniversity Hospitals NHS Trust; the University of Liverpool andLiverpool School of Tropical Medicine to carry out translationalresearch into the diagnosis and treatment of some of the world’smost serious infections. The Centre focuses on four areas ofresearch which recognise existing strengths in Liverpool, bothin research and clinical excellence.www.rlbuht.nhs.uk/NIHR_BRC/Introduction.asp


Cities, Culture & Regeneration

The Centre for Architecture and Visual Arts (CAVA) hasbeen established to dynamise high-level research into architectureand the visual arts in the University, the city, and the world beyond.As well as collaborating with institutions such as Tate Liverpool,National Museums Liverpool and the Foundation for Art andCreative Technology (FACT), CAVA has an international focuson high-quality debate regarding the history, contemporary statusand future of architecture in relation to the visual arts. The Centrespecialises in 20th century and contemporary visual arts history,theory, practice and policy studies. It provides research expertiseto professional organisations involved in the areas of visual artscollection, curation, exhibition, public education and dissemination.It also offers specialist historical, social and cultural perspectivesfor organisations seeking to review and develop their visual artsprovision in these fields of professional practice.www.liv.ac.uk/lsa/cava

Health & Wellbeing Digital Technologies

The Centre for Cell Imaging (CCI) is a world-class resourcethanks to generous grant aid and innovations achieved throughcollaborations with Zeiss, Hamamatsu, AstraZeneca and KineticImaging (now Andor). Its equipment includes unique combinationsof hardware and software to support long-term, time-lapse,multi-parameter fluorescent and luminescent imaging. A rangeof confocal microscopes, which are able to take a series ofsections in depth, allows 3D images of cells to be created.

Tools are available for multiphoton excitation of fluorescent probesthat allows imaging deep into tissue.

Alongside nine microscopes, the Centre for Cell Imaging has a fastfluorescence/ luminescence/ absorption automated plate readerand a flow cytometer and sorter – all installed in a state-of-the-art,custom-built suite of laboratories. The flexibility of the equipmentand array of biological tools available has allowed research intopituitary disorders, developmental disorders, blindness, diabetes,obesity, cancer, malaria, inflammation, asthma, and arthritis to becarried out within the Centre.www.liv.ac.uk/bio/research/groups/cci

Safety & Security

The Centre for Critical & Major Incident Psychology(CAMI) is devoted to providing internationally recognised studiesof psychological processes associated with managing critical andmajor incidents. These include, but are not restricted to, decision-making, leadership, stress and emotion. The aim of CAMI is tosupport the development of high quality research, education andtraining through the publication of studies and by extending andstrengthening links between academics and practitioners.www.liv.ac.uk/psychology/ccir


The Centre for Enterprise and Entrepreneurial Leadership(CEEL) combines active engagement with entrepreneurs andsmall firms with high-quality academic research. It aims to developinsights which are of real value to policy-makers and practitionersas well as the broader academic community.www.liv.ac.uk/managementschool/business/ceel

Health & Wellbeing Safety & Security

Centre for Drug Safety Science, funded by the MedicalResearch Council, is a joint venture between the Universitiesof Liverpool and Manchester to bring together a criticalmass of knowledge and technologies in order to advanceour understanding of adverse drug reactions. Throughcollaboration between researchers, industry and regulatoryauthorities, the Centre’s mission is to create a world-leadingcentre for the investigation of fundamental mechanisms ofclinically important adverse drug reactions with the overallaim of preventing such reactions by improved drug selection,drug design and more informed patient selection.www.liv.ac.uk/drug-safety


Specialist Centres 145


The Centre for Experiential Consumption Studies takes aninterdisciplinary approach to the study of the consumer experienceand consumption. Through continued support and developmentof existing consumer groups it conducts research into a wide rangeof experiential consumption topics, relevant to consumers and theirquality of life, as well as clients in private, public and not-for-profitsectors.

Health & Wellbeing

The Centre for Genomic Research is one of the most advancedlaboratories of its kind in the UK. It possesses a range of nextgeneration DNA sequencing technology, including one of the firstRoche/454 GS-FLX sequencers in the UK, which is available forthe scientific user community. The Centre is also well equippedwith state-of-the-art microarraying technology and supportinginstrumentation providing standard and bespoke array fabrication.The Centre has the latest computational tools and trained staff todeliver bioinformatic services for data handling and analysis.www.liv.ac.uk/cgr

Health & Wellbeing

The Centre for Integrative Mammalian Biology, establishedbetween the universities of Liverpool and Manchester, focuseson the study of how genes influence body function and is centralto development of new therapeutic approaches to human and animaldiseases. The academic consortium provides long term infrastructuresupport through education and training in integrative mammalianbiology. In addition, the Centre has a concerted businessdevelopment effort aimed at increasing industrial interactionswith companies in the North West region and beyond.www.cimb.Is.manchester.ac.uk


The Centre for Intelligent Monitoring Systems (CIMS)is one of the University’s applied R&D centres. It designsintelligent systems that extract and monitor information,and automate corrective procedures, building on combinedstrengths of sensor technology, software development, telemetryand system integration, together with a unique patented approach.It concentrates not just on new technology, but also on how existingtechnologies can be applied in innovative ways that benefit industry,the community and the environment. CIMS has comprehensivefacilities which can be used to develop concepts through tocommercially exploitable prototypes.www.cims.org.uk


The Centre for Lifelong Learning encourages, promotes andsupports lifelong learning opportunities for a wide variety ofclients. It works with young people, adult learners, communitygroups, staff and students in the University of Liverpool, andlocal, regional and global businesses.

www.liv.ac.uk/cll/


Environment & Climate Change

The University’s Centre for Marine Sciences and ClimateChange provides a research forum to understand marine sciencesand how climate change operates, as well as considering thebroader impacts on society, wellbeing and health. It also developsstrategic research initiatives which complement the researchstrengths at the Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory (POL)and contributes to the national strategy being developed byresearch councils, particularly the Natural Environment ResearchCouncil (NERC).www.liv.ac.uk/climate

Materials Health & Wellbeing

The Centre for Materials Discovery (CMD) champions theuse of high throughput (HT) technologies across multiple industrialsectors. It offers a range of services designed to enable businessesto enhance existing in-house R&D programmes by optimisingexisting products and/or fabricating new materials with desirablecharacteristics. Industrial clients may commission contract research,engage in collaborative research or gain direct access to CMD’sfacilities following bespoke training. Their staff may also co-locatewith the Centre’s own researchers for extended periods.www.materialsdiscovery.com


The Centre for Mathematical Imaging Techniques (CMIT)enables scientists, medics and engineers in the University – andbusinesses outside the University – to benefit from state-of-the-artmathematical techniques whilst giving applied mathematiciansopportunities to tackle cutting-edge ‘real world’ problems.www.liv.ac.uk/~cmchenke/cmit

Health & Wellbeing

The Clinical Trial Research Centre (CTRC) is a centre ofexcellence in clinical trial design, management and analysis,accessed by both the public and private sectors, and one of onlya small number of units in the UK awarded Full Clinical ResearchCollaboration registration status. The CTRC incorporates theMedicines for Children Research Network Clinical Trials Unit,the Liverpool Cancer Trials Unit, the Epilepsy Trials Unit andother groups in infection, oral health, obstetrics and gynaecology.CTRC offers a full range of clinical trial services, including feasibilityassessments, trial costing, coordination with trial sites and relevantclinical research networks, managing relevant approvals proceduresand trial monitoring.www.ctrc.org.uk/

Health & Wellbeing

The Centre for Medical Statistics and Health Evaluation(CMSHE) provides innovative statistical analysis support andadvice to clinical researchers, and delivers a number of CME-accredited courses that are designed to provide healthcareprofessionals with research skills. Areas of expertise includesurvival analysis, meta-analysis, joint modelling of longitudinaland survival data, pharmacogenetics and stereology.www.liv.ac.uk/medstats


The Centre for the Study of International Slavery (CSIS) aimsto contribute to the understanding of slavery and its legacies andto foster research and debate in this field. Founded as a partnershipbetween the University of Liverpool and National Museums Liverpool,the Centre works together with other universities and organisationsto develop scholarly and public activities related to slavery in itshistorical and contemporary manifestations.www.liv.ac.uk/csis/



Health & Wellbeing

The CR-UK Liverpool Cancer Trials Unit (LCTU) is a CancerResearch UK-funded centre, which, through its advisory board,has extensive NHS representation from all research active cliniciansin the general, acute and specialist NHS trusts in the region. Thereare currently seven clinical trials open, including trials relating topancreatic cancer (ESPAC-4, Telovac, ESPAC-T plus, EUROPAC-2),Uveal melanoma (ITEM), head and neck cancer (HOPON), andfollicular lymphoma (PACIFICO).www.lctu.org.uk


The Eighteenth-Century Worlds Research Centre is aninterdisciplinary initiative involving some three dozen scholarsand curators at the University of Liverpool and National MuseumsLiverpool. It promotes study and research in the political, social,economic, intellectual, and cultural life of the global 18th centuryacross disciplines and departments at the University of Liverpool.www.liv.ac.uk/18cworlds


The University’s Environmental Radioactivity Research Centre(ERRC) is concerned with a wide range of problems in environmentalradioactivity. The laboratory specialises in the use of low-backgroundhyper-pure germanium gamma spectrometers, for measuring lowlevel environmental radioactivity. Collaborating with universities andinternational environmental research centres, the ERRC has made asignificant contribution to our understanding and management ofenvironmental change.www.liv.ac.uk/info/research/env_modelling


Impacts 08, The Liverpool Model is a joint research initiativebetween the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John MooresUniversity which evaluates the social, cultural, economic andenvironmental effects of Liverpool hosting year as the EuropeanCapital of Culture in 2008. Commissioned by Liverpool City Council,it examines the progress and impact of this experience on the cityand its people. Its aim is to develop a research model for evaluatingthe multiple impacts of culture-led regeneration programmes thatcan be applied to events across the UK and beyond, includingfuture European Capitals of Culture and the Cultural Olympiadfor London and the UK in the lead up to the 2012 Olympics.www.impacts08.ne

Materials Advanced Manufacturing

The Impact Research Centre enables the University toaddress problems involving the large dynamic loading responseand failure of materials and structures that occur throughout thefield of engineering. Its facilities include; gas gun; powder guns;drop hammers; hyperbaric chamber; catapults; Hopkinsons bars;high rate servohydraulic test machines; and a high energy test cellequipped with for example a pulse pressure loading rig (PPLR).


Culture Campus Liverpool is an international centre for learning,research, advocacy, development, participation and expression incontemporary visual, media and popular culture. It brings togetherthe University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University,Liverpool Hope University, the Foundation for Art & CreativeTechnology (FACT), Tate Liverpool, Liverpool Biennial ofContemporary Art and the other members of the Liverpool Arts& Regeneration Consortium (LARC). At the heart of its missionlies the job of aspiring, supporting and enabling the best qualitygraduates to be attracted, stay, work and contribute to the culturalsector and the wider creative economy in Liverpool.www.culturecampus.co.uk



The Institute for Popular Music plays an important part in popularmusic scholarship internationally, attracting students and visitingscholars from around the world, and contributing at internationallevels to the body of popular music scholarship. It also collaborateswith many organisations and organises and hosts national andinternational conferences and symposia.www.liv.ac.uk/music/ipm/


The Institute for Sustainable Water, Integrated Managementand Ecosystem Research (SWIMMER) works with industry,governments, regulators and non-governmental organisations tocreate innovative strategies for water and environment management.www.liv.ac.uk/swimmer


The University’s pioneering Innovation Academy has developedits own open approach for managers who wish to develop betterpractice in innovation. It has drawn organisations from manysectors, private and public, small and large. Its approach to openinnovation is based upon extreme benchmarking and exploitingthe benefits of cross fertilisation. Current partners include a rangeof high growth firms, as well as health sector partners.www.liv.ac.uk/managementschool/innovationacademy

Materials

The Knowledge Centre for Materials Chemistry is a virtualcentre of expertise providing multidisciplinary research andinnovative knowledge based on world-class capabilities in appliedmaterials chemistry. The Centre acts as a single point of contactfor companies of all sizes to access a substantial range of facilitiesand expertise in applied materials chemistry at four leadingacademic institutions at the Universities of Bolton, Liverpool andManchester and the Science and Technology Facilities Council atDaresbury. It offers proactive help in the formulation and deliveryof collaborative R&D projects, fast track project initiation withdedicated project scientists in our partner institutions, excellentproject management and knowledge transfer expertise.www.materialschemistry.org

Advanced Manufacturing

The Lairdside Laser Engineering Centre bridges the gapbetween research concept and shop-floor production, allowing UKbusinesses unrivalled access to expertise, equipment and training inthe field of laser material processing. The Centre's ability to transferprocesses from laboratory experiment to robust industrial method isa valuable new resource for manufacturing industry. The Centre alsoincorporates the North West Laser Engineering Centre.www.lasers.org.uk/llec/index.htm




The Liverpool Computer Science Maclab supports research intomobile computing and widens access to more diverse and cutting-edge computing facilities. It provides a creative and supportivespace whereby students and researchers alike can explore newtechniques using mobile computing platforms such as the iPhoneand iPod Touch, to support research into open multi-agent systemsresearch and mobile e-finance.www.csc.liv.ac.uk/department/maclab

Health & Wellbeing

The Liverpool Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (LECMC)is a joint initiative by Cancer Research UK and the National Institutefor Health Research (NIHR), co-partnered with the two leading NHSTrusts of Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology NHS Foundation Trustand the Royal Liverpool University Hospital (RLUH). The Centreprovides infra-structure support for staff and running costs to under-pin early phase (I/II) trials and translational research.www.lctu.org.uk


The Liverpool Institute for Biological Complexity ispositioned within a wide scientific context to bridge disciplinaryand institutional barriers, to facilitate research interactions andto foster the development of necessary infrastructure.www.liv.ac.uk/biocomplexity

Health & Wellbeing

The Liverpool Cancer Research Centre brings together NHScancer services and University of Liverpool cancer researcherswith the aim of developing a world-class Liverpool Cancer Centrethat will work towards achieving each of the 10 strategic goalsof CRUK in Liverpool, Knowsley and St Helens, and the MerseyRegion as a whole. A particular focus of the Centre is to improveunderstanding of how cancer starts and progresses, and thedevelopment of better treatments with fewer side effects,especially tackling cancer in low income communities.http://science.cancerresearchuk.org/research/centres/liverpool_cancer_centre/


The Liverpool Law Clinic is a pro bono legal advice centreestablished under the framework set out by the national pro bonocharity Law Works. It provides legal advice by second and final yearLaw School students under the supervision of a qualified solicitorand under the overall supervision of the Manager of the Clinic, anacademic member of the Law School staff. To ensure it delivers aservice of the highest quality, the Clinic only provides advice onmatters falling within the expertise and competence of its advisors.Advice covers a range of issues, including landlord and tenants'rights, personal injury, employment, consumer rights.www.liv.ac.uk/law/clinic

Health & Wellbeing

The Liverpool Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre(LECMC) is a joint initiative by Cancer Research UK and theNational Institute for Health Research (NIHR), co-partnered withthe two leading NHS Trusts of Clatterbridge Centre for OncologyNHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Liverpool University Hospital(RLUH). The Centre provides infra-structure support for staff andrunning costs to under-pin early phase (I/II) trials and translationalresearch.www.lctu.org.uk


Health & Wellbeing Digital Technologies

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy lies at the heartof the Liverpool NMR Centre for Structural Biology, whichhelps scientists to determine the 3D structures of proteins. TheCentre can run experiments on materials in solution or in solidstate. Its spectrometers have magnets with field strengths at9.4Tesla (400MHz), 14.09T (600MHz) and 18.8T (800MHz) –supporting investigations into a wide range of molecules andbiological and chemical systems.

In addition to NMR, the Centre has expertise in other biophysicaltechniques such as isothermal titration calorimetry and fluorescencespectrophotometry, with data from both methods complementingNMR experiments.www.liv.ac.uk/bio/research/nmr/


The Liverpool University Centre for Poetry and Science focuseson active exchanges between poets and scientists, drawing on thecity’s established strengths as a location where both poetry andscience flourish. The Centre is externally funded by the CalousteGulbenkian foundation.www.poetryandscience.co.uk


TheMagnetic Resonance and Image Analysis ResearchCentre (MARIARC) is equipped to carry out:

3 Tesla MRI and 1.5 Tesla MRIMagnetoencephalography (MEG)Electroencephalography (EEG)Functional transcranial Doppler scanning (fTCD).

Its facilities are used for a variety of research purposes. It hasparticular expertise in functional MRI (fMRI), diffusion tensorimaging (DTI), perfusion imaging, arterial spin labelling (ASL)and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS).www.liv.ac.uk/mariarc

Health & Wellbeing

The National Centre for Zoonosis Research (NCZR) is acombined venture of the universities of Liverpool and Lancaster,the Health Protection Agency and the Veterinary LaboratoriesAgency. It is the hub for collaborative research across the UKand further afied. The Centre undertakes research into zoonoticinfections, and is a catalyst for national and internationalcollaborations, taking multidisciplinary and multi-institutionalapproaches to zoonosis research.www.zoonosis.ac.uk


TheMerseyside Social Inclusion Observatory [MSIO] bringstogether a unique partnership of organisations from the public,private, voluntary and community sectors to identify what leads tosocial exclusion and effective routes out of it. It is the only centre ofits type in the UK as it has an explicit focus on social inclusion andbroader economic issues, as well as primarily engaging in bothqualitative and quantitative research. It focuses on policy-relevantresearch, effective community engagement and best practice,particularly through the development of linkages with regeneration-focused policies, programmes and activities.www.liv.ac.uk/civdes/msio



Health & Wellbeing

The North West Hub for Trials Methodology Research(NWHTMR) is a collaboration with Lancaster and BangorUniversities, funded by the Medical Research Centre. TheLiverpool-based Hub provides a focus for research in the NWregion around trials methodology, developing a world-class centrewhere methodological issues facing the clinical trials communitycan be investigated, and improving patient care by improving thevalidity and relevance of the healthcare evidence base. The Hubwill provide expertise in areas such as drug safety, medicines forchildren, epilepsy and cancer. This will include research into thedesign and analysis of both early and late phase trials, includinginnovative adaptive design and pharmacokinetic studies, and issuesrelated to the patient perspective, including methods to improverecruitment and retention.www.liv.ac.uk/nwhtmr

Health & Wellbeing

The NIHR Biomedical Research Unit Pancreatic Diseases,awarded to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital and theUniversity of Liverpool, is undertaking translational researchinto pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Through pioneeringnew drugs and interventions, as well as new diagnostic techniquesand preventive strategies, the Unit translates research discoveriesinto better outcomes for patients, enabling patients to benefit morequickly from scientific breakthroughs in these disease areas.www.liv.ac.uk/research/environment/Pancreatic_Biomedical_Centre

Health & Wellbeing

The NIHR Medicines for Children Research Networkimproves the co-ordination, speed and quality of randomisedcontrolled trials and other well designed studies of medicinesfor children and adolescents, including those for prevention,diagnosis and treatment. The MCRN Coordinating Centre is ledby a consortium comprising the University of Liverpool, RoyalLiverpool Children’s Hospital, Imperial College London, NationalPerinatal Epidemiology Unit (NPEU; University of Oxford), LiverpoolWomen’s Hospital and the National Children’s Bureau.www.mcrn.org.uk


The North West Laser Engineering Consortium (NWLEC)is a strategic alliance between the Universities of Liverpool andManchester. At the forefront of laser applications in micro- andnanotechnology, it draws on expertise from both universities toresearch and develop laser capabilities for the benefit of industryin the North West.www.nwlec.org.uk


The Northwest Culture Observatory is the region's strategicculture research and intelligence network. Its core partners are theUniversity of Liverpool, Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool JohnMoores University, Arts Council England and English Heritage. TheObservatory works across the breadth of cultural domains, includingsports, the arts, heritage, tourism, museums, libraries and archivesand creative industries. It also collaborates closely with thepartnerships emerging out of the Impacts 08 work.

Health & Wellbeing

The Ophthalmology Research Unit (ORU) combines theUniversity’s ophthalmology research division and the clinicalSt Paul's Eye Unit in the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.It performs basic science and clinical research into the controlof eye disease and ocular tissue repair and regeneration. It is acentre of excellence for the teaching and training in the controland treatment of eye disorders, and is at the forefront ofdevelopment of novel techniques to improve the understandingand treatment of ocular disease. The expertise and resourceswithin the Unit and the applied nature of its activities have resultedin numerous collaborations with industry in technology and productdevelopment.www.liv.ac.uk/ophthalmology


Materials

The Surface Science Research Centre is a key facility whichenjoys international acclaim. Current research themes cut acrossthe disciplines of chemistry, physics, biology and materials science,and combine the efforts of both experimentalists and theoreticians.The overarching ambition of this work is to achieve nanoscalecontrol, design and assembly of function.www.liv.ac.uk/ssci

Health & Wellbeing

The Tesco Dairy Centre, in partnership with the University’s Facultyof Veterinary Science, is a national resource centre for farmers andpart of the Tesco Sustainable Dairy Group, offering expertise in cattlelameness, fertility and calf health. The Centre aims to help farmers inenhancing the commercial benefits of their work, as well as offeringadvice on animal health and welfare.


The Reader Organisation (TRO) is the University ofLiverpool’s first arts spin-out organisation and exists to bringabout a ‘reading revolution’. Its work encourages people of allages and backgrounds to become readers, or to extend theirreading habits, and aims to improve wellbeing and buildcommunity through shared reading. Get Into Reading, TRO’sinnovative social outreach project, has more than 120 readinggroups across Merseyside. Get Into Reading has been singled-outby the Government as an example of best practice in helpingimprove public mental health and wellbeing in the ‘New Horizons’strategy by the Department of Health.www.thereader.org.uk


The Virtual Engineering Centre (VEC) catalyses virtual engineeringactivities and joint research programmes across the sector andbetween industry and academia. Virtual Engineering (VE) involvesintegrated product/process modelling and the creation of virtualprototypes. Major aerospace companies are committed to VEbecause it provides a cost effective method of presenting futureoptions to the customer and capturing their requirements. However,integrated VE tools and techniques have not been successfullyimplemented across the whole lifecycle and throughout the supplychain, presenting a major barrier to organisations adopting thetechnology. The Virtual Engineering Centre aims to address thisand will explore solutions to many important engineering issues.

The Centre will act as:

A physical virtual engineering centre which will contain‘best practice’ facilities that display integrated, interactivesimulation and modelling software across the full rangeof virtual capabilitiesA research partnership that will add value to existingresearch activities within the region by providing acommercially relevant focusA knowledge exchange centre to increase awarenessand give potential users an opportunity to ‘try before theybuy’ so that they can become more confident of thebusiness advantages that can accrue from usingVE toolAn educational centre to help meet the current skillsshortages in VE in the UK.

The Centre is funded by the Northwest European RegionalDevelopment Fund (ERDF), the Northwest Regional DevelopmentAgency (NWDA) and the University of Liverpool. Other collaboratorsare the Science and Technology Facilities Council at Daresbury, theNorthwest Aerospace Alliance, Airbus, Morsons and BAE Systems.



Health & Wellbeing

TheWellcome Trust Centre for Research in Clinical TropicalMedicine is one of four centres throughout the UK establishedin 1995 to focus support for the Trust's Public Health and TropicalMedicine fellowship schemes, which facilitate the recruitmentand training of outstanding clinicians, in order to maintain theUK's strength in clinical tropical medicine. The Centres canprovide a UK base to support researchers engaged in projectsoutside the UK.

Health & Wellbeing

TheWolfson Centre for Personalised Medicine has amultidisciplinary team which collaborates with researcherslocally, regionally, nationally and internationally to identify geneticpredisposing factors for drug responses associated with a numberof disease areas. It focuses on areas which are important from apublic health perspective – including anticonvulsant therapy inepilepsy; inhaled steroids in children with asthma; acute coronarysyndrome and variability in response to treatments; non steroidalanti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced peptic ulceration; and thetoxicity and efficacy of drugs used to treat infections such as HIV.www.liv.ac.uk/pharmacogenetics/centre_for_personalised_medicine


Facilities

Health & Wellbeing

The Functional Proteomics Facility comprises a comprehensiverange of instrumentation and facilities across campus for proteomics.protein chemistry, protein expression and biophysical analysis.www.liv.ac.uk/bio/research/core_facilities/proteomics

Health & Wellbeing

Liverpool Tissue Bank possesses tissue samples collected frompatients banked together with associated clinical data to provide avaluable resource for research groups investigating the mechanismsof disease. University biobanking complies with the requirements ofthe Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)and the Human Tissue Act (England and Wales, 2006). Subject toethical approval samples are made available to external groups.www.liv.ac.uk/ctbrc/

Health & Wellbeing

The Biomedical Electron Microscopy Unit providesstate-of-the-art EM and prepv facilities for applications rangingfrom basic high resolution imaging of immuno-labelled samplesthrough to frozen hydrated cryo-EM and 3D tomography.www.liv.ac.uk/emunit/

Health & Wellbeing

With its Advanced Genomics Facility, Liverpool has invested innext generation genome sequencing instruments, including oneof the first Roche/454 GS-FLX sequencers in the UK, which areavailable for the scientific user community. The facility also has thelatest computational tools and trained staff to deliver bioinformaticservices for data handling and analysis.www.liv.ac.uk/agf

Health & Wellbeing

The Liverpool Microarray Facility unit is well equipped with thelatest high-tech arraying technology and supporting instrumentationproviding standard and bespoke array fabrication. The facility alsoprovides training and education services, and collaborates ontechnology development.www.liv.ac.uk/lmf

Materials Health & Wellbeing Advanced Manufacturing

The University’s unique Ultra Mixing and Processing Facilitysupports the development of nanomaterials for a broad rangeof applications – for example, medical, personal care, food, paints,detergents and lubricants. It can deliver emulsions at a volumesufficient for most application testing and can also facilitateenhanced particulate dispersion.


Laboratories

Facilities // Laboratories 155

Materials Advanced Manufacturing

The Knowledge Exploitation Laboratory brings academic andindustrial partners together, accelerating the transfer of researchinto industry in the fields of molecular engineering, advancedmanufacturing, and sensors and monitoring. Its main purpose isto engage end users and technology suppliers in increasing thetechnology readiness level (TRL) of research to facilitate itsexploitation. Industry can acquire knowledge through a rangeof mechanisms, for example, recruiting researchers or placingpersonnel in the University with direct access to scientists andUniversity facilities.


The Liverpool Verification Laboratory specialises in the formalanalysis and automated verification of autonomous systems. It hasdeveloped world-leading agent verification tools and devised a routefor the bespoke development of new agent languages which areboth sophisticated and verifiable. The aim of formal verification is toanalyse systems in order to ascertain whether users can be sure thatsuch systems will behave in line with high-level, logically definedrequirements. The Verification Laboratory is actively engaging withcompanies such as Motorola and Marconi, and organisations suchas NASA, to develop practical verification tools.

Digital Technologies Energy & Sustainability

The National Instruments e-Automation Laboratory isestablished in a partnership between National Instruments and TheUniversity of Liverpool, supported by National Grid Company plc. Itis equipped with:

A real-time simulatorA range of hardware, microprocessors, embeddedsystems and data acquisition devicesReal-time automation platformsComprehensive software development systemsThree IP networks, including a wireless local area networkwhich is used for work on network-based industrialautomation.

The Laboratory develops and integrates key internet and computertechnologies with innovative management practices.www.liv.ac.uk/e-automation


The Semantic Web Technologies Laboratory carries out researchdesigned to support the development of the Semantic Web and theapplication of Semantic Web technologies.www.csc.liv.ac.uk/semanticweb


The Superstem Laboratory, based at Daresbury Laboratory,is equipped with two SuperSTEM microscopes, both of whichminimise spherical aberration. The Laboratory has undertakenstudies for national research centres and companies as diverseas Qinetiq, Pilkington, Johnson Matthey and the DiamondTrading Company. Sample projects undertaken in collaborationwith business include helping to resolve issues posed by theconversion of gases to liquid hydrocarbons, and ascertaining thesource of colour in diamonds to inform the development of newmethods of identifying their signature characteristics.


Associated institutionsThe University of Liverpool benefits from very close working links withthe following important institutions adjacent to the University campus:

Health & Wellbeing Environment & Climate Change

The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) is aninternational centre of excellence, devoted to research, educationand training, and consultancy. It was founded in 1898, becomingthe world's first institution devoted primarily to tropical health.It has extensive links with UN organizations, health ministries,universities, non-governmental organizations and researchinstitutions worldwide, working in partnership to control diseasesof poverty and to develop more effective systems for health care.www.lstmliverpool.ac.uk

Environment & Climate Change Energy & Sustainability

Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory (POL), a part of theNatural Environment Research Council, conducts world-classresearch in; estuary, coastal and shelf sea circulation, ecosystemdynamics; wind-wave dynamics and sediment transport; globalsea level and geodetic oceanography; and marine technology andoperational oceanography. The Laboratory hosts a range of nationaland international services for the benefit of the wider community.www.pol.ac.uk


Associated Institutions // Index 157

Index


A232Th cycle 5110kV 12264-channel LMS model test system 65Abel inversion reconstruction 60AberrationChromatic 87Spherical 86

AC to DC/DC to AC conversion 49Accelerator technology 51, 81Aerospace engineering130-node CFD cluster 672 full motion flight simulators 67500-core CFD cluster 67Aircraft data buses & links 67Airframe simulation 67CFD data visualisation 67Fixed wing 67Flapped rotor systems 67Flight science 67Image stabilisation 67Non-linear aerodynamics 67Pilot briefings 67Probabilistic stochastic/interval methods 67Rotary wing 67Structural dynamics/vibration 67Structural materials & mechanics 67Target recognition/tracking 67Tilt rotor 67Unique coupled CFD-structural modelmethods 67

Agent technologies 94Allele mining 126Anechoic chamber 134Anti-vascular endothelial growthfactor (antiVEGF) 27Arterial spin labelling 89, 150AutomatedModulation recognition 92, 93Gene finding 29

BBasinAnalysis 46Modelling 46Settings 46

Biogeochemistry 36BiologicalMaterials 27, 59, 80, 81, 83Processes 89Productivity 35Algorithms 64

Biomimetic nanostructured surfaces 63Biomolecule interactions 64Borehole magnetometry 93BS25999 110Build-to-order 108

CCapacitance-time 61CarbonCycling 34Dynamics 37Nanostructured materials 59Nanostructured materials synthesis 60Capture/Storage 46

CatalysisAcid 62Asymmetric 62Catalytic mechanisms 62Enzymatic 62Green chemistry 62Heterogeneous 62Homogeneous 62Renewable feedstock 62

CatalystCarbonylation 62C-C bond formation 62High-pressure NMR measurement 62Multistep reactions 62

CatalystsBiomass-derived platform molecules 62Immobilised 62Layered hydroxides 62Mixed oxides 62Multifunctional 62

B

Non-toxic 62Organometallic 62Polyoxometalates 62Solid 62Stabilised for harsh conditions 62

Catalytic functions (acid base, metal) 62CellDeath 89Development 89Differentiation 89Division 89Growth 89Signalling 89Mammalian 89

ChannelEqualisation 92Estimation 92Characterisation 92

Characterisation ToolsHigh resolution transmission electronspectroscopy (XTEM) 61Low-current voltage 61Multi-frequency capacitance voltage 61Spectro-ellipsometry 61X-ray diffraction (XRD) 37,46, 61, 73X-ray spectroscopy (XPS) 61

ChargeCharge collection in semiconductor devices 91Charge pumping 91

Electroanalytical chemistry 37Chromaticity 94CirculationCoastal 34Estuarine 34Shelf sea 34

Climate change regulation 28Clinical trialsAdaptive design 23Methodology 23Monitoring 23Outcome measures 23Randomised 23Statistical data analysis 23

Clustering 92Coaggulometry 81

Index // Techniques, Technologies& Processes


CoastalBasins 34Systems 35

Cochrane methodology 23ComputationalDevices 64, 99Economics 98Electromagnetics 92Fluid dynamics (CFD) 67Intelligence 48, 51, 95Markets 96

ConcreteCementless 72Evaluation in-situ 72Precast 72Reactive glass powder (RGPC) 72Ultra-high performance 72

Construction materials (innovative)Cementless/geopolymer concrete 72Paving flags 72Precast concrete blocks 72Recycled demolition aggregates 72

Control algorithms 53Controlled environment rooms 134Core logging 35CrisisAuditing 110Simulation 110

Current-voltage 61

DData fusion 86Dating 40OSL series 35Radiometric 35U series 35

Decision support systems 37, 131DepositionAtomic layer 75Chemical vapour 75Coatings 75Laser 75Molecular beam epitaxy 75Optically-based reactive 75

B Thin films (polymeric) 75

Depositional/geomorphic settingsAeolian 36Coastal 36Glacial 36Hillslope 36Lacustrine 36Montane 36Riverine 36

Desertification 33, 35, 63Design software for ...MEMS 63Microfluidic structures/devices/processes 63Semiconductor structures/devices/processes 63

DetectorsCadmium zinc telluride 124Germanium 124Radiation 124Semiconductor 124

Diagenesis 46Differential global positioning systems(dGPS) 46Diffraction (X-ray) 46Digital signal processor (DSP) systemtechnologies 51Disc-brake test rig instrumented for … 65Disc vibration 65Speed 65Temperature 65Torque 65

DiseaseDynamics 28Emergence 28Evolution 28Mechanisms 28Progression 28

DNA sequencing 29, 125, 141, 143Drivers of ...Desertification 35Sediment flux 35Soil erosion 35

DynamicsChannel 34Shelf sea 34Wave 34Wind 34Wind/wave 34

Dynamometers120kW 1.2m diameter vehicle dynamometer 65120kW transient engine dynamometer 6575kW clutch dynamometer 65Electric low inertia (idle speed) enginedynamometer 65

EEarth surfaceLandforms 36Processes 36Weathering 36

EcosystemDynamics 35Unit Values 41

ElectronBeam sources 87Micro-diffraction 87Microscopy 87

EndoscopyDiagnostic 25Techniques 25Therapeutic 25

EnergyBalance 26Regulation 26EnvironmentalHydraulics 38Radioactivity 37, 40, 42, 147Resilience Auditing 46Sampling 46Surveys 46

Enzymic hydrolysis 43Erosion 35, 36, 38Experimental radiotherapy 22

FFinite elementLinux-Solaris cluster 65Modelling 65MSC-NASTRAN (aerospace/automotivestandard FE code) 65

Fission reactors 51Flanking sequences 29Flow cytometry 79Fluid mechanics 38Freeform fabrication 58

Index // Techniques,Technologies & Processes 159


GGame theory 98Gamma radiation detection 124Gamma rayCamera 124Interactions 124

Gas chromatography mass spectrometry(GC-MS) 37Gastric epithelium model 25Gastroenterology 24GeneExpression analysis 29Therapy 29

GeneticAlgorithms 108Markers 22Predictors 20

GenomeAnnotation 29Resequencing (whole) 29

Genotype arrays 29Geophysical data captureGravity 46Seismic 46

Geophysical investigations 35GIS 135

HHigh k dielectrics 60High-speed machining 59

Hydra 123Imaging2D 872D fast plasma optical 603D 87CCTV 90, 94Chemical 86Compton 91Confocal 75, 79, 84, 86, 88, 143Confocal endomicroscopy 25Diffusion tensor (DTI) 89, 150Digital 90Dual X-ray absorption (DXA) 86, 88Functional 87Functional magnetic resonance (fMRI)

87, 89, 150Gamma ray 88

Geophysical 88Ground penetrating radar 86, 88Liquid 64Magnetic resonance (MRI) 88, 90, 92, 150Multimodal 90Perfusion 87Retinal 27, 91Spectroscopic 84, 86, 89, 90, 122Time lapse 85, 142X-ray 84

IImpactBlast/explosion resistance 74High velocity impact loading 74Loading 74Low velocity impact loading 74Projectile simulation 74

Impact assessment toolsCatapults 66, 147Drop hammers 66, 147Gas gun 66, 147High-rate servohydraulic test machines 66, 147Hopkinsons bars 66, 147Hyperbaric chamber 66, 147Large blast air rigs 66, 147LS-DYNA 66, 147Powder gun 66, 147Pressure pulse rigs 66, 147Vapour cloud explosion simulator 66

Indirect calorimetry 26Infectious diseaseControl 28Pathogenesis 28Transmission 28

InformationExtraction 92Management 51Processing 92Internal structuring 58Intraocular lenses 27Inverters 48

IonBeam sources 60Transport 60

Iterative search 108

LLaserAnalysis 57Bending 58Cleaning 57Cutting 57Deposition 57Diagnosis 57Direct write (micro/nano-based inks) 57Forming 57Internal structuring 58Joining 57Marking 57Measurement 57Peen forming 57Percussion drilling 57Photo-detachment 57Precision drilling 58Scissors 64Surface treatment 57Tweezers 64Welding 57

LasersFemtosecond 57High beam quality 57High power carbon dioxide 57Low power carbon dioxide 57Nd: Yag 57Optical laser tweezer 57Picosecond 57Ultrashort pulse length 57

Lens implantation 27Light detection & ranging (LIDAR) 46Lighting laboratory with artificial sky 134Liquid chromatographymass spectrometry 37Lok test 73Lost carbonate sintering 74Lung development 24


MMachine learning 51, 92, 95, 100Manufacturing technologiesVisual management 563D printing 56Additive layer 58Biological 59Casting 58Catalysis 62Envision systems 56Forging 58Freeform fabrication 58High-speed machining 59Laser engineering 57Micro/nano biodevice manufacture 63Microcutters 59Microsystems design/fabrication 59Product digitisation 56Selective laser melting (SLM) 58Selective laser sintering 58Solid state electronics 60Spiral growth manufacturing (SGM) 58Stereolithography 58Technological plasma 59Ultra high energy mixing 63

MappingCrustal thickness 46Digital 46Micro-continents 46Ocean-continent transitions 46Value stream 108Visual 135

MarkerDiscovery 22Testing 22Validation 22

Material typesBulk 76Emulsions/dispersions 80, 153Foams (polymeric, metallic) 66Powders 65, 72Recyclable 74Surfaces/coatings 79, 83

MaterialsBiomaterials 25, 59, 79, 80, 81, 83Carbon nanostructured 59Ceramics 75,79

Composites 61, 66, 74, 75Construction 72Functional 59, 75, 76, 78, 81Glass 66, 72Hybrids 74Metals/alloys 40, 43, 58, 66, 74, 79, 83, 90Polymers 60, 61, 64, 66, 75, 78, 79, 83, 90Renewable starter 62Thermoplastic-matrix fibre-metallaminates(FML) 74

Materials discoveryClass 100 UV photolithography unit 75, 81Class 1000 Clean Room 75CVD reactor for growth of nanostructuredoxide thin films 75Double-sided mask aligner 75Hotplate oven for curing photoresists 75Nitride based molecular beam epitaxy systemfor nitride superlattice materials growth 75Resist spin coater 75

MechanicsComputational 74Fracture 74Structural 74

Meta-heuristics 108Metal Oxide Semiconductor(MOS) capacitors 61MicroCutters 59Electronics 59Hierarchical structures 59Lithography 64Manipulation 64Micro-electrical-mechanicalsystems (MEMS) 61Micropower SOI 76Patterning 64Reactors 59

MicroarrayCustom design 29Fabrication 29Image analysis 29

Microarray platformsAffymetrix 29Agilent 29Illumina 29

Nimblegen 29Microparticle-based inks 57

MicroscopyAtomic force 58, 64, 81, 87Auger electron 81, 86Cathode luminescence 73Confocal 75, 81, 88, 90Scanning electron 33, 73, 75, 81, 86Scanning transmission electron 75, 86Scanning tunnelling 77, 81, 86Transmission electron 75, 86

MicrosystemComponent technologies 59Fabrication 59

MixingDispersive 63Systems 63Zones 39

Mixing technologyEnhanced micro/nano particulate dispersion 63Ultra-high energy 63

Modelling toolsAbacus 56CATIA 56Coventor 56DFE 56DFMA 56Finite element 65Mouldflow 56Pro-E 56

ModelsClimate 34, 36, 126Colonic epithelium 25Experimental 24, 25Murine 25Primary culture 25

MonitoringIntelligent 95, 102, 144Predictive 95Self-evaluating 95

Multi-agent technologies 50, 95, 96, 97Multi-frequency capacitance voltage 61Multiple input-multiple output (MIMO) 92, 93



NNanoLithography 64Particle manipulation 64Particles 62, 79, 80, 81Nasal airway ion transport 24Networking technologies 51Neutron bombardment 125Nitrogen dynamics 37

NMRBubble column NMR reactors 62High-pressure gas flow cells 62High-pressure methodologies 62Noise transmission suites 134

Novel techniques 27Assessment of retinal function 27Retinal imaging/image processing 27, 93Selective Laser Melting (SLM) 56, 58, 66Spiral Growth Manufacturing (SGM) 56, 58Treatment of ocular disease 27

NutrientCycling 34Fluxes 39

OOceanBiogeochemistry 34, 38Circulation 34Deep ocean drilling 34

OcularHypertension 27Scarring 27Tissue regeneration 27Tissue repair 27

Oral histories 135Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing(OFDM) 93Olanzapine-inducedHyperphagia 26Weight gain 26

Orbital forcing 34

PPalaeontology 35Pharmacogenetics 20, 23, 145Photo IV 61Physicochemical changes 46PlasmaChemistry 59Complex dusty plasma environments 59Diagnosis 59Diagnostic tools 59Discharge delivery power supplies (DC,pulsed DC, RF) 59Discharge modelling/simulation 59High-pressure discharges 59Measurement 59Micro-jets 59Physics 60Polymerisation 60Processing 60Processing system design 60Pulsed magnetron deposition chambers 60Surface interaction modelling 60

PlasmasAtmospheric pressure (DBD) 59Dustry RF 59Non-reactive 59Pulsed RF 59Reactive 59Sputtering 59

Plate tectonic reconstruction 46Portable gamma ray spectrometer 124Power electronics converters 48ProbesCurrent/voltage 60Electron 60Electrical 60Fluorescent 144Ion 60Langmuir & associated electrical 60Laser 60Magnetic 60Scanning 64

ProcessesBiogenic 46Coastal 38Earth surface 36Estuarine 38Hydrological 38Infection 28

Product design softwareCATIA 56DFE 56DFMA 56Mouldflow 56Pro-E 56

Protein transport 90Prototyping technologies3D printing 56Field Effect Transistor (FET) devices inpolymers 56Helisys systems 56MCP vacuum casting 56Two-terminal test structures in silocon 56

Proxies for ...Climate systems 35Earth surface systems 35Biological systems 35

Pulse shape analysis 91

RRadiationDetection 91Hot-spot/cold-spot 91

RadioEcology 92Radio-frequency identification (RFID) 92Frequency measurement 92

Recyclable materialsComposites based on natural fibres 74Concrete & demolition waste 72Glass cullet 72Siliceous ashes 73Waste ash 72

RelayCo-ordination 50Operation 50Ultra-high-speed protection 50

Resequencing 29Resolution 87Angstrom 87, 89Atomic scale 87Enhancement 90Micrometre 88Nanometre scale 87


Spatial 87sub-Angstrom 89

RetinalCell transplantation 27Detachment 27Function 27Screening 27Structure 27Reverberation chamber 93

RiverChannel dynamics 38Hydrology 38Styles 38

Robots 29Rolling road 65

SSAP 100SatelliteControl 46Gravity anomaly inversion 46

ScalesMacro 77Micro 77, 79Nano 56, 57, 59, 61, 63, 64, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79,

80, 81, 87, 91, 155, 153Scavenging biomechanical energy 100SedimentGeochemistry 38Records 38Supply 38Transport 38

Sedimentary basins 34Seismic events 36Semantic web 97SensorNetworks 100Optical/non-optical fibre 94Technology 51, 56, 59, 64, 67, 75, 77, 79, 86,

87, 88, 91, 92, 94, 95, 100, 124, 145, 154SequenceAssembly 46Stratigraphy 46

SequencingcDNA/cDNA tags 29DNA 29Long-read 29

Short-read 29Sequencing technology454 GS FLX Titanium pyrosequencing 29ABI-SOLiD 3 sequencing 29

SheathDynamics 59Physics 59Simulation/modelling 101Six Sigma 57Social identity laboratory 123Solids 75Speaker separation 93Spectral response 91Spectroellipsometry 61

SpectrometryAlpha 59Energy-resolved 59Gamma ray 59Low background gamma ray 59Low background hyper pure germaniumgamma ray 59Mass 59Smallest quadrupole mass spectrometerreported 59

SpectroscopyAtomic absorption (AAS) 37Electron energy-loss (EELS) 87Fluorescent microplate 81Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) 37Gamma ray 86High resolution transmission electron (XTEM) 61Infra-red 37, 73Light microplate 81Magnetic resonance 86Medium energy ion 61NMR 86Optical emission 60Reflection anisotropy (RAS) 81X-ray (XPS) 81

Stable isotope investigation 37Stereology 23Stratigraphy 46StructuresBuckling 74Cellular core materials 66Complex lattice 59Composite sandwich structures 66

Composite shells 74Extreme loading 66High-performance lattice 74High-performance silicon 60Impact behaviour 66Lightweight 66Metallic shells 74Multimaterial 57Optimisation 66Photovoltaic 60Pressurised shells 66Structure-function relationships 75

SurfaceBio-mimetic nano-structured 64Chemistry 62Coatings 83Interaction modelling 59Interaction of biomolecues withflat/patterned/structured surfaces 64Modification 81Molecular surface properties 64Topography 87Treatment 57Wyco surface measurement 56

Surgery 24, 28, 89Surgical oncology 22Survival analysis/meta-analysis 23Synchronous generators 48Synchronverters 48System-on-a-chip technologies 50

TTarget validation 22TechniquesArtificial intelligence 108Calorimetry 81, 150Endoscopic 25Geophysical 46Offshore surveying 35Optical emission 60Pulse shape analysis 91, 124Resequencing 29Simulated annealing 108Six sigma 56Stochastic 133Visual management 56



TechnologiesAccelerator 51Agent/multi-agent 50, 95, 96Digital signal processor (DSP) system 51Internet 94, 97, 98, 101, 108Laser 56, 57, 58, 59, 66, 69, 74, 75, 79, 81,

86, 148, 155Manufacturing 57Microsystem component 59Mixing 63Networking 63, 153Prototyping 56, 95, 109Sensor 51, 56, 59, 64, 67, 74, 76, 79, 86,

91, 95, 100, 124, 145, 154Sequencing 29, 126, 143, 145System-on-a-chip 50Track and trace 100Wind turbine 48, 49, 53Tectonics 34Telemetry 94, 145TFT integration with antennas onto thin,flexible, transparent substrates 60

TidalCirculation 46Barrage 39, 49Lagoons 49Streams 49

Tomography3D laser 86Computed 86Electron 86Emission 86Optical coherence 86Single photon emission 86

Topography 87Track and trace technology 100TransistorsField Effect Transistors (FET) 60Metal oxide semiconductor field-effecttransistors (MOSFETs) 60Thin film transistors (TFTs) 60

Transmutation 51TrendsSpatial resolution 35Vertical resolution 35

UUltra-high energy dispersive mixing 63Ultrasonic TOFD 93Universal eating monitors 26

VValue stream mapping 108Varying speed maximal power pointtracking 48Velocimetry 60Vitreous substitutes 27Volcanic events 36Voltage drooping co-efficients 49

WWater arc equipment 60Witness simulation/modelling 101

XX-rayDiffraction (XRD) 37Fluorescence (XRF) 37

A3G Neural network applications 60Acoustics 133Action learning 111Air travel 124AircraftAerodynamics 67Aeroelasticity 67Aircraft/helicopter-ship dynamics interface 67Composite fuselage structures 67Composite wing design 67Drag/gust loads reduction 67Fin buffet 67Flight simulation 67Foreign object impact 67Handling qualities 67Missile guidance & control 67Radar processing 67Safety cases 67Stall/stall flutter 67Structural dynamics 67Target tracking 67Vibration 67Vortical flow 67

Airport security 124AnalysisChemical 59, 87, 89Cost-benefit 38Data 27, 101Elemental 57Expression (gene) 29Expression (genome-wide) 29Gait 28Geodemographic 131Kinematic 28Kinetic 28Load ability 96Metagenomic 29Particle size 35Pollen 35Pulse shape 91Sedimentological 46Statistical 23, 29, 145Strategic 131Stratigraphic 46Thermal 96

Issues, Applications& Foci


Animal health 28AppetiteBehaviour 26Control 27

Architectural typesFlexible 133Portable 133Temporary 133

Arthritis 89Artificial intelligence 108Assembly / Disassembly 56AssessmentCompressive strength 72Early age concrete maturity 73Ecosystem services 126

Asset pricing 109Asthma 89Atmosphere 34, 57, 59, 94Auctions 98Automation 50, 51, 78, 95, 96, 155Avian pneumovirus 28

BBacteria 21, 24, 31, 43, 64, 89, 95BasinFormation 46Deep ocean 46Sedimentary 46

BeachAccretion 38Erosion 38

BehaviourConsumer 113Crowd 121Dynamic 65Eating 26Emergent 94Employee 119Impact 66Modification 119Patterns/trends 94Permeability 46Benchmarking 109, 115, 118Biobanking 22, 150Biocompatibility 59, 80, 83

BiodiversityCredits 41Markets 41

Offsets 41Biofuels 126Biomimetics 63Biopsychology 26Biotechnology 20 22, 24 25 29, 71, 125Blindness 27Bone 87, 88Brain 61, 88, 91, 138Buffer zones 38BusinessProcess modelling/analysis 47, 143, 153Start-up 106Continuity 110, 115Incubation 19

CCancerTissue banking 22Treatment strategies 22Vaccines 22

CancersBlood 22Gastrointestinal 24Head & neck 22Pancreatic 22

CarbonAtmospheric 35Capture 46Dioxide 37Dissolved organic 37Economy 37Footprint 47Storage 46

Catalysis 62CatalystComputer modelling 62Design 62Development 62Exploration 62Innovation 62Kinetics 62Mechanisms 62Oxidation 62Reaction pathways 62Speciation (of compounds present in solution) 62Structural characterisation 62Surface chemistry 62

CattleFertility 28, 152Lameness 28, 152

ChangeManagement 111Strategic 111

CharacterisationElectrical 61Physical 61Position-sensitive semiconductor detectors 91Semiconductor 61

ChemistryElectroanalytical 37Green 62Medicinal 20Metal 37Organic 37

Childhood 24ClimateChange 34Patterns 34System 34

Clinical trialCosting 24Ethics approval 24Feasibility 24

Implementation 24Legislation 24Site identification 24

Clinical trialsCancer vaccines 22Gene therapy 22Legislation 22MetXia 22Paediatric 22Pancreatic cancer chemotherapy 22Regulations 22TeloVac 22, 146Training programmes 22

CoastalCommunities 35Engineering 38Erosion 35Flooding 36Processes 38Seas 38Warming 35

165Index // Techniques, Technologies & ProcessesIndex // Issues, Applications & Foci


Coatings 64, 69, 76, 80, 81, 83, 95CommunityBlack and minority ethnic 131Cohesion 136Engagement 136Participation 131Planning 131Supported agriculture 53

Companion animals 26, 28CompetitiveAdvantage 3, 8, 47, 105, 107Positioning 113

Complex pills 58Complexity 94CompositionElemental 73, 125Mineral 35, 124

Computer networks 95ConservationArchitectural 134Archival resources 134Art 57Through regeneration 131

Consumer behaviour 113Context awareness 99ContinuousFatigue cycling 74Improvement 108

ControlAlgorithms 53Appetite 26Chemical 79Deformation 63Deposition 60Flight 67Hydraulic 39Environmental 59Infection 21, 28Inverter 53Microscale 59Operations 109Parameter 60Pollution 39Software 49Stock 69Strategies 28Vibration 65Voltage 53Weight 26

Core logging 35Corneal scarring 27CorporateHistory 113Value 109

Counter terrorism 110Creative practice 132Crime 131Critical incidents 122Crop science 125CrowdBehaviour 121Management 121, 127Psychology 121Violence 121

Crystallinity 87CulturalAwareness 132Engagement 132Industries 130Legacy 130Policy 132

Cultures 105, 139Business 118Popular 138, 147Risk 118

Customer experience 113

DDark pools 98DataAcquisition/capture/collection 38, 96Analysis 27, 101Meta-analysis 23Processing 63, 93Storage 96

Dating 35, 40Debriefing 122Decision-makingAutonomous 98Consumer 98

Deprivation 131DesignArchitectural 133Assays 29Supply chain 108Supply networks 108Virtual 56

DetectionRadionuclide 88Reinforcing bars 73Reinforcing steel corrosion 72Utilities 73Voids 73

DeviceDesign 60Enhancement 80

DevicesComputational 64, 99Implantable medical devices 64Lab-on-a-chip 64Medical 59, 64, 80, 83Micro/nanoscale arrays 29, 81Organic TFT devices, diodes & capacitors 61Rapid bio-detection devices 64Semiconductor 91, 125Sensors 59, 64, 67, 75, 76, 79 92, 93, 95,

100, 124, 154Diabetes 26, 81, 89, 145Diagnosis 22, 24 25 87, 88, 91, 92, 151Diagnostics 20 21 22, 24 29, 57, 60, 79, 91DiamondNatural 77Proprietary 69Quality 89Synthetic 77

Digital signage 97DiscoveryGene 29Materials 20, 73, 75, 78, 81, 146Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) 29

DiseaseAnimal 148Animal-borne 21, 28Autoimmune 28Bacterial 21, 24Ecology 21Epidemiology 28Human 21, 28Infectious 20, 21, 28, 125Management 27Microbial 20, 21, 24, 25, 31, 151Prevention 24Respiratory 21, 24Viral 21, 24


DiseasesAge-related macular degeneration (AMD) 27AIDS 21Animal 21Animal-borne 21Arthritis 89Asthma 24Bacterial 24Bacterial respiratory 24Cancer 25Cardiovascular 89Colitis/ulcerative colitis 25Crohn's 25Cystic fibrosis 24Dental 23Diabetes 23Epilepsy 23Eye 23Food-borne 28Gastrointestinal 24HIV 21Infection 21Inflammatory bowel 24Japanese Encephalitis 21Malaria 36Meningitis 36Neurological 21Neurological infection 21Obesity 23Perinatal 23Pneumonia 21Respiratory 21Systemic Lupus 24Tuberculosis 21Vector-borne 21Zoonotic 28

DNA/cDNA sequencing 29DrugAnti-epileptic 23Design 23Monitoring 23Safety 23Selection 20

DrugsAnti-epileptic 21Anti-malarial 21

Ee-Commerce 100Customer relationship management (CRM) 100Government 100Marketplaces 100Ordering / processing 100Purchasing 100endering 100Trading 100Automation 100

Eating behaviour 26EconomicDevelopment 132Growth 132Renewal 132

Economics 41EconomyGlobal 38Low carbon 38

Ecosystem services 37Ecosystems 37EducationAccess to 136Work-based 136

ElectricalDischarges 95Switchgear 95

ElectricityGeneration 95Markets 95

Emerging markets 108End of life 56EnergyAbsorption 74Conversion 62Efficiency 58Expenditure 26Generation 50Kinetic 49Potential 49Production 62Renewable 50Storage 71Use minimisation 45Balance 26

EngineeringCoastal 38Design 39Industrial 55Virtual 67Water 38Laser 57

Entrepreneurship 106Environment restoration 38EnvironmentalEconomics 37Impact 37Management 37Radioactivity 37

EnvironmentsBusiness 105Legal 105Socio-cultural 105

Epidemiology 28Erosion 36Estuaries 49EvaluationHedonic 26Sensory 26Taste 26

Evidence baseCultural renewal 130Healthcare 130

Exhibitions 134Explosives 124Extreme events 35Eye diseaseAge-related macular degeneration (AMD) 27Diabetic retinopathy 27Diabetic retinopathy 27Glaucoma 27Grading 27Imaging 27Management 27Melanoma 27Open-angle glaucoma 27Proliferative vitreoretinopathy 27Retinal 27Screening 27

Index // Issues, Applications & Foci 167


FFabricationFreeform 58Microsystems 58

Failure analysisGrid 123Material 73, 79, 147Structural 147

FastAlgorithms 90Track construction 73

FaultDetection 94Diagnosis 92

FeatureExtraction 90Mapping 93

Feeding psychology 26Fertilisers 43Financial services 119Fisheries 125FloodDefences 38Frequency 36Magnitude 36Peak reduction 38Risk 38

FluidFlow 94Level 94Quality 94Viscosity 94FoodAvailability 125Chain 125Functional 125Security 125Supply 125Sustainability 125

Food-borne pathogens 28Football 139Forecasting 48Foreign object impact 74Fuel consumption 35Future proofing 38

GGene discovery 29Genomics services 29Geochemistry 46Geomagnetism 35Geomorphology 36Geography 130GovernanceFrameworks 130Local neighbourhoods 130Mechanisms 130Urban 130

GovernmentDevolved 112Local 112National 112

GridFrequency 49Stability 49

GrowingBusinesses 43, 69, 105, 106, 120Communities 105Innovation 105Regions 105

Gynaecology 23

HHealthCalf 28Child 24Oral 23Services 112

HealthcareEvidence base 23, 151Management 105

Heat storage 35Heavy metals 36, 40Heritage 134, 152High throughput technologies 56History of ...Egypt 134Film 134Liverpool 134Popular music 134Print 134Slavery 134Victorian business elite 134

Hooliganism 127HospitalsEquine 28Small animal 28

Hostile environments 96Housing 112HumanActivity 34Impact 34

Hydrocarbon reserves 46Hydrogen 62Hydroinformation 38Hydropower 41

IIceAges 34Glaciers 34Melting 34Shrinking 34

Identity 132ImageAnalysis 86Anatomical 92Boundary/edge detection 90Comparison/matching 90Conversion (2D to 3D) 90Enhancement 90Functional 90Processing 90Reconstruction 90Registration/mapping 90Restoration 90Segmentation 90

ImpactClimate 36, 47Economic 47Health 13Human 34, 47Oil price 47Production 41Social 139

Industrial plasmas 59InfectionBacterial 24Neurological 21


Respiratory 24Rotavirus 25

Inflammation 89InnovationBusiness model 7, 107Culture 107Customer -focused 106Process 63Product 107Service 113Strategy 107Technological 108

InstrumentDesign 56Prototyping 56

InternationalBusiness strategy 109Development 109Financial reporting standards (IFRS) 109Policies 109

Interruptible load 50

LLab-on-a-chip 64Labour market 131LandManagement 35Use 35

Lead time compression 56Leadership 107Least-cost design 50Legislation 23Legislative frameworks 39Lifelong learning 137Lighting 133Liquidity 109Literacy 138LocalArea Agreements 131Area networks 100Government reorganisation 131Sourcing 53

Logistics 96, 97, 100, 108, 109Lost time reduction 118

MMagnetism 35, 37, 75Malaria 21, 36, 37, 89, 145ManagementCrisis 110Crowd 120Eye disease 27Fisheries 125Healthcare 105Infectious diseases 125Information 50Innovation 107Insect pests 125Knowledge 110Marine resource 125Operations 108Port 109Public sector 111Supply chain 108Total Quality (TQM) 108Weight 26

Manufacturability 56ManufacturingBio 57Design/virtual design 57Dynamics & control 57Experimentation 57Integration 57Micro 57Modelling/simulation 57Performance evaluation 57Prototyping 57Systems optimisation 57Tolerances 57

Manufacturing approachesHigh throughput 57High-value 57Lean/agile 57Mass customisation 57Mass production 57Rapid 57Sustainable 57Virtual 57

Mapping 47, 64, 86, 91, 93, 108, 110 135MarineResources 34Technology 34

Mass customisation 56, 58, 108

MaterialsAlloys 77Biological 80Biomass 133Biomaterials 80Characterisation 72Development 72Discovery 72Experimentation 74Failure 73Functionalisation 76High throughput discovery 58Highway noise limitation 133Man-made 47Membrane 27Micro/nano dispersions/emulsions 79Micro/nano-structured 79Modelling/simulation 59Modification 79Moving image 135Radioactive 40Recycling 73Scintillation 91Semiconductor 91Testing 133

Mathematics 28, 34, 36, 39, 49, 53, 63,86, 89, 90, 97, 99, 103, 146

MeasurementElectromagnetic 92Linear displacement 94Lost time 118Metabolic rate 26Opto-acoustic 94Organisational risk culture 119Radio frequency 92Rotating displacement 94

MechanicsComputational 74Fluid 38Fracture 74Structural 67

Medical imaging 91Medicinal chemistry 20MedicinePaediatric 24Personalised 21Stratified 20Tropical 21



Meningitis 37Methane 37Microcomponents 59Microhierarchical structures 59Microorganism identification 87Microreactor 59MicrosystemsComponent technologies 59Design 59Fabrication 59

Migrants 131Mineralogy 37Mitigation 28, 37Mixing 63Modelling 650-D computer 492-D computer 493-D 56Cash flow 133Dynamic 28Earth systems 65Finite element 65Longtudinal data 23Markets 98Obesity 26Physical 59Reservoir 46Scheduling 109Stress 56Survival data 23Thermal 56Thermal 56

MonitoringBattery condition 94Clinical trial 23Colour 94Condition 50, 51, 92, 94, 95Contamination/pollution 94Corrosion 94Current 94Disease progression 21Driver fatigue 94Drug 20Fatigue 94Growth (dielectric/ferroelectric materials) 94Light 94Liquid flow 94Liquid level 94

Movement 94Particle size/concentration 94pH 94Radio frequency 94Sound 94Stress 94Temperature 94Voltage 94Wear 94

Monsoons 34MorphologyRetinal 90Sandbanks 38Tooth 90

Moving-load problems 65Multiphysics problems 65Musculature 88Music 92, 130, 134, 136, 148

NNatural hazards 36NEETs 131NeighbourhoodClassification 131Governance 131Profiling 131

Nitrous oxide 37NoiseDisc brake 65, 90, 92, 133, 134Highway 133Prediction 133

Non-linearity 65NuclearFuel reprocessing 40Physics 51Power 40Terrorism 124

Nutrients 35

OObesity 23, 26, 89, 144Obstetrics 23Occupational health & safety 119Oceanography 34Ocean warming 34Offshore surveying 35

OilPeak 47Price impacts 47Prices 47Reserves 46Reservoirs (deepwater) 46Supply chain 47Vulnerability 47

Ontology systems 95Operational research 55Operations management 108OptimisationControl 108Dispatch 108Routes 108Schedules 108

Organisational resilience 46Organophosphates 36Outsourcing strategies 108

PPaediatrics 24Paints 95Palatability 26Palaeoecology 36Pancreatic diseases 20 22, 24, 25, 31, 147PandemicManagement 122Risk 123

Parasites 89PatientAssessment 26Populations & sub-populations 20Recruitment 23Registers 21Retention 23Risk stratification 23Selection 23

Peat 38Persistent organic pollutants 40Personalised medicine 20Pharmacogenetics 20Pharmacology 20Physics 79Planning 110Plant biotechnology 125Pneumonia 21


Policing 120PolicyCompliance 37Interventions 129Making 112Public 13Regeneration 131

Political science 131PollutionControl 39Dispersion 39Monitoring 95Organophosphate 36Wastewater 39

Poultry 28PowerMaximisation 48Outages 95System plant 95Transformers 95

PredictionBuilding life cycles 133Noise 133Behaviour 65Rainfall 37Storm surges 39

ProcessConcurrent product & process design 56Design/redesign 56Substitution 57

ProcessingContinuous 58Environmental 58Fuel reprocessing 40Image 67, 93, 100Industrial 37, 59, 95Materials 59, 149Plasma 60Radar 67Signal 51, 92

ProductConcurrent product & process design 56Design/virtual design 56Prototyping 56

ProfilingAcoustic 35Seismic 35

Property creation/assessmentAcoustic 75Biomedical 75Dielectric 75Electrical 75Engineering 75Ferroelectric 75Graded chemical functionality 75Magnetism 75Mechanical 75Piezoelectricity 75Radar 75Refractive index 75Semiconductivity 75Surface 75Thermal 75

PsychologyBio 26Feeding 26Crowd 120

RRadioactive isotopes 91Radiotherapy 22RapidManufacturing 56Prototyping 56Luggage screening 124

Reading 137Regeneration 130RegulationsClinical trials 21Paediatric 21

Reliability 96, 99Reservoir3D architecture 46Connectivity 46Geometries 46Rocks 46

Resilience 110ResourceAllocation 36Auditing 47Efficiency 47Tracking 47Usage 47

Right first time 56

RiskAttitudes 119Culture 119Operational 119Performance 119

River catchments 35River(s) 34, 35, 36, 38, 39Robotics 78

SSafetyAttitudes 118Critical components 74Drug design 20Improvement 120Industrial 120Occupational health & 118Organisational 118Performance 118Public 120

Scheduling 101, 108, 133SeaIce shrinkage 34Level change 34

SeasCoastal 34Estuarine 34Shelf 34

SeawallDefences 38Height 38Overtopping 38Shape 38Slope 38

SeawaterAquaria 37Mesocosms 37

SecurityAirport 124Food 125Homeland 124

Sedimentology 35, 37Seismic interpretation 46Semantic web 97Semantics 139Sensing 94Sepsis 21



SewageSludge digestion 43Treatment 43

SignalBlind 92Classification 92Processing 92Separation 92

Simulation/modellingAcoustic aspects of built environment 133Advertising effectiveness 98Consumer decision-making 98Marketplaces 98Product diffusion 98Visual aspects of built environment 133

Simulation-based training 123SocialCapital 111Care 105Cohesion 131Exclusion 131Inclusion 131Mobility 136Policy 131Research methodologies 131

Sociology 131Soft tissue 87SoftwareDevelopment tools 101Intelligence 51Radio 93Verification 103, 154

Soil conditioning 43Soils 37Solid state electronics 60Sound transmission 133Sports 139Static synchronous compensators(STATCOMS) 53Statistics of uncertainty 65StructureExecutive remuneration 109Lattice 58Microhierarchical 59Mineral 35Ownership 109

Supply chainIntegration 108Management 108

SurfaceCharacteristics 76Texturing 57

Surgical oncology 22Sustainability 35, 37, 56, 108, 125, 132, 141

SustainableBusiness processes 47Procurement 47Societies 36

SystemsAutonomous 96Complex 96Design 59Embedded 95Large-scale distributed 95Optimisation 56Pervasive/ubiquitous 96Prototyping 56

TTaste 26TerrainArid 35Bogs 35, 37, 38Lakes 35Mires 35Slopes 35, 36, 39, 46Wetlands 35, 37, 38, 39

Terrorism 124TestingDestructive 73Large dynamic loading response 73Non-destructive 73

TidalBarrage 38Circulation 46

Tides 34, 38, 41, 49, 50TimescalesContemporary 34Geological 34Historical 34

ToothDecay 90Morphology 90

Translational research 25Trust 96

UUncertainty 65Uninterrupted power supplies (UPS) 53UrbanCommunities 129Economy 130Landscapes 135

Renewal 129Space 129

VVaccines 21, 22, 28Variability 65Vegetation patterns 35Vibration 65Visual arts 133Visualisation 56Voting games 97

WWarmingGlobal 50Ocean 34

WasteCharacterisation 51Management 95Monitoring 51Reduction 56Radioactive 51

WaterCollection 38Distribution 39Management 39Quality 38Rehabilitation 39Sources 39Sourcing 39Sustainability 37Treatment 37Waste 39

WaveOvertopping 38Surges 39

Weight management 26Whole genome sequencing/re-sequencing 29Wind input variability 48Worklessness 131WorkplaceEducation 137Engagement 136

ZZoonoses 21, 28, 127


TheUniversityofLiverpoolwishestoacknowledgethevaluableinterestandfinancialcontributionsmadebythe NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency(NWDA)andEuropeanRegionalDevelopmentFund(ERDF)tothefollowinginitiatives:

Biomedical ResearchCentreTheCockcroft InstituteKnowledgeCentre forMaterials Chemistry*WorkwiseNational Centre forZoonosis ResearchLEAD

NorthWest LaserEngineeringConsortium /KELAS (KnowledgeExchange for Lasers)Graduate toMerseysideHE Enterprise Champion*Virtual EngineeringCentreCentre forMaterialsDiscovery

Ideas at Daresbury*NWConstructionKnowledgeHub*

NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency(NWDA)

NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency(NWDA)EuropeanRegionalDevelopmentFund(ERDF)

EuropeanRegionalDevelopmentFund(ERDF)

*The University of Liverpool is a delivery partner rather than the lead organisation.

Funders PDF Page:Layout 1 30/3/10 15:28 Page 1

Working together,making an impact

Knowledge, know-how and expertise are as critical in today’s globaleconomy as any other economic resource. As a University with aworld-class research portfolio and growing international connections,we actively engage with serious global challenges that impact uponthe wellbeing of companies, our economy, and the lives of countlessindividuals.

In this guide you’ll find an overview of the unique expertise available.From health to engineering, social policy to management, ouracademic experts deliver innovative solutions that benefit a wholehost of organisations. Solutions can be delivered to suit the needs ofyour organisation, whether it’s through professional development,collaborative research, consultancy, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships(KTPs) or by recruiting our graduates.

As a University with a strong civic mission and global outlook, we takeknowledge exchange very seriously. Through this two-way exchangewith external partners we are able to enrich our knowledge assets andmake a positive impact on society.

If you are interested in any of the services we have to offer, we wouldbe very pleased to work with you. For more detailed information onour expertise and how we can help contact the Business Gateway.

Professor Sir Howard NewbyVice-Chancellor

Working together, making an impact could not have been realisedwithout widespread support and guidance from over 130 academicsand numerous other staff. I am grateful to each and every one of them.

Thanks is also due to Dr John Beacham CBE DSc FRSC, Chair of theUniversity’s KE External Advisory Group, Andy Green, from LiverpoolVision, and Nick Preston, from Liverpool Chamber of Commerce,for providing valuable feedback at the draft stage of the publication.

I would also like to thank Alison Sammin and Larissa Kolstein forthe strategic concept, content development and production of thispublication, Kerron Harvey and Jim Logue for their editing skillsand Suzanne Elsworth for proofreading.


This publication highlights areas of the University’s knowledge and expertise which have demonstrableor potential value to organisations in the private, public and third sectors, and details the services wecurrently have on offer. It covers a wide range of disciplines, but should not be seen as a comprehensivereview of the University’s research activities. To be fit for purpose, it is necessarily selective.

© The University of Liverpool 2010All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known orhereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the University of Liverpool.

Images Copyright18 © AMI IMAGES/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY; 32 © CHRISTOPHE VANDER EECKEN/REPORTERS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY; 54 © EFDA-JET/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY;68 © HUBERT RAGUET/EURELIOS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY; 70 © ANIMATE4.COM/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBARY; 82 © STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY;84 © TED KINSMAN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY; 142 © VOLKER STEGER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

DisclaimerEvery effort is made to ensure the accuracy and currency of the information contained in this publication. Information relating to research and knowledge exchangeopportunities is provided as advance publicity only. However, contents are subject to change from time to time and the University can accept no liability for the accuracyof all the information presented at any given time.

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ContactBusiness Gateway is here to help. Our experiencedteam of business managers will develop anunderstanding of the specific issues you face andhelp to create a solution that answers your needs.

For more information, contact:



AMEMBER OF THE RUSSELL GROUP

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