Miss Amalia Thomas
Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics

Amalia Thomas is a postgraduate student of the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics Fluid Dynamics research group, supervised by Dr Nathalie Vriend. Amalia researches photoelasticity, a property by which certain materials transmit light differently when subjected to a force. Amalia has developed an engaging exhibition for secondary school students comprising interactive elements which uses photoelasticity to visualise force, work and power.

Professor Catherine Barnard
Faculty of Law

Professor Catherine Barnard is a Professor of the European Union Law at the Faculty of Law. Catharine has developed a range of outputs to explain key issues at stake of the UK membership to the EU including migration, which forms the basis of her research, in addition to the wider EU law remit. Harnessing the timeliness of the political climate, Catherine’s videos, online articles, radio and TV interviews have supported her engagement across 12 town hall events from Exeter to Newcastle, an open prison and round-table discussions with various public groups. She has also provided a number of briefing sessions to major political party MPs and peers. She has become a trusted public figure, and researcher, on the EU law, Brexit and surrounding issues, ensuring that the voices of those key to the research process are heard and listened to.

Dr Frank Waldron-Lynch, Miss Jane Kennet (in absentia) and Miss Katerina Anselmiova
Department of Medicine and Department of Clinical Biochemistry

Dr Frank Waldron-Lynch is a globally trained Physician-Scientist at the University of Cambridge, where he leads an a multifunctional Experimental Medicine Team that develops novel immunotherapeutic strategies to treat and ultimately prevent autoimmune diseases in patients. The aim of the CAM-T1D programme is to accelerate the development of immunotherapies targeted to genetically validated human disease pathways in type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases. Miss Jane Kennet is a research co-ordinator and nurse for the JDRF/Wellcome Trust Diabetes and Inflammation Laboratory. Miss Katerina Anselmiova is a part time research nurse working on many of the adult type 1 clinical research studies. Together as CAM-T1D members, they have developed a public engagement programme to engage participants, patients, families, funders, colleagues, institutions, companies and the community with the aim of ensuring that their research remains relevant to stakeholder needs. Amongst their outputs, the team has formed a patient support group in addition to developing an online engagement strategy through social media platforms. Most recently, they have collaborated with GlaxoSmithKline to offer patients the opportunity to participate in clinical studies at all stages of their disease.

Dr Neil Stott (in absentia) and Miss Belinda Bell
Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation, Judge Business School

Dr Neil Stott is a member of the Senior Faculty in Management Practice, Judge Business School and a co-Director of the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation. Miss Belinda Bell is a Programme Director at Cambridge Social Ventures. Neil and Belinda have established Cambridge Social Ventures to embed research around social innovation into a practical workshop to support emerging social entrepreneurs. Since the first workshop in 2014, they have reached almost 500 people wanting to create social change by starting and growing a business. The team goes to considerable efforts to reach out to participants from non-traditional backgrounds and to ensure workshops are inclusive and accessible to a wide range of the public by incorporating online engagement with work in the community.

Dr Elisa Laurenti
Wellcome/MRC Stem Cell Institute and Department of Haematology

Dr Elisa Laurenti is currently a Wellcome Trust and Royal Society Sir Henry Dale Research Fellow at the Department of Haematology. Elisa has engaged over 2,500 people, at 6 separate events, with her Stem Cell Robots activity. She has collaborated with a researcher in educational robotics to produce this robot-based activity which maps a stem cell’s differentiation to become a specific cell type. The activity has provided a platform for children, families and adults to discuss ethics and clinical applications of stem cell research.

Dr Nai-Chieh Liu (in absentia)
Dr David Sargan (centre) and Dr Lajos Kalmar (left)
Department of Veterinary Medicine

Dr Nai-Chieh Liu is currently a Clinical Research Associate at the Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) research group at the Cambridge Veterinary School, Department of Veterinary Medicine. Nai-Chieh has developed a non-invasive respiratory function test for short-skulled dog breeds, including French bulldogs and pugs, which suffer from airway obstruction. She has engaged with dog owners by attending dog shows, dog club meetings and breeders’ premises to break down barriers between public and veterinarians working to improve the health of these dogs. As a result of this engagement, the UK French bulldog club and the Bulldog based Breed Counsel have adopted health testing schemes based on Nai-Chieh’s research.