By Piraveen Thayananthan

Thanks to a £3,000,000 grant, the creation of a revolutionary imaging system at the University of Surrey could help the UK significantly advance their position in the global realm of material science. The facility houses a molecular imaging system at a sub-micron scale. This is quite like a very powerful microscope, so we would be able to map out and ‘see’ the tiniest details of molecules and materials.

This new system, which is just a 30-minute walk away, will be the first in the world to use beams of charged particles to measure biological systems and materials. It’s expected to benefit more than 25 UK universities and other companies in significant sectors such as tech, energy and health.

What makes it even cooler is that the machine doesn’t just look at things in one way. It can use different types of beams, like X-rays, gamma rays, and ions, all together to build a 3D picture. That means scientists won’t just see flat images, but full models of how molecules and structures are put together. This could completely change how we understand medicine and technology.

For example, in health care, the system might help scientists see how new drugs move through cells, or how diseases can spread at the smallest levels. In energy, it could show researchers how to build better batteries or make solar panels that waste less energy. The imaging system can even help us with environmental issues; it might be used to look at pollution and figure out better ways to protect our planet.

Professors at Surrey believe this project is a game-changer, and the company Ionoptika, which is helping to build the system, says it’s one of the biggest projects they’ve ever worked on. This does not only concern Surrey, however. The broader impact of this, once it’s complete, will mean that universities and businesses all over the UK will be able to use it, which makes the project feel even more significant and impactful to both the local community and the broader academic community.

As put by Professor Melanie Bailey, a reader in analytical science,  ‘The fact that Surrey, and indeed the UK has the ambition to build this truly unique facility should not only excite researchers in both academia and industry, but it signals that we are serious about breaking new ground in a range of scientific ideas.’ I would echo this, and strongly encourage that students at the RGS would benefit from engaging with the University of Surrey, especially those interested in material sciences to not only expand their knowledge in this field, but experiment and better understand the latest technology in this field of science.