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Durham scientists showcase research to Parliament
Super-thin nanocoatings that protect millions of mobile devices from water damage have been showcased to Parliament in London by their Durham University inventor, as part of a national campaign run by the Royal Society of Chemistry and Institute of Physics.
The campaign, Inspirational Science for a Modern Economy, demonstrates UK success stories in chemistry and physics, where innovations and companies have emerged from university science departments.
The campaign highlights the importance of long-term UK Government funding to science and the benefits it has on the economy.
Since 1989, Professor Jas Pal Badyal in the Department of Chemistry at Durham University has been developing surface functionalisation techniques that use low-cost materials and are better for the environment than conventional solvent-based processes.
Professor Badyal’s research led to the formation of three start-up companies: Surface Innovations Ltd (2001), Dow Corning Plasma Solution Ltd (2001), and P2i Ltd (2004) whose Ion Mask brand has protected the surfaces of 100 million pipette tips, three million pairs of shoes, 50 million mobile phones and 60 per cent of the world’s hearing aids.
Professor Badyal said: “It is important to show the impact science has on the UK economy. Furthermore, it helps to raise the profile of world leading research carried out in UK universities beyond publication in academic journals."
The Royal Society of Chemistry’s President, Professor Dominic Tildesley, said: “We have the evidence to show that Britain is a world leader in science and that Government investment in science boosts the UK economy. There are innovative projects and companies springing up all the time and we want to see a commitment to a long-term strategy for increasing investment to ensure that we all continue to benefit from our scientific success.”
At the event, researchers, research councils and companies participating in the joint campaign presented their work to MPs, showing the real power and difference Government funding to science can have, both in terms of new discoveries and technologies transforming lives, and in economic gains.
