Cardiff science on show at annual Royal Society exhibition

Academics from Cardiff University are showcasing their world-leading research to over 15,000 members of the general public this week as part of the Royal Society's Summer Exhibition in London. From the power of catalysis to new ways of observing the Universe, the public will be able to explore how Cardiff University's research is helping to tackle some of the most pressing issues currently facing humanity. The 'Zoom for Improvement' exhibition, jointly led by the Cardiff Catalysis Institute, will demonstrate how the field of catalysis is being used to produce the goods, services and energy that we use in our everyday lives. A more sustainable future. Catalysis is the process through which chemical reactions are made more efficient and faster, and works by introducing a range of materials - known as catalysts - into the reaction. Throughout the week, visitors to the exhibition will learn how the Cardiff Catalysis Institute are developing catalysts to create a more sustainable future, whether this is creating cleaner and more efficient fuels, reducing pollution, producing safer drinking water or transforming biomass into useful chemicals. They'll also find out how the scientists actually do this in the lab, learning about the ways in which individual atoms are studied, one by one, using very powerful microscopes in order to understand the process of catalysis at the smallest possible scale.