Please contact Dr Neil Wilson, (Neil.Wilson@warwick.ac.uk) if you are interested in any of the projects below.

1. Scientific art (for two students)

Links between science and art are well established. Leonardo da Vinci combined a genius for both and is credited with uttering the advice ‘study the science of art and the art of science’. A myriad of artists have been influenced and inspired by science and by scientific research, for example, Salvador Dali was inspired by DNA to create works such as his oil painting Galacidalacidesoxyribonucleicacid. The art of science is also growing in popularity, reflecting perhaps the increasing complexity of visual representations and the data underlying them. The natural beauty of science is often apparent in these visual representations. It is this natural beauty that inspires, and the inspiration is even more profound when the science behind the images is also significant. We are holding a Scientific Art competition around the themes of the Science City Project; namely medicine, advanced materials and energy. Scientists will be encouraged to submit images from their research, and the winning entries will feature in an exhibition.

This summer project will involve discovering the science behind the images. You will interview the researchers, create web-based resources and, if appropriate, practical demonstrations reflecting their work. This will be a part of a year-long project aimed at engaging school children with science through art. You will be encouraged to maintain links with this project throughout the year.

 

2. The complexity of order (for one student)

Understanding the self-assembly processes that create the complexity of form and function observed in living systems is a fundamental goal in Physics. Many scientists are pursuing methods for manipulating particle interactions to obtain precise control over the three-dimensional morphology of self-assembled particles, and to engineer their stability in response to external fields and changes in thermodynamic conditions. This project aims to study the self-assembly of colloidal particles driven by external fields, creating a model system through which the complexity of order can be analysed.

You will work with a 3^rd year undergraduate student to create experimental realizations of the onset of order in chaotic colloidal systems. These will be used to investigate the process of assembly, and also as a valuable resource for demonstrating complexity. You will write a poster and web-page to communicate these ideas.

 

3. The sound of nanotrumpets (for two students)

Wave phenomena are ubiquitous in Physics, and understanding them is a crucial part of understanding Physics. You will work with Ally Caldecote to develop demonstrations that communicate the concepts of wave phenomena. For example, sound is an archetypal wave – one of the demonstrations you will construct will attempt to use research in the department into nanostructured materials to create a novel speaker. Constructing and understanding the mechanism of the speaker will reveal details of the wave characteristics of sound. You will help develop, and if possible help deliver, an interactive seminar based around your demonstrations to explain wave phenomena to A-Level Physics students.