Departmental news

Warwick Museum Studies Network

A new network for anyone interested in the world of museums, from any perspective.

Staff, students, and external partners are welcome.

We are starting a podcast series, a blog, planning a symposium in May, and a special edition of the IAS Journal.

Find out more and register your interest.

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Professor Graham R. Nudd. Graham joined the department in 1984 and served as departmental chair for two decades. A few words have been shared by former colleagues to celebrate his life and career.

Astrophysicist Dimitri Veras of The University of Warwick has been awarded the prestigious George Darwin Lectureship by the Royal Astronomical Society.

Congratulations to all of 2023-2024 MSc students graduating in January 2025.

The department would also like recognise the winners of the following MSc prizes:

Best Overall Data Analytics student: Pak Ho Gordon Sy

Best Overall Computer Science student: Olly Wortley

Best Data Analytics dissertation: Tianyi Huang

Best Computer Science dissertation: Olly Wortley

To improve access to advanced optical microscopy in educational and resource-limited settings, researchers in Warwick’s Centre for Mechanochemical Cell BiologyLink opens in a new window have developed the eduWOSM (educational Warwick Open Source Microscope), an open hardware platform for transmitted-light and epifluorescence imaging in up to 4 colours, including single molecule imaging. Read the paper hereLink opens in a new window.

YouTube channelLink opens in a new window - Video explaining what the eduWOSM is, what it can do, and how to use it.

Expert comment from Professor Siddartha Khastgir, Head of Safe Autonomy at WMG on the UK Government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan

“I welcome this timely and ground-breaking AI Opportunities Action Plan by the UK Government. We thank both the UK Government and Matthew Clifford CBE for laying a solid foundation for the UK’s AI development and deployment in the coming decade.

‘‘AI has huge potential to help develop different life-changing technologies. However, AI, when used in safety-critical applications such as Self-Driving vehicles and Advanced Driver Assistance technology, needs to be trusted. With the lack of internationally-agreed methodologies or mechanisms to prove that AI is safe, we urge the government to prioritise safe AI in this plan.

‘‘We welcome the announcement of AI Growth Zones, which could attract significant investment into the UK in high-growth sectors such as Safe Automated Mobility. For example, at WMG we have partnered with leading AI developer Wayve on our £1.9 million-research project, DriveSafe AI, to develop scalable engineering safety guidelines and mechanisms to prove AI is safe for self-driving technology while sharing with the ecosystem and building on international standards like ISO/PAS 8800.’’

Read more about WMG’s Safe Autonomy research here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/research/research-areas/safeautonomy

Ella Kaye has been selected as an SSI Fellow, recognising her as an ambassador for good software practice, and providing a grant and mentorship for nurturing the rainbowR community.

Professor David GreenwoodLink opens in a new window, CEO of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult at WMG, comments on the newly established UK Steel Council.

“The establishment of the Steel Council marks a turning point in the narrative of the UK steel industry as it transitions to a clean, green, digitalised future.

“To succeed, government, industry, trade unions and research bodies must work together to deliver a long-term strategy encompassing policy; technology; skills; supply chains, and regions.

“WMG, as a centre of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, is delighted to contribute to the success of the Council and help to secure the future of the UK steel industry.”

A groundbreaking study sheds light on the collaboration between dynein and KIF1C, two essential motor proteins responsible for transporting cellular cargo in opposite directions. Dynein, which moves towards the cell body, is linked to conditions like Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2 and Spinal Muscular Atrophy, while KIF1C, which carries cargo towards the cell periphery, is associated with hereditary spastic paraplegia and spastic ataxia.