Author: Laura Ruby

Staff and students representing the Gell-P and DEPLOY! projects sitting with five at the back and three people in the front

Last minute checks for research teams as countdown for weightless flights begins

Researchers practice for zero gravity flight to put ground-breaking experimental devices through their paces

The University of Brighton teams, including Aerospace Engineering MEng student Erin Saltmarsh, will have just 20 seconds at a time to run tasks in weightless conditions.

During each flight the plane will climb to an altitude of 7,500m before the aircraft goes into a 3000m high roller coaster climb and fall during which weightlessness will be experienced for about 20 seconds. This will happen 30 times in each of the three planned flights. Not surprisingly teams will be given anti-nausea jabs prior to the flights. Staff and students from the Schools of Architecture,Technology and Engineering, School of Sport and Health Sciences, Centre for Regenerative Medicines and Devices and Advanced Engineering Centre representing the Gell-P and DEPLOY! Projects gathered to go through a series of tightly choreographed tasks in preparation for the flights at the end of the month.

The Gell P team working on the project
Lecturer and student with VC showing her the project
Student Erin standing in room with project equipment
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Students watching a presentation about sustainability

Civil Engineering Practice module – guest lectures

Our first year civil engineering students were recently visited by guest lectures from professionals from industry as part of the Civil Engineering Practice module, which introduces students to the range of issues related to the content and role of the civil engineering profession.

Colin Toovey and Ian Denis from Royal Haskoning DHV, a global consulting engineering company were kind enough to come along and share some of their valuable insight with our students. They gave a sustainability presentation on ‘Nature-based solutions in Practice, Water, River and coastal focus’. We are working to organise some site visits with Royal Haskoning DHV later this year, and really look forward to working with them more!

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Augmented reality portal

Architectural and Urban Design MA student to create an augmented reality time portal

Matt Reed, an Architectural and Urban Design MA student, is collaborating with the Bognor Regis Business Improvement District (BID) on an augmented reality project. They are creating an immersive experience focused on Bognor Regis’ heritage, centred around a historical bathing machine. The machine has been meticulously researched and laser-scanned by Matt and his team. The project aims to bring the machine to life through augmented reality, with a particular focus on the story of Mary Wheatland, a significant figure in Bognor Regis’ history.

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European Space Agency logo

European Space Agency collaborative projects

Deploy! Project

The DEPLOY! Project is a collaboration between the universities of Pisa, Parma, and Brighton, as well as the European Space Agency (ESA) sponsored PETRI student project, with additional funding received from the UK Space Agency.

The project focuses on the dynamic deployment of a novel satellite radiator panel thermal interface using a flexible Pulsating Heat Pipe. This research aligns with the ongoing work on Pulsating Heat Pipes at the universities of Brighton and Pisa. The project team, consisting of five Masters’ students and one PhD student, has been mentored by experts from the partner universities, who have provided access to their expertise and key experimental equipment. The DEPLOY! team, led by Erin Saltmarsh from the University of Brighton, has been spearheading the manufacturing and mechanical design aspects of the project.

The flight campaign for the DEPLOY! Project is scheduled to start on November 20th in Bordeaux, France. To learn more about this exciting project, visit their website.

Gell-P (Gravitational Effects of Lower Limb Perfusion)

Gell-P is a collaborative project between the School of Health Sciences and the School of Architecture, Technology and Engineering. The project aims to investigate the effects of gravity on foot perfusion to support a wider demographic of astronauts and mitigate injuries. By evaluating foot vascular flow under varying gravity conditions, the project seeks to understand lower limb injury healing for long-term astronaut missions.

The collaboration involves a team of podiatrists from the School of Health Sciences, led by project PI Rachel Forss, along with support from a team of engineers from the School of Architecture, Technology, and Engineering.

The experiment, designed and built at the AEB, will be tested during the 83rd European Space Agency parabolic flight campaign starting on November 20th. Read this post to learn more about this fascinating project.

European Low Gravity Research Association (ELGRA)

Dr Nicolas Miche has been selected as a mentor for the first European Low Gravity Research Association mentoring scheme. ELGRA is a nonprofit international society that promotes European research in microgravity, simulated microgravity, and hypergravity conditions. It serves as a platform for scientists interested in life and physical sciences in space.

The goals of ELGRA include representing and strengthening the scientific community of altered gravity research and involving young people in research through educational programmes.

ELGRA achieves these goals by organising scientific symposia and courses, cooperating with institutions and agencies to organise scientific events, spreading information about opportunities and new platforms, and supporting students and young scientists through grants and educational programmes from ESA.

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Alex Witty holding trainer in front of racing car

Brighton graduate launches sustainable footwear made from Formula 1 tyres

A Product Design BSc(Hons) graduate is tackling sustainability in both the motorsport and footwear industries with the launch of a new sneaker brand made from waste motorsport tyres.

Alex Witty, the 25-year-old founder of Compound Footwear, has designed a range of sneakers which use some of the 600,000 tyres motorsport tyres which reach the end of their use every season.

The range of sneakers combines tyre rubber with recycled natural rubber to create the soles. The uppers are made from waste leather and recycled polyester lining and laces. At the end of their natural life, Compound Footwear sneakers can be recycled into 100% reusable raw materials to make new shoes and products. The idea behind the project came to Alex while studying BSc(Hons) in Product Design at the University of Brighton.

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Illustration of seagull and pavillion in Brighton

Join us at Create Your Future 2023

If you are thinking about studying a creative degree at uni, come along and have a chat to us on stand number 124 at the UCAS Create Your Future event in London today or tomorrow.

Event details: 10am – 3pm ExCeL London
https://www.ucas.com/events/create-your-future-london-2023-creative-career-showcase-434011

Watch this film to find out more about studying a creative degree at the University of Brighton:

Featured image credit: Abby French, Illustration BA(Hons) graduate @wetmug

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Kay Hendriksen

£1,000 sponsorship for my final year project!

Kay Hendriksen, is in his final year Electronic and Communication Engineering BEng(Hons) with integrated foundation year. He has secured sponsorship from StepperOnline, a company that provides a platform for industrial automation procurement for his final year project.

I approached several companies to explore potential sponsorship opportunities for my final year project, as recommended by Dr Ian Watts. I am delighted that StepperOnline have agreed to generously sponsor my project – I am developing a desktop size industrial multi-axis robot arm. StepperOnline will be providing me with essential components worth around £1000, including stepper motors, precision reducers, drivers, and a power supply.

The primary objective of this project is to construct an affordable robotic arm capable of performing practical tasks in various real-world scenarios, including applications such as automation procedures and medical tasks. The existing professional-grade robotic arms are prohibitively expensive, while the lower-cost alternatives available in the market lack the necessary functionality for meaningful real-world usage.

My aim is to integrate both software and hardware expertise to create a comprehensive solution. This entails not only designing the mechanical aspects of the entire robot arm, but also handling all aspects of electronics including electrical components and electronic systems. I will also be developing the software required to effectively control the robot arm’s movements and operations.

By combining my skills in mechanical design, electronics, and software development, I aspire to produce an accessible and practical multi-axis robot arm that bridges the gap between high-cost professional systems and limited-functionality lower-cost alternatives.

I am really looking forward to starting work on my project and am very grateful to StepperOnline for this opportunity!

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Students Max,James and Alex pictured in company building of Paxon Access

Brighton students land scholarships with global technology firm

Students from Brighton have been awarded two of three annual scholarships offered by a leading Brighton-based global technology company, Paxton Access.

This is the sixth year that Paxton has offered engineering scholarships to students studying STEM courses at University of Brighton and University of Sussex. Successful applicants receive £10,000 each towards their final year university fees, and a three-month paid work placement within Paxton’s experienced Development department.

This year, the scholarships are awarded to Alex Moreton and Max Lewandowski from University of Brighton, and James Napp from University of Sussex. The scholars have been working at Paxton for more than a month and have found the placement beneficial for building new skill sets that will be useful in their future career.

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Female civil engineering student looking through total station

Need civil engineering career advice? We offer one-to-one meetings with industry experts

Civil engineering students studying at University of Brighton are given the opportunity to take part in 1-1 ‘surgery’ meetings with professionals that form our Industrial Advisory Board.

Look out for the weekly email with details on how to arrange one, and take advantage of their expertise!

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Undine in front of a project poster

A day in the life of an architecture student

Read about what a typical day is like Undine Evalde as an Architecture BA(Hons) student at Brighton.

Before starting my studies as an architecture student, I knew close to nothing about the field. Now looking back on it, I believe that was what enticed me. My studies have been far from usual since I started university during the Covid pandemic. Nevertheless, my time at Brighton University has been eventful and fulfilling. In this blog, I will delve deeper into the last year of my studies to highlight what a day in a life of an architecture student might entail.

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