In September, MIDAS brought together academics, industry experts and stakeholders for a three-day meeting at the Manchester Museum

MIDAS braved unprecedented rainfall and mud to present to the 25,000 festival-goers at bluedot this summer in partnership with the Henry Royce Institute and LightForm.

Over the past 3 months, I have been on a placement at Queen’s University, Canada. The Nuclear Materials Group, led by Professor Mark Daymond, conducts research on Zr alloys utilised in CANDU nuclear reactors.

In May, MIDAS reconvened with the para lab at Rogue Studios, in Oldham, for an afternoon of workshops and brainstorming sessions.

In March MIDAS went to the Manchester Museum for British Science Week.

Students from secondary schools and sixth-form colleges across Greater Manchester came to see the MIDAS stand and to chat with our PhD students and PDRAs about their research and careers in science. Our conversations demystified the work done by scientists and encouraged students to pursue paths to material science during their A-Levels and at university.

In January, the MIDAS team and artists from Para-lab came together for a half-day workshop. The upcoming collaboration will allow all participants to develop their understanding of the interrelationship between science and creativity.