External Engagement
Academic and Industrial Engagement
The LATEST2 Team is committed to developing effective strategic relationships with internal and external organisations to maximise the benefit of the research and skills base to regional, national and international stakeholders. This includes collaboration with Government, Industry, Universities, Schools, Cultural Institutions and Learned Societies.
At time of going to press collaboration agreements have already been signed with the following key External Partners:
- AIRBUS UK, Alcoa Europe, Bridgnorth Aluminium Ltd, CSIRO, GKSS Research Centre, Innoval Technology Ltd, Jaguar LandRover, Keronite Ltd, Magnesium Elektron Ltd, Meridian Business Development UK, NAMTEC, Norton Aluminium, Novelis Global Technology Centre, Rio Tinto Alcan, Rolls-Royce Plc, TWI
The Programme will look to build further on these collaborations and the impressive international profile of the LATEST Portfolio Partnership and we envisage further collaborations with other world class research centres and industrial partners. We will undertake regular networking, knowledge sharing and dissemination through events such as; dedicated light alloys seminar series, international scientific meetings, high profile annual conferences, biannual LATEST2 Newsletters, a strong web presence, prestigious publications and strategic overviews in relevant trade journals.
Public Engagement
The LATEST2 team is committed to developing an outreach programme, "So you think you know about Lightweighting in Transport" to engage with the wider public in the challenges associated with providing lower carbon emissions within the transport sector.
A key goal is to improve awareness of Light Metallic Materials at the school level and with the general public. Following previous successes, we will promote our work is using existing national frameworks for engagement through organisations such as the Smallpeice Trust, the Industrial Trust, EDT and Nuffield Student Bursary Scheme, as well as HEI STEM initiatives, focusing efforts on Summer Schools, visit days and science fairs such as HEADStart, Physics at Work, National Science Week and Tech Challenge. In order to raise public awareness of the 'real world' applications of metallic materials, we will work with Manchester Museum of Science and Industry, and Manchester Airport to create interactive public displays to highlight applications of light metals in transport and sustainability and draw upon previous success with the "so you think you can design a Jet Engine" format. We will also engage in dialogue with the public through the 'Ideas Café' at Manchester Museum and with our younger audience through Junior Café Scientifique. The team will look to develop a suite of resources and activities suitable for our wide target audience providing hands-on training and CPD for teachers, careers advisors and students. In providing specialist science communication training for our PhD students, we will seek to maximise this vital asset to the project whilst ensuring a sustainable platform for a broad range of engagement activities.