UCL Core Equipment Award 2022

UCL is buying three pieces of high-end scientific equipment to share across at least 15 departments and four faculties. The problem is that cutting-edge research—from developing new materials to imaging tiny structures—requires expensive instruments that no single lab can afford or justify on its own. Without shared access, researchers either make do with outdated tools or waste time and money duplicating equipment. This grant fills that gap by funding a metal 3D printer for manufacturing research, an upgraded micro-CT scanner for high-resolution 3D imaging, and a next-generation Raman spectrometer for analysing chemical composition. If successful, these instruments will give UCL researchers the same capabilities as the world’s best labs. The metal printer could accelerate prototyping for aerospace or medical implants. The CT scanner upgrade will let engineers and geologists see inside objects without destroying them. The spectrometer will help chemists and materials scientists identify compounds faster and more precisely. The equipment also directly supports early-career researchers and doctoral training, ensuring the next generation learns on state-of-the-art tools. The impact is on manufacturing processes, materials development, and analytical techniques—systems that underpin everything from jet engines to drug quality control.