This event is sponsored by Kongsberg.

In-person registration will close on June 3rd and online registration will be open until June 6th.

What is the NERC Tech Forum?

The NERC Tech Forum is an old concept that we’re bringing back. It is intended to be a regular (annual or biennial) meeting where engineers and technologists from all the NERC centres and affiliated institutes can find out what other bits of NERC are doing. In this forum our definition of technology is the equipment and systems that help us to deliver science and encompasses:

· Instrumentation

· Sampling equipment

· Hardware platforms

· Model development

· Analysis techniques

· Software engineering

Who is it for?

Anyone involved in the above, especially encouraging new employees in NERC who haven’t built networks outside their home institute.

What do we want to achieve?

· The primary aim of the meeting is networking within technology areas in NERC

· This is also an opportunity for technologists to engage with professionals in a similar area outside of their home institute

· Finally, through strategic links with NERC colleagues this creates an opportunity to influence NERC about how technology is delivered

For further questions about the event please email Pilvi Saarikoski at pilchi@bas.ac.uk.

DRAFT AGENDA

Monday

13:00 Setting the scene & welcome

Julius Rix & Pilvi Saarikoski

13:30 Centre introductions (10mins each)

Introduction to main areas of work & tech teams/roles

16:00 Continued scene setting – Strategic talks from NERC & partners

Potential talk topics:

Future Marine Research Infrastructure (FMRI)

Net Zero Airborne Capability (NZArC)

NERC Digital Strategy & technology

Government Office for Tech Transfer (GOTT) – Commercialisation opportunities

Innovate UK – Working together

Tuesday

For the first part of the day we'll hear short talks that highlight opportunities to work together, not too much technical detail; each thematic area will have up to two talks.

10:00 Thematic talks

Drilling

Logging

Sampling & measurements

Electronics

Permissions

11:15 Posters/showcase & break

11:45 Thematic talks

Software engineering

Machine learning on loggers

Calibrating

Robotics

13:00 Lunch & networking (posters/showcase)

14:30 Thematic talks

New manufacturing techniques

Data Transfer

Sensors

Transparency of processes (systems thinking)

15:30 Breakout session discussions - Facilitated informal roundtable discussions

Importance of tech for science

Getting new ideas off the ground – funding needs

Career progression – opportunities & barriers

Open-Source projects (hardware & software)

16:15 Coffee break

16:30 Breakout session discussions - Facilitated informal roundtable discussions

Models of working with the science community

Digital transformation

Models of commercialisation

Protecting IP – TRL “boosts” in research

17:15 Feedback from discussion sessions

17:30 Pizza & beers

Wednesday

09:30 Morning coffees

10:00 White-paper writing workshop (format tbc)

The role of science engineering & tech within NERC: opportunities and challenges?

Feeding in from roundtable conversations.

Proposed sections:

Digital – Net Zero – New Science discoveries – Funding gaps – Career progression

11:30 Collaboration between Tech Forums

Panel discussion format

Ways of visualising NERC-wide Tech skills & expertise for the community

12:00 Vote on institute to host next meeting

12:15 TBC Visit to Duxford to see BAS Twin Otter

Transport available; registration necessary

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NERC Tech Forum