Our Communities
The GW4 Alliance has invested over £2.65m in 77 collaborative research communities, which are addressing major global and industrial challenges. Explore these communities by keyword or theme.
Aerospace and Advanced Engineering
Creative and Cultural Economy
Digital Innovation
Living Well
New Energy Systems
Resilience, Environment and Sustainability
Composites for Enhanced Lightning Performance
INITIATOR Fund
Project period: May – July 2014
GW4 community leads
University of Bath: Richard Butler
University of Bristol: Fabrizio Scarpa
Cardiff University: Manu Haddad
University of Exeter: Chris Smith
Project overview
This project addresses the ‘Advanced Materials’ grand challenge through the development of innovative lightweight materials and coatings with improved mechanical and electrical properties under lightning strike for the aerospace sector.
Controlling Nucleation & Growth to Deliver Novel Materials Functionality
INITIATOR Fund
This project has been developed from the Initiator funded Functional Materials Far from Equilibrium community.
Project period: May to November 2015
GW4 community leads
University of Bath: Professor Johannes Zimmer
University of Bristol: Dr Isaac Chenchiah
Cardiff University: Dr Stefano Leoni
University of Exeter: Professor David Wright
Project overview
In materials, nucleation is the formation of a new stable phase or structure via self-organisation. It manifests in many everyday phenomena, and a classic example is the formation of ice crystals in water.
Functional Materials Far from Equilibrium
INITIATOR Fund
This project has been awarded Accelerator funding for the Controlling nucleation & growth to deliver novel materials functionality community.
Project period: October 2014 – January 2015
GW4 community leads
University of Bath: Johannes Zimmer, Chris Bowen
University of Bristol: Isaac Chenchiah
Cardiff University: Nicolas Dirr
University of Exeter: David Wright
Project overview
Established new cross-disciplinary and cross-institutional contacts from a wide range of departments (Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics) at all GW4 universities.
GW4 Network on Advanced Molecular Platforms for Plastic Photonic Technologies (AMPHOTECH)
Accelerator Fund
Project period: July 2016 – March 2017
GW4 community leads
University of Bath: G. Dan Pantos
University of Bristol: Sara Nunez-Sanchez, Ruth Oulton, Martin James Cryan
Cardiff University: Stephen A Lynch
University of Exeter: William Leslie Barnes
Project overview
We will address the development of photonic applications for these molecular materials by combining multidisciplinary expertise and perspective from the four South West Universities (Exeter, Bristol, Cardiff and Bath) including plasmonics, nanophotonics, quantum photonics, ultrafast spectroscopy or supramolecular chemistry.
Paramagnetic Species for Catalysis and Materials Applications
INITIATOR Fund
Project period: May – July 2014
GW4 community leads
University of Bath: Mike Whittlesey
University of Bristol: Robin Bedford
Cardiff University: Damien Murphy
Project overview
This project has developed a new GW4 community with interests in the catalytic and materials applications of paramagnetic species.
Unlocking the Science for an Autonomous Structural Health Monitoring System
Accelerator Fund
Project period: October 2014 – April 2015
GW4 community leads
University of Bath: Alicia Kim
University of Bristol: Stephen Hallett
Cardiff University: Carol Featherston
University of Exeter: Meiling Zhu
Project overview
The integrity of critical structures such as aircraft wings is currently assured by scheduled inspections. These are costly, in terms of the activities themselves, and more critically the downtime involved, and in the majority of cases find no significant deterioration.
Physical, Chemical and Biological Impact of Increased Lightning Strikes due to Climate Change
INITIATOR FUND
Project period: January – March 2018
GW4 Community Leads
Cardiff University: Dr Daniel Mitchard
University of Bath: Dr Martin Fullekrug
University of Bristol: Prof Dudley Shallcross
University of Exeter: Dr Timothy Hill
Project outcomes
This project will bring together experts from atmospheric science, biology, chemistry, geography, engineering and physics within GW4 to explore the impact of lightning on the environment, centred on the only university-based lightning research facility within Europe, in partnership with the Met Office and the CTR Wilson Institute for Atmospheric Electricity (CTRWIAE).