Helicies are found at every level of biology and are used by biology to perform many important functions. Here we want to design artificial materials that are capable of making mechanical movements observed in plants. These movements include spring-like functionality, unwinding and helical inversion. The materials will operate by light driven nano-scopic movements, which will then be translated into an overall shape in the material. We will use these shape changes to do mechanical work. There is currently no clear knowledge as to how to convert light driven nano-scale movement into macroscopic work and so this research will lay important groundwork. The ultimate aim of this research is not just to reproduce the movements observed in nature, but more importantly to use the lessons in the design and testing process to establish fundamental rules for how molecular scale movement can be translated to the macroscopic scale, and how this behaviour can be tuned rationally. These results may find applications in the development of new energy conversion or storage devices. Other potential applications include micro-mechanical, fluidic and robotic systems as well as sensors, mechanical muscles and materials capable of moulding the flow of light.

The community that investigates light propagation, localization and its nano-scale interaction with quantum emitters in complex photonic and biological media is standing up with multidisciplinary background and a joint interest in complex nanophotonics. A new generation of scientists engaging with the topics of complex nanophotonics is emerging from different fields, from single-molecule nano-optics to biomedical imaging and sensing, from quantum networks to light management for solar cells, from Anderson localization of light to high sensitive biosensing. The Complex Nanophotonics Science Camp will discuss latest progress, future developments and facilitate the formation of a community driven by the next generation of junior scientists linked by the common passion for complexity and nano- and bio-photonics, by giving them visibility and building a contact network around them. We have chosen the format of a "science camp" to break from the traditional conference format, which are often showcases of career-long investigations, to try to engage the creativity of early-stage scientists (strictly <10 years from their Ph.D.) and create new scientific connections, fostering critical thinking. For this reasons we have left one last afternoon free to self-organize during the conference, with an open program, taking inspiration from other science camp events, like Google SciFoo, and we have chosen a long poster session to prepare for an evening debate on science-related topics like science communication, data visualization or open access and social media for science.

Geological maps are a primary source of information for understanding much about an area's potential (e.g. mineral resources, engineering/construction suitability) through to anticipating and mitigating natural events (e.g. landslides, earthquakes). Geological maps exist for almost the entire planet and some maps (e.g. British Isles) have been continually refined and updated over the last 150 years. The Polar and highly mountainous regions of the world pose major logistical problems to gain access to certain areas, such that the geology of some regions remains poorly understood or completely unknown. The Antarctic Peninsula is one example where the glaciated terrain and mountainous relief have prevented access to field geologists. Over 50 years of geological mapping on the Antarctic Peninsula has led to a good understanding of its geological history and its links to the Andes and the supercontinent, Gondwana, of which Antarctica formed a part. However, some very large areas (100s km2) still remain poorly known or unexplored. The geological evolution of the Antarctic Peninsula can only be fully understood with a more complete knowledge of the rock types present. Although there is no substitute for fieldwork, gathering data from aircraft-mounted instruments or satellites offers the potential of providing geologists a first order method of remotely identifying rock types. Geologists working on the Antarctic Peninsula already make use of aeromagnetic and aerogravity data to help understand the sub-ice geology and a recent study has used satellite data for identifying minerals using reflectance data This, however proved to have limitations as comparatively few of the major rock-forming minerals display diagnostic absorption features. In contrast, almost all rock forming minerals display diagnostic spectral emission features in the thermal infrared region, which has the potential to be a valuable tool in distinguishing features for igneous and sedimentary rocks. Thermal data from satellites is available, but it has limited spectral bands that would not yield the resolution required to differentiate between minerals. Funding through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK has already been secured (Biological Sciences, BAS) for a survey to assess vegetation type and extent at sites on Adelaide Island on the Antarctic Peninsula. The survey will be conducted using an instrument owned by a Canadian research company (ITRES); such an instrument is not currently available to NERC. The Canadian owned, 64-band thermal imaging instrument (Thermal Airborne Spectrographic Imager: TASI) is capable of generating high spatial and spectral resolution thermal emission data. It can be fitted to a British Antarctic Survey Twin Otter aircraft and is able to generate very high quality data that can map the type and extent of vegetation at several sites along the Antarctic Peninsula. The instrument can also be used in conjunction with other survey flying to optimise time and resources. Funding is sought here to use the same vegetation survey dataset, but to investigate its potential to identify different minerals and rock types. If funding is secured a ground-based spectral study would be done in conjunction with the airborne survey to calibrate the data. This study would be carried out in an area where the geology is well described and understood, such that a proof of concept could be established before extending the techniques to areas where geological understanding is poor or absent. If successful, the intention would be to extend the work into other polar regions or highly mountainous, difficult to access regions and develop the techniques further.

Plasma membrane proteins show complex dynamic ordering, such as clustering, on a nanoscale level, which typically changes after external stimulation. The mechanisms of these processes and the consequences for signal transduction are of great interest as extra-cellular signaling events are translated into cells via the plasma membrane. We aim to actuate plasma membrane proteins in a controlled fashion using rationally designed nano-objects and to visualize this interfacing process on the nanometer scale, yielding new insights into cell signalling via the plasma membrane. Rationally designed nano-objects with controlled interfaces to actuate proteins in membranes specifically address the call requirement for groundbreaking research in nanoscale interfaces. The nano-objects bridge the gap between studies on isolated proteins that cannot account for protein clustering in the native environment and whole cell studies, that do not allow the controlled actuation of the nano-clusters.

The project aims to develop a ground-breaking class of materials: functional porous polymers able to expand and collapse their volume fully autonomously in a predesigned rhythm for a predesigned duration. The goal of this fellowship is to produce biocompatible rhythmic (pulsatile) materials for medical applications. In particular, for controlled/targeted drug delivery in chronopharmacotherapy to treat diseases with established oscillatory rhythms in their pathogenesis, e.g. arthritis (10 million people in UK), duodenal ulcers (1 in 10 people in UK), cancer (1 in 4 of all deaths in UK) and cardiovascular diseases (1 in 4 adults in UK). Also, for mechanoresponsive tissues (e.g. bone and the vascular system) in regenerative medicine to facilitate cell activity and the assembly of mechanically robust and biologically functional tissue (organs). The proposed methodology incorporates collaboration with BDD (http://www.bddpharma.com/) and internationally recognised academic partners. This will enhance progress, knowledge dissemination, mitigate risks and ensure the materials are suitable for end-user driven development of fit-for-purpose products, and will accelerate transfer of research outcomes to healthcare applications. The proposal is built on the ground-breaking discovery of chemical oscillators employing polymeric substrates (Chem Commun 2014) and in-depth studies of biocompatible intelligent hydrogels (Adv Mater Sci Eng 2015) resulting from CAF2009. The project duration is 2 years and the methodology has 3 work packages (WP). WP1 in collaboration with Professor Vancso's group, Twente University, addresses the synthesis and experimental validation of proof-of-principle autonomous polymeric materials. In WP2, in collaboration with BDD company, characterisation and validation of the materials is pursued to meet end-user needs and regulatory requirements. WP3 in collaboration with Professor Kolar-Anic's group, Belgrade University, focuses on the development of predictive physico-chemical models to aid experimental studies and facilitate the design of patient-tailored materials. The proposal is aligned with Healthcare Technologies Grand Challenges (Developing Future Therapies; Optimising Treatment) and Advanced Materials and Future Manufacturing Technologies areas of research.