We propose to develop a sensor for the field-detection of radionuclides, specifically 99Tc in groundwater and waste discharges from nuclear related sites. This Pathfinder proposal aims to evaluate the market receptivity of a sensor of this nature and provide an opportunity to explore commercial and end users partnerships for its development. In power plants and other nuclear related sites, such as Sellafield in the UK, the monitoring of radionuclides in water has to be performed regularly to ensure the protection of the workforce and neighbouring communities. The monitoring requires collecting large quantities of water by manual sampling and analysing them after they have been transported to laboratory facilities. To simplify this process, we have developed polymeric compounds that can selectively retain 99TcO4- from water at low concentration, using chemical affinity for this ion in solution. The proposed sensor harnesses the ability of these polymer compounds to selectively retain 99Tc from water in order to concentrate this radionuclide from solution and allow its in situ quantification (i.e. analysis can be performed on site) using a radiation detector. By integrating existing reliable technology with newly synthesized polymeric matrices we are creating the next generation of portable sensors for the field detection of radionuclides in contaminated sites. The activities proposed in this Pathfinder will strengthen knowledge of the sensors market size and provide an opportunity to involve end users and regulators via close interactions with current project partners Practical Controls Ltd and Environmental Monitoring Solutions Ltd. These are essential steps to building a sound foundation for our future Follow on project from a technical and market perspective; ensuring that future applications are attractive to end users and that commercial interest can be secured. Keywords: portable radionuclide sensor, nuclear contamination, groundwater, pollution & waste management.

Water for all is the aim of this consortium. The UK water sector faces grand challenges over the coming decades: increasing population, ageing infrastructure, and the need to better protect the natural environment all under conditions of uncertain climate change. The application of traditional technology-based solutions alone is not the way forward. We propose the use of 'tailored solutions' to address these challenges by combining measures to suit specific circumstances and constraints to achieve flexible and adaptive water systems. The project will undertake research in 8 technical themes, each of which individually pose disruptive questions, demonstrate the potential for, and lead transformation. However, they will not be viewed in isolation. When considered in combination, taking a systems view, they can be combined as 'silver baskets' of broader tailored solutions able to work synergistically for existing and new infrastructure in order to achieve transformative impact. Tailoring water solutions does not mean lower quality water services for different sectors in society; rather, it means fair, bespoke solutions appropriate to variations in the natural environment, population distribution, and legacy infrastructure. In this way the project will address the needs of water for all. Our consortium is built around a core based on the Pennine Water Group (PWG) which has been supported continuously by three EPSRC platform grants since 2001. The PWG's strength and international reputation is founded on a balance of fundamental and applied research via a multi-disciplinary approach focusing on urban water asset management. This consortium broadens the PWG to include new expertise to provide tailored water solutions for positive impact. At Sheffield, this will include new collaborations with experts in energy systems, robotics, automation, and management. Externally, the consortium includes internationally-leading experts from Exeter for household and community scale water efficiency, Imperial College for treatment and emerging contaminants, Manchester for social practices, Newcastle for climate change impacts, risk modelling and cities/infrastructure integration, and Reading for catchment processes. All members bring wide international collaborative networks that will link with the scientific and engineering research needed to deliver the silver baskets of tailored solutions. To achieve the envisioned transformation requires time and a step change in the way in which the UK water sector identifies, develops and applies innovation. Stakeholders need to move out of traditional silos and collaborate to creatively co-produce knowledge and action. Academics, scientists and engineers must work across disciplines and stages in the knowledge production process to deliver the complex socio-technical solutions needed to meet the challenges facing the UK water sector. Collaboration is especially relevant in a sector that is not accustomed to working together and does not have a shared vision of how to meet its grand challenges. A unique feature of this consortium is the development of the Hub that will revolutionise the way innovation is delivered to the UK water sector. The Hub aims to provide transformative leadership and accelerate and support innovation through partnerships for the co-production of knowledge across the water sector. Underpinned by world class science and engineering research the Hub will facilitate the development and communication of a shared visionary roadmap for the UK water sector, stimulate and demonstrate new tailored approaches to address the grand challenges, create a process for selecting potentially transformative tailored socio-technical solutions in line with the roadmap and enable the accelerated generation of collaborative, responsible innovation across the UK water sector.