Bridging Applied Nano-Technologists (Bridging ANTs)

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Applied Nanotechnology is multidisciplinary in nature and can be used across a range of different sectors to bring about benefits, including the potential for systems to sense and act upon their environment; to generate or harness power; to reduce weight and fuel consumption; and increase performance and strength.Bridging Applied Nanotechnologists (Bridging ANTs) will bring together the researchers from across Cranfield University to develop a sustainable community of ANTs committed to collaborative activities in which applied nanotechnology can be used to provide enhancements in the fields of aerospace, automotive, bioscience, health, energy, environment, manufacturing, and security and defence.This will be achieved using a combine, communicate, and collaborate approach (C3). This C3 approach will look at a different ways in which the ANTs can develop a sustainable research community committed to multidisciplinary collaboration. C3 will be delivered by:- Creating a clear visual identity and web presence for the Bridging ANTs community;- Running facilitated flagship workshop meetings where researchers can actively network to kick start collaborations;- Using Cranfield's Centre for Competitive Creative Design (C4D) to bring together designers and technologists in partnership, to develop novel ways to deliver and communicate technological solutions from a design perspective;- Building an electronic community to store and exchange nanotechnology-related-information. This would also act as one of the routes to interact with the wider community including industry and the general public;- Establishing informal 'coffee mornings' type forums to provide a time and place for researchers to meet on a regular basis to exchange ideas and develop collaborations;- Using artists in residence, art installations and informal discussion meetings and exhibitions to stimulate the exchange of ideas;- Creating industrial collaborative partnerships to support industry and drive applied multidisciplinary/cross-sector collaborative research forward; - Developing a nano-engagement toolkit for lectures and outreach activities that can be used to support and promote applied nanotechnology within and outside of Cranfield;- Using Collaborative Bridging Awards to support collaborative exploratory projects with a view to develop a sustainable collaboration framework through securing further project funding.Throughout the Bridging ANTs project, the ethos of C3 coupled with design and communication will be firmly placed at the heart of activities to ensure successful outcomes.