2012-2013

Professor Claire Adjiman (Chemical Engineering) talks about the engineering of molecular systems.

Professor Ann Muggeridge (Earth Science and Engineering) explains the need for developing new technologies in order to make the most of extracting the world’s ever-decreasing oil reserves.

Cancer appears to be evolving as fast as scientists are getting to grips with the disease. Professor Justin Stebbing (Surgery and Cancer) looks at how our understanding of cancer has changed, as the search for a cure continues.

Professor Ramon Vilar (Chemistry) discusses discoveries that have helped shape the development of drugs and medicines.

Better treatments for respiratory problems could be enhanced through improved understanding of the physiology behind sleeping disorders, says Professor Mary Morrell (NHLI).

Professor Richard Green (Business School) analyses the ways in which electricity production can be economically and environmentally sustainable in an age of ever-diminishing resources.

Turbulence on Earth helps us stir milk into our tea, but in space it controls the paths of cosmic rays and heats the plasma, explains Professor Tim Horbury (Physics).

The growing need to harness more efficient ways of producing energy is inspiring new super-charged combustion engines, says Professor Ricardo Martinez-Botas (Mechanical Engineering). 

Professor Terry Tetley (NHLI) talks about how airborne particles including smoke, asbestos and traffic polluction have significant effects on our lungs.

Professor Sir John Pendry (Physics) explains the amazing world of metamaterials, where ideas such as invisibility cloaks have captured imaginations, in the 2012 Schrödinger Lecture.

Professor Thanos Athanasiou (Surgery and Cancer) assesses whether global austerity measures will have implications for cardiac surgery. 

Find out how advances in engineering are leading to biomedical sensors for real-time clinical monitoring of patients, with Professor Martyn Boutelle (Bioengineering).

Professor Dan Crisan (Mathematics) explains how study of the microscopic world enables us to gain insights into the working of the macroscopic environment.

Find out what happens to objects under extreme pressure with Professor John Dear (Mechanical Engineering) in his inaugural lecture.

Discover some of the similarities between car crashes and Parkinson’s disease with Professor David Dexter (Medicine), Scientific Director of the Parkinson’s UK Tissue Bank at Imperial.

Understanding the hormones that link food and sex could lead to new treatments for both infertility and obesity, suggests Professor Waljit Dhillo (Medicine). Audio only.

Could the subtle differences between the brains of people of different sex affect treatments for diseases such as Parkinson’s? Professor Glenda Gillies (Medicine) reviews what we know. Audio only.

Professor Philippa Gardner (Computing) explains how our understanding of what computers do has not actually kept pace with their development.