Scientists in Business

Special Features

Special features and opinions, written by prominent members of the science and technology community, addressing topics of relevance and interest to those working in physics-based business and industry.

Ray Chaney
Ray Chaney of Renishaw talks about his industrial experience

SHARP thinker
Dr Pamela Jordan is a research scientist within the Bio-Electronics group a Sharp Laboratories of Europe and is involved in developing new concepts in consumer healthcare.

Innovation and problem solving
Paul Fewster is head of the PANalytical Research Centre

Exciting research, SHARP results …
Dr Valerie Bousquet is a research supervisor in the Advanced Optoelectronic Devices group at Sharp Laboratories of Europe

Fun Fiddlin' with Physics
Dr Andrew Clarke is a solid state physicist working at Kodak Ltd. He explains how being the son of a farmer's daughter and a builder didn't stop him having fun as a physicist!

Studying by Candlelight
Dr M'hammed Lakrimi, is a principal Engineer in Technology Development at Oxford Instruments Superconductivity. He explains why he enjoys working in industry.

Career based on 'Chips with Everything!'
Dr Alison Hodge, is as a member of the Strategy Team in Sensors and Electronics Division, in QinetiQ

Why I am mostly a physicist ...
Nick Tanton, Principal R&D Engineer at the BBC, outlines the importance of physics in his work, and his play, and considers himself as much a working physicist as an engineer.

Physics - the great modern adventure
John Moore, Institute of Physics Vice-President for Industry and Services, presents a personal reflection on industrial research. He argues that to succeed in industry, tomorrow's physicist must be equipped to cope with a wider range of technical, commercial and personal challenges than ever before.

When technology is not enough
ESRC is investigating the "people" part of the innovation process. Fiona Steele argues that developments in science and technology are only one contributor to successful innovation.

STEPs on the ladder of experience
Yvonne Marko explains how students get a taste of business by taking part in the Shell Technology Enterprise Programme (STEP) for an eight-week placement.

Sitting by Nellie - and other options
Knowledge management makes companies more successful, says Jennifer Tann. Small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) of all kinds have a number of characteristics in common, the most obvious (but least useful for analysis) being size. New technology-based firms as a group show some clear distinctions, determined largely by their formation and early growth; their processes of learning and knowledge management are also likely to be different.

Alive and kicking: optical microscopy reveals new secrets
During the past ten years a quiet revolution has been taking place in optical microscopy, yet those not working in the life sciences have seen little or no evidence of this. Andrew Dixon explains that the technique of confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscopy has given biologists a tool for studying the internal structure of cells and tissue in 3D in a way not previously possible.

If you can't measure, you can't manage
A major programme is under way to help British companies with their measurement and quality control problems, writes Gareth Frances. The DTI-funded "Competing Precisely" campaign was launched in 1997 to raise awareness of the UK's national measurement infrastructure and promote good measurement practice to UK manufacturing industry. The campaign is managed by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), the UK's national standards laboratory. Measurement advice is available through a helpline (first 2 hours free), a web site and a Points of Contact brochure allowing direct access to experts.

And so to bed!
The Labour victory at the polls puts into power a party committed to exploiting the economic potential of British academia. So what's new? John Baruch anticipates that the pressure for companies and academics to get into bed together will be maintained and is likely to increase, but asks if there is any commercial gain in working with academia.

All change in the medical physics marketplace
As in many other areas of science and engineering, the UK has many prolific innovators working in the field of medical devices. Unfortunately, most of their innovations are not transferred into British products but must seek commercial exploitation elsewhere. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are notorious examples. Chris Langton is hopeful that this situation is set to change.

What works best in process-based change?
The Business Processes Resource Centre (BPRC) at WarwickUniversity is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as part of the DTI's Innovative Manufacturing Initiative. Tony Buckley explains how it facilitates dialogue between industry and commerce and the academic community - particularly social science researchers - and assists in the dissemination of "best practice" in process-based change aimed at improving the competitiveness of British industry.

Action stations
Information technology, electronics and communications (ITEC) "will be the industry that determines our future success and competitiveness in all industry sectors in the next one or two decades", says the ITEC panel of the Foresight exercise in its latest report.

If you would like to contribute a feature or have an idea for a future article, please contact Dipali Chauhan (Dipali.Chauhan@iop.org).

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