Keynote speaker
Fran Scott
This year’s keynote speaker is Fran Scott. Listed in The Progress 1000 London’s most influential people, Fran is the Science Content Developer at the Royal Institution as well as being the only female science presenter on CBBC. A scientist by training and an engineer at heart, Fran uses her knowledge to entertain and excite audiences of stage and screen. She is best known for her playful (and often fiery) demonstrations on the CBBC show Absolute Genius with Dick and Dom. With her own production company, Great Scott! Productions, she writes and produces high-octane shows for clients such as Google for Education, Mishkat Science Centre, Siemens and National Grid. Balancing entertainment with education, Fran manages to inject her demonstrations with narrative and humour to make them as enjoyable as they are informative.
University of Edinburgh
Dr Andreia Fonseca da Silva
Soft Matter matters: generating impact through University-Industry collaborations
Andreia is a bioengineer with a PhD in complex fluids. Her research focuses on employing physical, chemical, and mechanical techniques to understand both the macroscopic and microscopic behaviour of complex fluids, and the role of individual components, with the goal of developing new formulations. She has a particular interest in fluids and formulations related to the biomedical, pharmaceutical, and personal care industries, as well as in biofluids and biopolymers that exhibit complex behaviour.
She currently holds a Royal Society Industry Fellowship and works at the Edinburgh Complex Fluids Partnership (ECFP), a knowledge exchange group based within the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Edinburgh. She collaborates on research projects with commercial partners, assisting industrial clients understanding and developing new products, technologies, and materials in the fields of complex fluids and soft matter.
Heriot-Watt University
Professor Yuhang Chen
From concept to care: Our collaborative path to home urology
Yuhang Chen is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Heriot Watt University. The research in his lab is highly interdisciplinary and at the interface of engineering, digital technologies and biomedicine.
University of Glasgow
Dr Adetunmise Dada
The Science Show with Dr Dada
Dr Adetunmise Dada is a Lecturer in Optics and Quantum Technology at the School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Glasgow, where he leads the Experimental Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (EQOQI) laboratory. His research spans high dimensional photonic encoding, spatial mode multiplexing, and chip scale quantum photonics, with a particular emphasis on quantum sources and measurement techniques for secure communications and precision sensing. His seminal work on high dimensional photon entanglement opened new avenues for mode multiplexed quantum information and continues to inform ongoing studies of multimode quantum optics. He actively collaborates with industrial and academic partners to translate cutting edge quantum optics into practical technologies.
University of Glasgow
Dr Robert Graham
Robert Graham is the CEO and Founder of Kelvin Quantum, a spin-out from the University of Glasgow based on designing low-temperature electronic circuits and systems. Robert completed an Undergraduate and Master’s in Physics at Queen’s University Belfast before coming to the University of Glasgow in 2018 to carry out a PhD in Superconducting detectors. This was followed by post-doctoral positions in Superconducting Quantum Computing. Throughout this period as a PDRA, the team’s research led to the development of the technology utilised to spin out Kelvin Quantum, backed by an IAA project that helped develop the first prototype of the technology. Throughout, Robert pursued entrepreneurial training through a PGCERT in innovation and entrepreneurship from Trinity College Dublin and, using the successful showing of the developed IAA prototype, was able to complete the innovate UK ICURe program in March 2025.
University of St Andrews
Dr George Dwapanyin
George Dwapanyin is a research fellow in the Optical Manipulation Group at the University of St Andrews. His PhD in Physics was awarded by Stellenbosch University, South Africa where his research led to the development of multimodal nonlinear imaging systems for biophotonics applications. His research currently dwells on advanced imaging techniques such as digital holographic microscopy, nonlinear imaging as well as applications of Raman spectroscopy in the food and liquor industries. George is a strong advocate for scientific communications and was honoured by Optica with a lifelong status as an Optica Ambassador in recognition of his community engagements.
University of Strathclyde
Professor Karen Turner
Shaping energy, climate and industry policy to realise wider economy and societal benefits in transitioning to Net Zero
Professor Karen Turner is Director of the Centre for Energy Policy at the University of Strathclyde, which she founded in 2014. She leads a portfolio of work funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), philanthropic organisations and foundations and various government and industry bodies.
Professor Turner’s research is focussed on the critical challenge of ensuring that the energy and wider net zero transitions deliver sustainable and more equitable prosperity. Her work continues to shape policy and public debates. For example, helping to make the case for public support of residential energy efficiency programmes and addressing public policy challenges in unlocking value from the deployment of large-scale decarbonisation solutions such as electric vehicles and carbon capture and storage.
Professor Turner has served on expert panels for a range of organisations including the National Infrastructure Commission, the Climate Change Committee and UK Government. She was also a Commissioner on the Scottish Government’s first Just Transition Commission. Before leading CEP, Professor Truner held academic posts at Glasgow and Heriot Watt Universities. Read more about Professor Turner’s work
University of St Andrews
Dr Graham Bruce
Graham Bruce is a senior researcher and laboratory manager in the Optical Manipulation Group at University of St Andrews. A graduate of St Andrews, his main expertise is harnessing light for measurement applications. He has applied this to a variety of topics over two decades, including developing techniques for Quantum Technologies, in Biophotonics investigations such as assessing the health of developing embryos, and applied spectroscopy projects including whisky authentication and detecting toxic pigments in old books. His work has been recognised by major awards including STEM for Britain and the Museums and Heritage Awards.