Foundation boss visits university 's world-renowned photonics department
The Wolfson Foundation chief executive, Paul Ramsbottom OBE, visited Aston University and its new vice-chancellor Professor Aleks Subic.
The visit included a tour of The Wolfson Centre for Photonics for Food and Agri-Tech which the foundation supported with a grant of £500,000 in 2019.
The tour was led yesterday by Professor Sergei Turitsyn, director of the University 's internationally recognised Aston Institute of Photonic Technology (AIPT).
The Wolfson Foundation awards grants for new buildings, refurbishment and equipment to support excellence in the fields of science and medicine, health, education and the arts and humanities.
It also has boosted the university 's research in photonics - the science of light - particularly within the food and agri-tech industries.
The grant is awarded for the building of new buildings, refurbishment and equipment to support excellence in the fields of science and medicine, health, education and the arts and humanities.
The Foundation has been a generous supporter of Aston University since 1992, awarding capital grants to a range of projects including the construction of the Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI) building on campus in 2007 and the refurbishment works in Aston University 's Laboratory for Immersive Virtual Environments (ALIVE) in 2014.
Professor Turitsyn said: “The Wolfson Foundation grant provided an important initial impetus for expanding our research on applications of photonics technologies in the food industry and agriculture sector. ”
“Food quality and safety are among the major challenges facing humankind, and we are happy that advances in photonics are opening the technology opportunities that might revolutionise the food and agri-tech industries. It is a remarkable feeling that light science and technology developed in the Wolfson Centre might help to solve important social problems making a positive impact on us all. ”
The Wolfson Foundation 's chief executive, Paul Ramsbottom OBE said: “It is a great delight to be back at Aston, and a particular privilege to welcome Aleks Subic into his new leadership role.
“I enjoyed my visit to see some of the impressive photonics research. We were pleased to contribute funding to these new facilities which will allow their researchers to explore how the technology could be applied to meet challenges in food production and food safety. ”
Aleks Subic said: “I 'm delighted to meet Paul for the first time and welcome him to Aston University.
“The visit has given me the opportunity to personally thank him for The Wolfson Foundation grant which will help continue our vital research in photonics.
“We are very proud of AIPT and the ground-breaking research it is carrying out to solve real-world issues, a focus which lies at the heart of Aston 's research strategy. ”
Photo caption (left-right) Vice-Chancellor, Aleks Subic and Paul Ramsbottom OBE