Engaging the Public with Cutting-Edge Research: Emily Crawshaw at the Arts and Humanities Festival
On November 9th, 2024, Emily Crawshaw, a Research Technician at CORNERSTONE, captivated families and individuals at the University of Southampton’s Arts and Humanities Festival. Held in the vibrant Southampton Cultural Quarter, Emily participated in the ‘Play with Light’ activity day organised by the Optics and Photonics Society (OpSoc).
About Emily Crawshaw and Her Work
Emily is a dedicated Research Technician at CORNERSTONE, an open-source, license-free silicon photonics prototyping foundry. Her role involves providing fabrication support for various projects, as well as developing and characterising processes for multiple photonics platforms. Emily’s expertise spans a range of advanced techniques, including CD-SEM, Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapour Deposition, Physical Vapor Deposition, Atomic-Layer Deposition, Wet Chemical Etching, Dry Etching, Dicing, Ellipsometry, and Microscopy.
Before joining CORNERSTONE, Emily worked as a Laboratory Technician, where she performed diagnostic tests on veterinary specimens. This involved culturing significant bacteria, testing antibiotic sensitivity, qPCR and ELISA.
Emily Crawshaw
Image by Rob Luckins
Activities at the Festival
During the festival, Emily assisted PhD and master’s students in engaging the public with CORNERSTONE’s research. She showcased a silicon wafer, explaining step-by-step the typical fabrication process. This information was made accessible for a range of ages and abilities, ranging from young children to adults with a scientific background. This hands-on demonstration introduced visitors to the fascinating world of silicon photonics without revealing proprietary information. Throughout the day she also assisted in explaining other scientific concepts, this included making kaleidoscopes and enhancing peoples understanding of fibre optics and reflection.
Reflecting on her experience, Emily shared:
Taking part in the Arts and Humanities Festival was such a rewarding experience! I loved seeing how engaged people were as they explored the field of silicon photonics, when looking at the wafer and especially when families of all ages were asking really thoughtful questions. It’s always inspiring to share what we do and see how enthusiastic people are about this field.
Emily’s participation was supported by her line manager, who emphasised the importance of public engagement for staff –
“It’s crucial for our staff to engage with the public. Not only do we have a duty to share our research due to public funding, but practicing our science communication skills enhances our ability to communicate effectively with industrial clients.”
About CORNERSTONE
CORNERSTONE is a pioneering silicon photonics prototyping foundry, offering open-access, licence-free services to a broad user base. Backed by £11 million in funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Innovate UK, CORNERSTONE will continue serving the community for the next five years. Led by Professor Graham Reed at the University of Southampton, in partnership with the University of Glasgow, STFC, and other collaborators, the CORNERSTONE Photonics Innovation Centre (C-PIC) brings together leading researchers and entrepreneurs in the UK.
About OpSoc
The Optics and Photonics Society (OpSoc) comprises a group of postgraduate research students from the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences and related departments. OpSoc is part of the larger Optica and SPIE student chapters, dedicated to advancing optics and photonics worldwide. Founded in 1916, Optica is a leading organization for scientists, engineers, business professionals, and students interested in the science of light. Its renowned publications, meetings, online resources, and in-person activities fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications, and accelerate scientific, technical, and educational achievements.
Emily’s contribution, particularly through the Lightwave outreach team led by PhD student Jack Homans, demonstrates the vital role public engagement plays in sharing scientific advances. Congratulations to Emily for her outstanding work and for her ongoing contributions to the field of silicon photonics.
Images by Rob Luckins