This winter, the CORNERSTONE Public Engagement Team joined the magical Light Up Trails, an interactive art experience. This year’s theme is ‘Enchanted’ — a magical after-dark trail filled with light, atmospheric sound, and a festive feel. As visitors wandered through the glowing artworks, we walked the paths with them, sharing little bursts of photonics along…
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Lighting Up Creativity: Silicon Photonics Chip Scratch-Art at the Arts & Humanities Festival
The Southampton Cultural Quarter came alive during this year’s Arts & Humanities Festival, where Emily joined the Optics and Photonics Society (OpSoc) for their Play with Scientists and Light activity day. On Saturday 8 November, the CORNERSTONE Public Engagement Team brought colour, curiosity, and hands-on learning to the festival with a new Silicon Photonics Chip…
CORNERSTONE at the Physics Partners Festival – Getting Photonics into the Hands of Teachers
Earlier July 2025, we had the pleasure of joining the Physics Partners Teachers’ Festival at Winchester College—a fantastic one-day event bringing together physics teachers, technicians and educators from across the UK. Set in the beautiful grounds of Winchester College, the festival gave us the opportunity to speak directly with teachers about the real-world applications of photonics—and…
Inspiring Future Physicists at the Light Up Sir Harold Hillier Gardens Event
Staff and students from the School of Physics and Astronomy and the Cornerstone Photonics Innovation Centre (C-PIC) had the opportunity to ignite the imaginations of future physicists during the Christmas light art trail at the Light Up Sir Harold Hillier Gardens at Christmas event on 27th, 28th, and 30th November 2024. The Light Up event, an annual light art…
Engaging the Public with Cutting-Edge Research: Emily Crawshaw at the Arts and Humanities Festival
Emily Crawshaw – Image by Rob Luckins 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).…