News

Friday 28 September 2007

Nottingham Trent University shortlisted for top industry awards

Nottingham Trent University has been shortlisted for two prestigious industry awards that aim to celebrate the outstanding achievements of British higher education. The third annual Times Higher Awards attracted entries from more than 90 per cent of universities across the UK – Nottingham Trent University was one of only a small number of institutions that made the shortlist in more than one category.

The development of a new generation of advanced X-ray scanners which will help to identify suspect packages quickly and efficiently received a nomination in the contribution to innovation and technology category. Paul Evans, Professor of Applied Imaging Science at Nottingham Trent University is helping to create new technology that provides real-time 3-D images of objects at the same time as outlining their material composition and alerting security personnel when dangerous substances are present.

The ‘scatter-enhanced’ technology was patented in June in conjunction with Cranfield University, who is collaborating on the project. The research teams are also working with the Home Office Scientific Development Branch and the US Department of Homeland Security.

The second nomination was in the newly created excellence and innovation in the arts category, which saw recognition for an innovative scheme designed to help teenagers explore the morality and ethics of biomedical science.

The ‘Icarus Project’ aims to encourage secondary school-age students to consider the moral and ethical questions of stem-cell technologies by using drama. Greek myths, such as those of Icarus and the Minotaur, were updated with modern medical storylines to explore some of the ethical issues.

The university worked in partnership with Dragon Breath Theatre and the Leicester Haymarket Theatre, among other organisations.

The awards ceremony will be held at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London W1, on the evening of November 29th 2007.

ENDS

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