EEE Festival of Research and the Barlow Lecture 2025
UCL Electronic and Electrical Engineering (EEE) invites all our friends, colleagues, collaborators and members of the public, to explore the research being undertaken within our world-leading department and celebrate our continuing advancement of knowledge.
EEE Festival of Research and the Barlow Lecture 2025
20 May 2025, 12:30 – 18:30
UCL Electronic and Electrical Engineering (EEE) is a centre of world-class research. At the EEE Festival of Research we will inform and inspire with research posters, academic talks, and opportunities for networking - culminating in our biennial invited Barlow Lecture.
Agenda
| 12:30 | Registration opens | Institute of Education |
| 13:00 - 15:50 | Poster Presentations | Institute of Education |
| 13:00 - 14:00 | Talks: Compute Frontiers: Quantum, AI, and Semiconductors - session 1 | Institute of Education |
| 15:00 - 16:00 | Talks: Engineering the Future: Biology, Telecoms, and Sustainability - session 2 | Institute of Education |
| 16:00 - 17:00 | Networking reception | Institute of Education |
| 17:15 | The Barlow Lecture 2025 with award ceremony | Institute of Education |
Following the Barlow lecture there will be a celebratory dinner for attendance by invite only. This will be at Senate House (University of London) close to campus, the meal will begin at approximately 7pm.
Poster Presentations
A highlight of the day is our poster presentations delivered by the entirety of our research student cohort. With Centres for Doctoral Training across subjects including Photonics, Quantum Technologies and Advanced Materials Characterisation, along with students undertaking research across the breadth of our work, this session will engage you in research and outputs that are developing the future of Electronic and Electrical Engineering and it’s applications.
This session is also open to members of the public with an interest in the technical nuances of electronic and electrical engineering, so join us for an afternoon of knowledge gathering and innovation.
The poster list will be published soon.
Academic Talks
As part of this year’s theme, Quantum to AI: Engineering the Compute Power of Tomorrow, our academic talk sessions will explore the groundbreaking research shaping the future of computation and engineering.
From quantum technologies and AI-driven advancements to next-generation telecoms and sustainable computing, our expert speakers will share insights into the critical innovations driving the future of electronic and electrical engineering.
13:00: Compute Frontiers: Quantum, AI, and Semiconductors: session 1
Chair: Dr Anna Maria Mandalari
This session would explore the fundamental advances in computation, focusing on:
Quantum computing demands unprecedented precision in device fabrication. In this talk, Prof Neil Curson will explore how atomic-scale engineering is enabling the next generation of quantum technologies. By manipulating individual atoms at surfaces, his research advances the development of nanoscale electronic devices and lays the groundwork for building quantum computers atom-by-atom.
AI is reshaping the future of computation, from machine learning to intelligent systems. Dr Laura Toni will discuss how AI is enhancing computing efficiency, optimising complex processes, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in engineering in the future.
Semiconductors have powered computing for decades, but what comes next? Sir Michael Pepper will examine how semiconductor technology is evolving, from cutting-edge classical chips to their role in enabling the next generation of quantum hardware.
15:00: Engineering the Future: Biology, Telecoms, and Sustainability
Chair: Dr Sara Ghoreishizadeh
This session will expand into broader applications of computation and engineering in:
Biology and engineering are converging to unlock new possibilities in medicine, biotechnology, and beyond. Dr Dai Jiang will explore how computational models and synthetic biology are driving innovations in biological system design, from genetic circuits to bioinformatics solutions.
The future of digital communication relies on ultra-fast, secure, and efficient networks. Prof Cyril Renaud will discuss how photonics and THz technology are shaping the next generation of telecoms, enabling faster data transfer and enhancing cybersecurity with quantum-enabled solutions.
As we move towards the next generation of wireless networks, the demands on speed, accuracy, and reliability continue to grow. In this talk, Dr Zhixin Liu will explore the role of precise clock and carrier frequencies in enabling key 6G capabilities, such as integrated sensing and communications, high-speed data transfer, and ultra-accurate positioning. He will share how UCL researchers, in collaboration with industry partners, are developing and disseminating the precise signals needed to support emerging applications like autonomous vehicles, drone networks, and immersive technologies.
Networking reception
Following the talks and poster presentations, we will hold a reception at the Institute of Education. The reception provides an opportunity for our members of the department and partners across academia and industry to congratulate and network with the research students who will have spent the earlier part of the day presenting their posters.
Awards Ceremony and the Barlow Lecture
Following an afternoon exploring EEE’s research, guests and members will be invited to attend the Barlow Lecture. The Head of Department, Professor John Mitchell, will welcome guests followed by the presentation of the following awards:
Awarded for the best thesis of a recently graduated PhD student, in honour of Professor Fabrizo Lombardi, former MSc and PhD student of the department.
Awarded for the best student poster, in memory of Professor Alexander Cullen, former head of department and Faraday Medal recipient.
Barlow Memorial Lecture 2025
Presented by Michael Cuthbert
Director UK's National Quantum Computing Centre - NQCC
Title: “Roadmap and impact of Quantum Computing”.
Dr Michael Cuthbert is the Director of the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), an organisation dedicated to advancing quantum computing by bringing together experts from academia, industry, and government. Quantum computing harnesses the principles of quantum mechanics - such as superposition and entanglement - to encode and process information at the atomic and sub-atomic level. The NQCC plays a key role in addressing technical challenges, driving innovation, and positioning the UK as a global leader in this transformative field.
With a background in cryogenics, superconducting materials, and solid-state physics, Michael has spent over two decades at the forefront of quantum technology. Before leading the NQCC, he was Head of Quantum Technologies at Oxford Instruments Group, where he held a range of technical and commercial leadership positions across Japan, North America, and the UK. He is an Aegis Professor of Quantum Technologies at the University of Bristol and a member of the Institute of Physics as well as contributing to several governance boards including the National Physical Laboratory Science and Technology Advisory Council, Cancer Research UK Research Data Advisory Board and National Quantum Technologies Programme Board.
The Barlow Memorial Lecture, more commonly referred to as simply The Barlow Lecture, is held biennially in memory of Harold Everard Monteagle Barlow (1899-1989). Harold Barlow was the Head of UCL's Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering from 1950 to 1967. Barlow invented the H01 millimetre waveguide and is remembered for his many contributions to microwave research for which he was awarded the IEE Kelvin and J J Thompson Premiums, the Faraday Medal, the URSI Dellinger Gold Medal and the IEEE Kelly Prize.
Key dates
Festival of Research - 20th May 2025
Registration closes 13 May
Directions
The day event (including the Barlow Lecture) will take place at 20 Bedford Way, within the Institute of Education, a short walk from UCL's main Bloomsbury campus.
The evening's celebratory dinner, by invitation only, will occur at Senate House - University of London
PhD Careers Morning
All PhD students are invited to attend a career-focused session at 9:30 am on 20th May to learn more about internships and post-PhD career pathways in industry.
Register here
Further information
Ticketing
Pre-booking essential
Cost
Free
Open to
All
Availability
Yes
