London Lab Automators' network hosts engaging event at UCL East

The third London Lab Automators networking event recently took place on 4 February in UCL East’s Marshgate Building, bringing together researchers, engineers, and automation enthusiasts for an inspiring evening of knowledge-sharing and collaboration. Highlighting the growing interest in laboratory automation and robotics.

The gathering kicked off with a welcome drink in the staff common room before attendees split into parallel sessions, including an exclusive lab tour and a live demonstration of the Opentrons Flex liquid handling robot. Led by Dr. Maximilian O. Besenhard and Dr. Solomon Bawa, the lab tour showcased cutting-edge research in the Manufacturing Futures Lab (MFL) Pod 1 and the Teaching Lab’s Large Equipment Room.

Following the tours, a series of insightful talks provided attendees with the latest advancements in lab automation. David Brown opened with a welcoming address, encouraging newcomers to join the London Lab Automators community. Professor Gary Lye then introduced the RESILIENCE project, outlining its mission and offering membership opportunities for those eager to get involved.

A standout session titled “From Automation to Autonomy: The Role of Robotics in Experimentation and Education” was delivered by Dr. Besenhard and Dr. Bawa. The talk explored the transition from automated systems to fully autonomous robotics, emphasising the importance of robotics education in the Digital Manufacturing of Advanced Materials (DMAM) MSc programme at UCL.

Elyor Kodirov, Lead ML Researcher at Opentrons, concluded the presentations with an exciting discussion on “Generative AI-Powered Programming for Opentrons Robots.” Demonstrating the developmental stage of the AI interface designed for the liquid handling robot.

The event wrapped up with a dynamic networking session, where attendees exchanged contacts and explored potential collaborations. Valuable feedback was gathered, reflecting the enthusiasm and engagement of the participants. The event was sponsored by Opentrons and Automata and hosted and moderated by Dr. Solomon Bawa, who said "“Innovation thrives where collaboration begins. The London Lab Automators Network is not just about technolog - it’s about the people driving it forward together”.

With a strong turnout and lively discussions, the London Lab Automators Network continues to drive forward the future of lab automation.