ProfessorMary Ryan, FREng CBE

overview
Our research group is an interdiciplinary team of researchers working in interfacial nanoscience and its wide ranging applications in technology and arts. We aim to understand fundamental nanoscale interactions of materials in different environments and this leads us to a variety of indutrial secotrs as well as to biomedicine, conservation and control of nanomaterial structures. We work to develop sensitve and high resolution in situ methodologies using X-ray and electron spectro-microscopy and scattering.

Corrosion
Our work on corrosion focuses on the nanoscale processes that give rise to macroscopic failures of materials. We use high resolution and in situ approaches to study the interfaces between materials and the environment. We work extensively wth Industry to develop underpinning science that can enhance materials protection, failure prediction capabilities and risk management.

In 2015 Mary took up the position as Shell Chair for Materials and Corrosion and leads the Shell Centre for Materials and Corrosion at Imperial.

Cultural Heritage
We work extensively with the heritage sector in the development of materials and conservation approaches, and in outreach programmes (All Aboard the Mary Rose).

Current projects include acting as advisor to the ongoing conservation project of the Dornier Do17 at the RAF Museum Cosford (Dornier Conservation) and a collaborative PhD programme with the Science Museum on the Conservation of Doped Aircarft.



For our work with the V&A and the Mary Rose Trust see 'collaborators'.

Bio-Nano
We are interested in how nanomaterials interact with the biological systems, and in how they can be designed and processed for theranostic applications.

Nanotoxicity: NERC/EPA/NIEHS programmes to elucidate the potential toxicity of inhaled nanoparticles (Ag, ZnO, CNT). With Dr Alex Porter and colleagues at the NHLI, Imperial

Biosensors: Development of plasmonic materials for enhanced biosensing, with Dr Fand Xie

Controlled Nanoparticle dissoltuion as Therapeutic Agents; with Dr Alex Porter

Collaborators
PROFESSOR SANDRA KEMP (VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM), VISITING LECTURER AND SENIOR RESARCH FELLOW

Sandra has worked with Imperial College for the past 15 years. She developed collaborative interdisciplinary staff and student research projects in art and design, material science, and computer science as part of her her Royal College of Art role as Director of Research. Her exhibition, Future Face: Image, Innovation, Identity,Future Face funded by the Wellcome Trust at the London Science Museum, explored the long intellectual union of art, technology and science in the examination of the face. Sandra's research is at the interface of design practices and of technologies that change the experience and scope of interactions between people, products and services.

Since 2012, as Senior Research Fellow at the V&A, Sandra has worked with Professor Mary Ryan on futures thinking and visualisation, in part through the AHRC 'Care for the Future' exploratory awards programme The Future is our Business. From 2014, Sandra has combined Senior Research Fellowships at Imperial College and the V&A, leading collaborative research and teaching on how the future is embodied in artefacts, and how cultural institutions and others use them to advance knowledge.[Scenario]



DR ELEANOR SCHOFIELD (MARY ROSE TRUST), VISITING LECTURER

Eleanor is an Alumni of the Department, completing her PhD in the production of nanoprous gold in 2005. She has held research positions at the Stanford Synchrotron Light Source and The University of Kent. Since 2011 she has been the Conservation Manager at the Mary Rose Trust. We are collaborating on nderstanding of the role of Sulfur and Iron in archeological wood and developing new methodologies to probe these systems in-situ at the Diamond Light Source. Eleanor regualrly lectures to our undergraduate students on conservation and the use of nanomaterials in the protection of artefacts. As part of our outreach programme we have worked with the Trust to develop programmes for teachers [Mary Rose link]

Nanomaterials
We work on the solution processing of nanostructured materials for energy and magnetic applications