Outreach
Outreach
May 2026: R@L at the Leeds Pint of Science Festival 2026
In May 2026, three members of the Robotics at Leeds PGR Network represented the network at the Leeds Pint of Science Festival, sharing their research with the public and showcasing the exciting work taking place across the University.
🎤 Our speakers delivered the following talks:
🔹 Yael May – 'Medical MRI Machines: The Hidden Power Behind Robotics'
🔹 Andrea Yanez Trujillo – 'Miniaturized Magnetic Soft Vine Robots for Minimally Invasive Surgery'
🔹 Charles Delorey – 'The Rise of the Feeling Machine: The Present and Future of Tactile Sensing in Robots'
Together, they highlighted a range of cutting-edge research developments from across the STORM Lab in the School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, covering topics from medical robotics and soft robotic systems to the future of robotic touch and perception.
🌟 We were also delighted to see former committee member Rory Turnbull presenting 'Operating on the Future: Inside the UK's First Surgical Sustainability Theatre', offering fascinating insights into the future of sustainable healthcare.
A huge thank you to all of our speakers for representing the network and helping bring robotics research beyond the lab and into the community!
🎤 Our speakers delivered the following talks:
🔹 Yael May – 'Medical MRI Machines: The Hidden Power Behind Robotics'
🔹 Andrea Yanez Trujillo – 'Miniaturized Magnetic Soft Vine Robots for Minimally Invasive Surgery'
🔹 Charles Delorey – 'The Rise of the Feeling Machine: The Present and Future of Tactile Sensing in Robots'
Together, they highlighted a range of cutting-edge research developments from across the STORM Lab in the School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, covering topics from medical robotics and soft robotic systems to the future of robotic touch and perception.
🌟 We were also delighted to see former committee member Rory Turnbull presenting 'Operating on the Future: Inside the UK's First Surgical Sustainability Theatre', offering fascinating insights into the future of sustainable healthcare.
A huge thank you to all of our speakers for representing the network and helping bring robotics research beyond the lab and into the community!
Apr 2026: R@L PGR Network x Women In Engineering Society - Pint of Robotics
In April 2026, the Robotics at Leeds PGR Network was delighted to host a joint Pint of Robotics session with the University of Leeds Women in Engineering Society.
We were very pleased to welcome three fantastic speakers:
🔹 Dr. Yeijing Fan, PhD (School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds)
🔹 Serafina Coupe (School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds)
🔹 Dr. Mary Paterson, PhD (School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Sheffield)
The evening showcased an exciting range of research topics, including:
📡 The integration of 5G communications in modern British railway systems
🧬 DNA origami for molecular sensing
🩺 Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy for oral cancer diagnosis
It was fascinating to explore cutting-edge work from across engineering and science disciplines, highlighting how innovation extends far beyond traditional robotics and automation. Expanding our reach beyond the robotics community is always a rewarding experience, helping us share the network with new audiences across the University and beyond! 🌟
A huge thank you to our speakers and everyone who attended for making it such an engaging and inspiring event!
We were very pleased to welcome three fantastic speakers:
🔹 Dr. Yeijing Fan, PhD (School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds)
🔹 Serafina Coupe (School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds)
🔹 Dr. Mary Paterson, PhD (School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Sheffield)
The evening showcased an exciting range of research topics, including:
📡 The integration of 5G communications in modern British railway systems
🧬 DNA origami for molecular sensing
🩺 Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy for oral cancer diagnosis
It was fascinating to explore cutting-edge work from across engineering and science disciplines, highlighting how innovation extends far beyond traditional robotics and automation. Expanding our reach beyond the robotics community is always a rewarding experience, helping us share the network with new audiences across the University and beyond! 🌟
A huge thank you to our speakers and everyone who attended for making it such an engaging and inspiring event!
Mar 2026: R@L PGR Network x Women In Engineering Society - Lab Tours
In March 2026, the Robotics at Leeds teamed up with the Women in Engineering Society for an exciting initiative - quite literally opening doors across our engineering research labs! 🔧🤖💡
Undergraduate and Masters students from across the faculty got the unique chance to step inside active research spaces across the Mechanical, Electronic & Electrical, and Computing departments, exploring real research projects, and chatting with researchers about research at the heart of engineering at Leeds and what it’s really like to pursue a PhD.
The feedback? The students thoroughly enjoyed the experience, finding it helpful to have exposure to Leeds research, find out more about research careers and being able to finally understand what a PhD involves.
We loved seeing so much curiosity, inspiration, and future research talent in the making. Here's to breaking down barriers—one lab door at a time! 🚪✨ Thank you to all of our lab directors, researchers and participants for their enthusiasm for this initiative, alongside the Women in Engineering Society, Andrea and Yael for organising this event.
Undergraduate and Masters students from across the faculty got the unique chance to step inside active research spaces across the Mechanical, Electronic & Electrical, and Computing departments, exploring real research projects, and chatting with researchers about research at the heart of engineering at Leeds and what it’s really like to pursue a PhD.
The feedback? The students thoroughly enjoyed the experience, finding it helpful to have exposure to Leeds research, find out more about research careers and being able to finally understand what a PhD involves.
We loved seeing so much curiosity, inspiration, and future research talent in the making. Here's to breaking down barriers—one lab door at a time! 🚪✨ Thank you to all of our lab directors, researchers and participants for their enthusiasm for this initiative, alongside the Women in Engineering Society, Andrea and Yael for organising this event.
Jan 2026: R@L Advice Session for Engineering Undergraduates
In January 2026, our committee member Yael delivered a talk to undergraduate students, offering an insight into life as a PhD researcher at the University of Leeds and what it is like to conduct research in robotics.
🤖 Alongside practical advice, students also had the opportunity to learn about some of the exciting research taking place across the Robotics at Leeds PGR Network and the School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, showcasing the diverse opportunities available within postgraduate research.
🌟 It was a fantastic opportunity to support and encourage the next generation of engineers, share experiences from postgraduate study, and provide insight into the challenges and rewards of a career in research. A special thank you to Dr. James Avery for inviting us to contribute to his undergraduate module.
🤖 Alongside practical advice, students also had the opportunity to learn about some of the exciting research taking place across the Robotics at Leeds PGR Network and the School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, showcasing the diverse opportunities available within postgraduate research.
🌟 It was a fantastic opportunity to support and encourage the next generation of engineers, share experiences from postgraduate study, and provide insight into the challenges and rewards of a career in research. A special thank you to Dr. James Avery for inviting us to contribute to his undergraduate module.
Oct 2025: R@L x IEEE RAS Student Chapter - Pint of Robotics
We are delighted to announce that the Robotics at Leeds PGR Network will be organising our Nov 2025 - Apr 2026 Pint of Robotics sessions in collaboration with the newly formed University of Leeds IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Student Chapter.
Led by PGR Network member Charles Delorey, the new student chapter represents an exciting opportunity to strengthen connections across the robotics community and create even more opportunities for researchers, students, and industry professionals to engage with cutting-edge developments in the field.As robotics continues to evolve and influence an ever-growing range of sectors, we are excited to work together to bring fresh perspectives, new voices, and inspiring research to future Pint of Robotics events.
🌟 We look forward to welcoming members from across the University and the wider robotics community as we continue to grow and strengthen our shared passion for robotics research and innovation.
Led by PGR Network member Charles Delorey, the new student chapter represents an exciting opportunity to strengthen connections across the robotics community and create even more opportunities for researchers, students, and industry professionals to engage with cutting-edge developments in the field.As robotics continues to evolve and influence an ever-growing range of sectors, we are excited to work together to bring fresh perspectives, new voices, and inspiring research to future Pint of Robotics events.
🌟 We look forward to welcoming members from across the University and the wider robotics community as we continue to grow and strengthen our shared passion for robotics research and innovation.
Jul 2025: R@L Sumo Wars and Design Poster Challenge
In late July 2025, two of our committee members, Alistair and Alex, delivered the very first Robotics at Leeds Sumo Wars & Design Poster Challenge as part of the 2025 University of Leeds Summer Engineering School! 🤖🎉
Sixth-form students from across West Yorkshire put their creativity, teamwork, and engineering skills to the test, racing against the clock to build and battle mechanical (cardboard!) sumo robots 🥊📦. Alongside the action-packed robot wrestling, students also designed posters tackling real-world engineering challenges in medical robotics, sustainability, and environmental protection 🏥🌱🌍.
There was no shortage of cardboard, scissors, battery packs, and innovative ideas throughout the day!
A huge thank you to everyone who took part and helped make the event such a success. We're excited to continue working alongside the University of Leeds STEM Outreach Team and inspire the next generation of engineers and roboticists in the future! 🚀
Sixth-form students from across West Yorkshire put their creativity, teamwork, and engineering skills to the test, racing against the clock to build and battle mechanical (cardboard!) sumo robots 🥊📦. Alongside the action-packed robot wrestling, students also designed posters tackling real-world engineering challenges in medical robotics, sustainability, and environmental protection 🏥🌱🌍.
There was no shortage of cardboard, scissors, battery packs, and innovative ideas throughout the day!
A huge thank you to everyone who took part and helped make the event such a success. We're excited to continue working alongside the University of Leeds STEM Outreach Team and inspire the next generation of engineers and roboticists in the future! 🚀