In the first double-guest episode of Enterprise Sessions from the University of Bristol, Professor Michele Barbour speaks with Professor Martin Kuball and Dr Katie Hore for a compelling conversation about Rewire — the UK’s flagship Innovation and Knowledge Centre transforming the future of power electronics, semiconductors and clean energy.

Together, they unpack how advanced semiconductor materials, national-scale collaboration, and deep industry partnerships are accelerating the shift to reliable, efficient and sustainable electrical systems. From 5‑minute EV charging to radiation‑hard materials for fusion reactors and space missions, discover how Rewire is shaping technologies that will power our future.

Learn how Martin and Katie’s very different career journeys converged on the shared mission of building a national semiconductor ecosystem — one that spans curiosity‑driven research, cutting-edge materials science, industrial co‑creation, and the training of the next generation of innovators.

🔍 In the episode:

• How Rewire is reinventing semiconductor technology for the UK and beyond
• The surprising links between fundamental science and real‑world engineering impact
• What Innovation and Knowledge Centres are — and why they matter
• Building an ecosystem: 35+ industrial partners, three universities, and government
• The future of power electronics: efficient grids, EV charging, aerospace & fusion
• How students, postdocs and startups join and benefit from the Rewire community
• Career reflections: taking opportunities, embracing uncertainty and finding the fun

🌐 About the Enterprise Sessions

The Enterprise Sessions bring together a diverse mix of company founders and researchers who talk openly about their personal experiences of forming spinouts and start-ups, raising capital, academic-industry partnerships and the joys of translating research discoveries into real-world impact. The series aims to inform, inspire and challenge myths and stereotypes about research commercialisation and how businesses and universities can work together to tackle society’s biggest challenges.

👍 Like, Share, Subscribe, Explore

If you found this episode inspiring or informative, please don’t forget to like and share. Visit our website or subscribe to the University of Bristol’s YouTube channel for more Enterprise Sessions.

https://www.bristol.ac.uk/enterprise-sessions

Connect with our Guests:

Prof. Michele Barbour – LinkedIn

Prof. Martin Kuball - LinkedIn

Dr. Katie Hore - LinkedIn

REWIRE - LinkedIn

The climate crisis is one of the most pressing challenges of our time; but diverse sources of knowledge may help us navigate it better. This was the thematic focus of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change workshops recently hosted at the University of Reading.

In this live Q&A, Professor Jim Skea (chair of the IPCC) was joined by Rowan Sutton (Met Office), Sarah Honour (Dept. of Energy Security and Net Zero) and Professor Ed Hawkins (University of Reading) to discuss the role of indigenous voices, the withdrawal of the US from climate agreements, and the importance of making climate information accessible for future generations.

This episode was recorded live on February 9, 2026, at the University of Reading.

Find out more about the University of Reading, it's relationship with IPCC and how it has carved out a position at the heart of climate change conversations.

Chapters:

• 02:20 Why the IPCC is looking to involve diverse ‘knowledge systems’
• 04:26 How the UK Government and Met Office work with the IPCC process
• 09:35 What it’s like to be a researcher involved in the IPCC report cycle
• 12:02 How the IPCC has evolved and how it might evolve in the next 40 years
• 21:34 Audience question #1: Impact of the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement
• 24:22 Audience question #2: How is the IPCC actively involving diverse voices?
• 26:35 Audience question #3: How can young people make a positive impact in combatting climate change?

In this episode of Enterprise Sessions from the University of Bristol, Professor Michele Barbour sits down with Dr. Richard Cole, Lecturer in Digital Futures within the Department of Classics and Ancient History, for a fascinating deep dive into the unexpected synergy between ancient narratives and cutting-edge technology.

Discover how Richard’s journey from historical fiction to virtual reality and AI-powered gaming led to the creation of the Bristol Digital Game Lab, a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration between academia and the gaming industry. From algorithmic bias to postnatal depression, learn how game jams and immersive storytelling are being used to tackle complex societal challenges.

🔍 In the episode:

• The intersection of classics and digital innovation
• How games can be tools for humanistic inquiry
• Collaborating with industry to build meaningful experiences
• The future of AI-driven gameplay and museum engagement
• Empowering students through game design and research

🌐 About the Enterprise Sessions

The Enterprise Sessions bring together a diverse mix of company founders and researchers who talk openly about their personal experiences of forming spin-outs and start-ups, raising capital, academic-industry partnerships and the joys of translating research discoveries into real-world impact. The series aims to inform, inspire and challenge myths and stereotypes about research commercialisation and how businesses and universities can work together to tackle society's biggest challenges.

👍 Like, Share, Subscribe, Explore

If you found this episode inspiring or informative, please don’t forget to like and share. Visit our website or subscribe to the University of Bristol’s YouTube channel for more Enterprise Sessions.

https://www.bristol.ac.uk/enterprise-sessions

ChatGPT has been a game-changer for education. Students now frequently use Generative Artificial Intelligence to complete assignments, but concern is growing about how this affects their academic integrity and critical thinking.

Michelle Cheong is a Professor of Information Systems in Education at the Singapore Management University. By evaluating ChatGPT’s performance in spreadsheet modelling, her latest research provides important insights into how educators can redesign student assessments to enhance learning at different cognitive levels.

Read the original research: doi.org/10.1111/jcal.70035

Join Professor Michele Barbour for an energising and deeply insightful conversation with Dr Luke Cox, CEO of Impulsonics, a University of Bristol spin‑out transforming how cell handling and automation are done in biotechnology.

What begins as an exploration of Luke’s journey from engineering undergraduate to PhD researcher becomes an exhilarating story of invention, grit, and entrepreneurial drive. From early work in acoustic levitation to co‑developing a novel “impulse control” technology, Luke unpacks how a speculative research project evolved into a breakthrough method for moving millions of cells simultaneously — enabling automation where traditional tools have long failed.

Discover how Luke navigated the risks, setbacks, and thrill of taking on the role of CEO while spinning out a deep‑tech company; how customer discovery reshaped their market focus; and why Impulsonics’ modular, ultrasound‑based approach could unlock scalable personalised medicine, reduced lab waste, and new possibilities in drug discovery.

This is a candid discussion about ambition, risk engineering, accidental luck, and finding the “beachhead market” that biologists have needed for decades — all told with Luke’s characteristic insight, humility, and humour.

In this episode

• From engineering undergrad to PhD researcher: discovering acoustic levitation
• The origins of “impulse control” and its biocompatible applications
• Why automation in biotechnology breaks down — and how Impulsonics bridges the gap
• Building prototypes, identifying markets and finding early‑stage grant funding
• Becoming CEO: translating between tech, biology, and business
• How automation could enable precision functional medicine
• The role of AI: hype, data quality, and industry realities
• Storytelling, improv theatre, and becoming unafraid to ask “stupid questions”
• Advice for early‑career researchers and aspiring entrepreneurs

🌐 About the Enterprise Sessions
The Enterprise Sessions bring together founders and researchers to share candid insights on spin-outs, start-ups, raising capital, and translating research into real-world impact. Our goal? To inform, inspire, and challenge myths about research commercialisation.

👍 Like, Share, Subscribe
If you enjoyed this episode, please like and share! Explore more at University of Bristol Enterprise Sessions and subscribe to our YouTube channel for future episodes.

Connect with our Guests:

Dr Luke Cox – LinkedIn

Prof Michele Barbour – LinkedIn

Chapters

0:00 – Introductions

0:34 – From engineering student to acoustic levitation researcher

3:20 – How ultrasound manipulates millions of cells

5:25 – Exploring the potential of ultrasound and technology

9:00 – How the culture of innovation in Bristol inspired Luke

13:08 – Creating a product useful for the target audience

18:22 – Finding direction through the ICURe programme

22:47 – How cell passaging became the perfect first market — and how Impulsonics automates it

27:10 – Leadership, learning to translate across disciplines, and choosing not to bring in an external CEO

32:29 – Navigating grants, investors, risk engineering, relationships, and the realities of building hardware and biology together

42:28 – How Impulsonics’ technology could enable patient‑specific drug testing and more sustainable labs

46:19 – The founder mindset

51:45 – Advice for early‑career researchers

Obesity is one of the most pressing health challenges of our time, yet public campaigns on diet and exercise have struggled to reverse rising global rates.

Assistant Professor Xuan Zhang from the School of Economics at Singapore Management University explores how a simple, low-cost intervention – a series of short, personalised text messages – can help people better understand their weight classification and adopt healthier habits.

Her team’s randomised controlled trial found that regular digital reminders significantly improved weight perception and diet among older adults, showing how behavioural insights can drive meaningful change in public health.

Read the original research: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2024.04.029

Professor Keon West has long been interested in the gap between what people think they know about racism and what the science actually shows.

Alongside his academic work, he regularly appears at events like Cheltenham Science Festival, opening up conversations about bias, scientific literacy, and why facts matter even in the most emotionally charged topics.

In this episode, we talk about applying science to racism, the misconceptions that persist, and what happens when research meets real-world audiences.

In this final episode of the series, we join a round-table discussion among experts from the Smart Internet Lab at the University of Bristol. Join Dimitra Simeonidou, Simon Saunders, and Paul Wilson as they explore the future of telecommunications and the exciting advancements in network technology.

Discover how AI and sensing capabilities are transforming networks into intelligent systems that not only communicate but also 'feel' the environment. This episode delves into the implications of these innovations for smart cities, crisis management, and the ethical considerations that come with them.

Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction
(00:30) The Evolution of Telecommunications
(10:15) AI and Sensing in Networks
(20:00) Future Networks Scenarios
(30:00) Ethical Considerations and Governance
(40:00) Closing Thoughts

This is an 18Sixty Production.