On October 29, 2024, Digital Futures and Sustainable Futures co-hosted a PhD workshop at the Nancy Rothwell Building. This event aimed to connect PhD students from diverse disciplines within The University of Manchester, focusing on digital and sustainable research areas. The workshop encouraged the formation of interdisciplinary, cross-faculty relationships that could foster new perspectives and collaborations across research domains.
The event featured lightning talks by UoM PhD students, as well as introductory talks by representatives from various university research platforms and services. Kitty Lo, Communication and Engagement Coordinator for Digital Futures, and Hannah Barron, Engagement and Strategy Manager for Sustainable Futures, provided a brief overview of Digital Futures, Sustainable Futures, and the PhD Network’s purpose.
The first lightning talk, “NFT, Fintech, and Metaverse—Walking Through the New Tech Era,” was given by Ernestina Zhu. She introduced us to the potential of emerging technologies, discussing how non-fungible tokens, financial technology, and the metaverse are reshaping our digital landscape. To learn more, you can watch a short video clip of her talk here.
Following Ernestina, Luana Scrivano presented “Innovation and Science: Measuring Active Mobility and Mental Health with a Digital Framework,” exploring how digital solutions can promote active lifestyles and mental well-being. Her talk addressed key questions, including:
• How do personal motivation and awareness impact long-term behavior changes in active mobility?
• In what ways can public health initiatives better incorporate active mobility into daily life to support sustainability?
• What challenges exist in expanding active mobility frameworks across diverse populations?
To dive deeper into these questions, check out the video of Luana’s insightful talk here.
Next, Sid Sule presented on “Sustainable Computing in Particle Physics.” His presentation discussed sustainable approaches within particle physics, highlighting the efficiency of GPU programming in simulations and optimization strategies. Key discussion points included:
• Analysis of execution times versus simulation volumes and the implications for scalability.
• How the combination of features could impact simulation speed.
• Insights on learning resources for GPU programming and its relevance in 2024.
Watch Sid’s talk here for a deeper look into sustainable computational methods in research.
After these enlightening presentations, the event transitioned into a World Café workshop. Attendees discussed a series of interdisciplinary questions regarding AI and environmental solutions. Following the workshop, a networking session provided further opportunities for attendees to share insights and explore potential collaborations.
As the event concluded, attendees placed their badges in recycled boxes bearing slogans on sustainable lifestyles, signifying the end of another successful and impactful PhD Network gathering.
Find more details about The Digital Futures PhD Network and view our previous event activity here.
Digital Futures is a highly interdisciplinary network encompassing the full spectrum of the University’s digital research. It aims to provide a clear overview of our digital research activities for external stakeholders while fostering collaboration among research communities to explore emerging areas and address strategic opportunities. Connect with us and get in touch:
Credits:
Digital Futures and Sustainable Futures are developing a network for PhD students within UoM who are working on research related to digital. This aims to help students to develop interdisciplinary, cross faculty relationships that can lead to new perspectives on research.