NEF Tube - Innovisions 2009

Nanotech t-shirts, naked scientists and a nasty crime. Just another NEF annual conference...

As 150 representatives of colleges, businesses, government and the media gathered at Pall Mall's Institute of Directors on January 7th for Innovisions 2009, the NEF's fourth annual conference and awards ceremony, few amongst them thought they'd be going home having experienced the very latest in fashion technology, a toaster-powered hot air balloon, and a murder investigation. And that's even before a toy Landrover drove on to the stage!

After an opening address from NEF Chief Executive Sa'ad Medhat, delegates were joined by the new Minister for Further Education, Siôn Simon MP. In a well-received dialogue, he welcomed support and took on board concerns for what the Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills is doing to support the FE sector. And he was encouraging of new opportunities to take forward cooperation on matters such as apprenticeships and business engagement.

After the traditional 'big photo on the stairs event', Dr Chris Smith and Dr Dave Ansell from radio's popular and award-winning programme The Naked Scientists hit the stage and gave an entertaining demonstration of some of their best experiments including a flying toilet roll to show how Beckham bends it, a toaster and plastic bag illustrating the physics of a hot air balloon, a street light-absorbing Hawaiian shirt to explain how we see colour, and some audience participation to explain harmonics.

Top Science TV broadcaster Maggie Philbin's presentation on how to inspire the young was abruptly interrupted by the discovery of a "body" in the reception area. Cue a team from the City of Plymouth College's Forensic Science Department, displaying the skills familiar to so many of us from the popular CSI television franchise. (A co-conspirator from the college was eventually apprehended!)

The day continued with presentations on the links between higher and further  education by Professor Freda Tallantyre of the HE Academy and Dr John Chudley, LSC South West. This session included the 2008 award for Excellence in the Provision of "HE in FE", presented to Business, IT and Computing lecturer, Tony Hartley of Wakefield College. 
 
After lunch, came the case studies from the Fellowship scheme which saw a to-scale, kit-built mini-Landrover driven in by David Steele of AquaFabs Ltd, and a fascinating presentation by Dr Bob Mudd of Bridgwater College and Brendan Daly of Magnox South. To round up the case studies, a nanotechnology-treated t-shirt was splashed repellent effect with cranberry juice by the team from Newham College who worked in partnership with the London College of Fashion, London City Airport and West Ham Football Club on their secondments.

The day's main event was the award of certificates to this year's NEF Industrial Fellows and Masterclass participants, presented by the Guardian's science and environment correspondent, Alok Jha.

The final presentation was of a Nintendo Wii to Klaus Meucher-Erskine of Central Sussex College who won our competition for the best poster about an Industrial Fellowship Scheme secondment.

The day finished with a stimulating dual presentation by Wendy Mannix of the Technology Strategy Board and Simon Whittemore from JISC on supporting Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.

The classic interior of the IoD had never seen anything quite like it. But we're happy to say they'll be witnessing even bigger and better next year! 

To catch the edited video highlights of the day click on the various thumbnails below.