BRISTOL, England, Sept. 25, 2012 — A quantum photonics research assistant at the University of Bristol has won the British Science Association’s Strictly Engineering challenge.

Dr. Isobel Houghton of the Center for Nanoscience and Quantum Information presented a poster about her research project at the British Science Festival in Aberdeen, Scotland, earlier this month.

Houghton is part of the Solid State Quantum Network, a European Union-funded CHIST-ERA (European Coordinated Research on Long-term Challenges in Information and Communication Sciences & Technologies ERA-Net) project, in the university’s Center for Quantum Photonics. The project was established to develop components to create a solid-state quantum network for global communications.

Natasha Watson and Ellie Cosgrave, who are both in the university’s systems research engineering doctoral program, were also finalists in the competition. Watson was one of two runners-up for her work using natural construction materials to improve building sustainability.

The competition challenged engineers across the UK to turn their work into an eye-catching poster to spark conversation about the implications of engineering in our everyday lives, to challenge stereotypes around engineering, and to draw attention to and celebrate the UK’s engineering activities.

For more information, visit: www.bristol.ac.uk