Prof Valeska Ting is a Professor of Smart Nanomaterials in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and has a background in materials synthesis, characterisation and physical properties testing. She currently holds a prestigious EPSRC Research Fellowship in Energy Materials, sits on the EPSRC Strategic Advisory Committee for the cross-council Energy Theme, and is also the School Research Director for the Departments of Civil, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bristol. Her research into functional nanoporous materials involves using porous materials such as zeolites, porous carbons and metal-organic framework materials to address challenges in sustainable technologies. She leads a team of researchers interested in exploring the possibility of enhancing the storage capacity of existing nanoporous hydrogen storage materials, creating materials for selective storage and sequestration of gases such as carbon dioxide and designing multifunctional materials by combining properties of different sets of materials to produce hybrid systems that can perform several specialised functions.

The group employs a large range of experimental materials characterization techniques including X-ray and neutron diffraction, electron microscopy, thermogravimetric and spectroscopic analysis, gas sorption testing and physical properties testing for design and development of new materials-based solutions.

Valeska is also an accomplished STEM communicator, is an BAME Expert Voice for the BBC Academy, and has presented public lectures on composites for the Bristol Composites Institute, public webinars on energy storage for the Institution of Chemical Engineers, Nanomaterials Masterclasses for the IOM3 and video content on the laws of thermodynamics to support the 2016 Royal Institution Christmas lectures.

Related links:

Engineering Research Showcase talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNqLeO61huM

Composites Public Lecture (Opening of Bristol Composites Institute): https://www.bristol.ac.uk/composites/events/2017/public-lecture-15nov17.html

BBC BAME Academy profile: https://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/en/articles/art20150505135342774

Sir Frederick Warner Medal (press release): https://www.icheme.org/about-us/press-releases/valeska-ting-awarded-sir-frederick-warner-medal/

Westminster medal (press release) https://epsrc.ukri.org/newsevents/news/topawards/

Royal Institution Christmas Lectures (videos for 2016 advent calendar): http://www.rigb.org/christmas-lectures/supercharged-fuelling-the-future/thermodynamics-2016-advent-calendar/1--the-zeroth-law

http://www.rigb.org/christmas-lectures/supercharged-fuelling-the-future/thermodynamics-2016-advent-calendar/5--the-first-law

https://player.fm/series/aerospace-engineering-podcast/podcast-ep-7-dr-valeska-ting-on-smart-nanomaterials-for-hydrogen-storage