News

Food and Flood Safety at ITT18
30 June 2023

We were joined by partners Syngenta and RSS-Hydro for ITT18 which took place at the Bath Royal Literary & Scientific Institution (BRLSI) from 12-16 June 2023.

Food and Flood Safety at ITT18 - 12 to 16 June 2023

SAMBa’s 18th Integrative Think Tank (ITT) was delivered in partnership with Syngenta, one of the world’s leading agriculture companies and RSS-Hydro, a dynamic R&D company operating across geospatial field of earth observation, remote sensing, ML and modelling of water risks. The ITT model brings participants from across SAMBa together with external partners to reformulate large challenges into mathematical questions that will lead to collaborative research projects.

During the first two days, groups considered potential mathematical questions and approaches to a range of challenges presented by the partners. For the remainder of the week, the participants worked in teams, each exploring a particular approach to one of the challenges. The ITT was brought to a close with student presenting the work done by their team during the week and suggestions for potential future directions.

 

Richard Marchese Robinson, Product Safety QSAR Modelling Expert from Syngenta, found the ITT to be a very positive experience:

“I was hugely impressed by how talented the students were and how well they coped with a very challenging experience. I am not sure I would have coped as well, when I was in their position, with having to comprehend industrial challenges, work on problem-formulation, deliver proof-of-concept solutions, then prepare and deliver high quality presentations in the space of a few days. Moreover, the general level of engagement from the students and enthusiasm to both work on the problems, engage with the industrial partners and work as a team was very welcome to see. The way in which these events promote industrial engagement, team work and enthuse the students is to be applauded.

Future research collaborations

Following the ITT, students compose technical reports which describe the potential of the research opportunities. ITT projects can lead to collaborative research for our SAMBa cohort, via PhD topics, or as smaller group projects. Through working with partners at SAMBa ITTs, we have built deep and long-term relationships.

 

Paolo Tamagnone, Flood Modeller at RSS-Hydro, thought the ITT was a great forum for bringing academia and industry together:

The ITT is an interesting and valuable initiative which brings together academia and the private sector in a stimulating and vibrant environment. Problem-solving is the key aspect that drives the young researchers during the week, channelling their skills and passions towards the accomplishment of ground-breaking challenges. The ITT represents a successful story, a role model to follow in order to strengthen the bond between the two worlds. RSS-Hydro is grateful for the involvement and genuinely thanks the SAMBa group for the impeccable organization.

Future ITTs

We are currently planning for ITT19 which will be held from 29 Jan to 2 Feb 2024.

You can find out more about the ITT model, and read about previous ITTs, on the Integrative Think Tanks webpage.

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