Oxford Advanced Materials Network
Image kindly supplied by Professor Grobert
The image on the left is an example of an ultralightweight advanced ceramic fibre material, for application in extreme environments, and it was developed here in Oxford. Such an innovative advance was just one of the many possibilities discussed during the launch of the Oxford Advanced Materials Network (OxAMN) on Tuesday 26 March 2025.
Led by Professor Nicole Grobert, the OxAMN brings together a diverse range of Materials experts from across the University of Oxford with the aim of establishing a collaborative ecosystem with industry partners, end-users and policy makers to drive interdisciplinary innovation across many different fields.
To tackle this systemic challenge, OxAMN will seek to make close ties with medical departments, the social sciences and humanities. This will enable safe and sustainable cutting-edge materials solutions to be developed more rapidly and effectively, to include energy systems, medical devices, lightweight composites, autonomous vehicles and smart materials.
A key emphasis will be on integrating multiple disciplines and methods, including advanced experimental research in conjunction with high-speech computing, modelling and real-world industry collaborations.
As Professor Grobert says:
"Our vision for the Network is that it will function as a dynamic community shaping the next frontier of advanced materials. This is more than interdisciplinary research - it involves establishing a common language to allow the vertical and horizontal transfer of information across academia, industry, policy and society, and creating an environment where each sector understands the needs of the others".
Read more on the University of Oxford's website: New Oxford Advanced Materials Network Launches'.
