Prof Cinzia Casiraghi

Professor in Nanoscience
The University of Manchester
Graphene Week 2015

In June 2015 The University of Manchester hosted Graphene Week 2015 - a key international conference for scientists studying the wonder substance graphene.

Graphene Week - the International Conference on the Fundamental Science of Graphene and Applications of Graphene-Based Devices - is the main annual event of the European Commission's biggest ever research initiative, Graphene Flagship.

The event attracted more than 400 scientists from across the world, contributing approximately £700,000 in economic benefit to the city. The 2015 event was the ninth outing in the series which previously took place taken place in cities across Europe and once in the USA.

Isolated at The University of Manchester in 2004, graphene has captured the attention of scientists worldwide with its potential to revolutionise the materials world due to its incredible properties. As the world's first 2D material, it is ultra-light, yet immensely tough; it is 200 times stronger than steel, but is incredibly flexible; and it is fire retardant yet retains heat.

Graphene Week also coincided with the opening of the £61 million National Graphene Institute in spring 2015. The NGI is now home to scientists and commercial partners working side by side.

"We feel that with the opening of the National Graphene Institute (NGI) in spring 2015, it is appropriate to invite the global research community to one of the top institutions for graphene research.  They will be the first people to see the completed NGI facility as well as seeing first-hand the leading edge research that is being undertaken at our University."