Abstract

Bakerian Lecture by Professor Lynn Gladden CBE FR Eng FRS

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is routinely used in hospitals to image internal structure and blood flow within the human body. Research has shown that it is possible to harness these techniques to study non-biological systems, with many applications across the physical sciences and engineering. Professor Lynn Gladden will explain how processes occurring within optically opaque objects can be revealed, from imaging flow fields in plant cells to mapping chemical conversion within catalytic reactors. Recent advances enable bespoke implementations of the MRI method to be applied to ever more challenging systems, providing insights which cannot be obtained using any other measurement technique.

Professor Lynn Gladden leads research activities at the Magnetic Resonance Research Centre at the University of Cambridge. Her group develops methods that advance our understanding of processes that lie at the heart of many technologies in the energy and pharmaceutical sectors. She was awarded the 2014 Bakerian Lecture for her work in the development of magnetic resonance techniques to study multi-component adsorption, diffusion, flow and reaction processes.

The Bakerian lecture is the Royal Society’s premier lecture in the physical sciences. It is delivered annually at the Royal Society in London and is accompanied by a medal and a gift of £1,000.