Illuminating the Future: The Transformative Power of Laser Materials Processing in Science, Engineering, Art and Design

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• Prof Bill O’Neill FREng, FInstP, FLIA, FIAPLE, Director of the Centre for Industrial Photonics, Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge
• Monday 09 February 2026, 19:30-21:00
• Location: Wolfson Lecture Theatre, Churchill College, and Zoom.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact John Cook.

How advanced laser processing reshapes manufacturing, enables novel materials, and inspires groundbreaking artistic expression.

This lecture traces how laser materials processing is reshaping the physical world while also expanding the possibilities of artistic expression. Beginning with the foundations of electromagnetism and Einstein’s concept of stimulated emission, it outlines the unique attributes of lasers – coherence, directionality, controllable intensity, and wavelength, and shows how these underpin modern industrial photonics, from cutting and welding to advanced additive manufacturing and surface modification. The discussion then broadens to explore the deep synergies between engineering and the creative arts. Case studies from product design, architecture and interactive installations illustrate how artists and engineers share methods of prototyping, optimization and systems thinking, and how laser-based processes enable new material aesthetics, and light-based environments. Throughout, the lecture emphasizes human-centred and sustainable design: using laser precision to reduce waste and energy, tailoring surface function at micro- and nanoscales, and creating environments and artefacts that are technically sophisticated yet emotionally engaging. It concludes by highlighting emerging educational models that integrate art, science, and engineering, arguing that future innovators will need literacy in both science, engineering, and creative practice to design technologies and spaces that are efficient, sustainable, and enriching for society.

This talk is part of the Cambridge Society for the Application of Research (CSAR) series.

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