Lights! Camera! Action!

The technology behind a whole range of visual displays, such as TV and computer screens, depends on the control and manipulation of light - and its next application could be in the fight against disease.

At Durham University, in the northeast of England, a new Photonic Materials Institute draws together a range of leading players in light-based electronics – or photonics. Bringing together scientists from Physics, Chemistry and Engineering backgrounds this new institute is focused on research into light-emitting polymers, or novel kinds of plastic materials with particular properties for conducting electricity.  “Plastic circuitry” may not yet be as good as metal but scientists are closing the gap and the ultra thin, roll-up display screen of science fiction may very soon be science fact.

This story will feature footage of a TV/Video Edit suite with various display screens, interview with Laser analysis system measuring light emission from a polymer, clean room sequence substrate development; researcher working on photonic analysis of DNA, and an interview with Professor Andy Monkman, an applied physicist and Director of the Durham Photonic Materials Institute.