ERDF P1 Project News: MAGMA

Apr 28, 2022

MAGMA – taking the ERDF project into schools

MAGMA at Cardiff University has been part funded by ERDF to establish a world-class research capability with recognised expertise in the processing, characterisation, manufacturing and recycling of specialist magnetic materials. MAGMA has added new complementary research capacity and refurbished laboratories, including new dynamometer systems for testing modern electric vehicle motors, and computers, software and expertise for magnetic modelling, simulation and design.

Thanks to some additional funding from Research Wales Innovation Fund (RWIF) from the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) the MAGMA staff have been taking their work out to the community. MAGMA aims to achieve a number of cross-cutting themes such as widening access, stem activities, engaging in the community, encouraging careers in stem and thanks to some additional funding from Research Wales Innovation Fund (RWIF) from the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) the MAGMA staff have been doing just that.

Magnations (Magnetic Animations)

Members from the Magnetic Materials and Application research group (MAGMA) at Cardiff University have recently visited Mount Stuart Primary School to undertake an eight-week magnetic materials animation course. The team at MAGMA are naturally passionate about educating future generations regarding magnetic materials, the way they are used in many everyday items and the important role they will play in the green economy. The team hope engaging with activities such as this will inspire future generations to connect with, and one day contribute to, the ground-breaking research to develop South Wales as a hub for developments in magnetics research, manufacturing and application.

As part of the programme, children had the opportunity to build their own simple motors, getting themselves into the mindset of an engineer to overcome design issues and make the motors spin. The excitement of the children was incredible, demonstrating the inspiring power of science and education. It’s encouraging to assume there were a lot of children spreading the word about magnetic materials to their friends and family on the way home that day.

Riding on the on the momentum of the first visit to the school, in the subsequent 7 weeks the children developed their own short animation videos using skills they learned from local animation company Winding Snake to demonstrate their new knowledge of magnetics. One topic the children covered with their animations is future power networks and they were enthused to receive a visit from a Western Power Distribution representative to discuss this incredibly important area. Other topics include motors/generators, future transport and the fundamentals of magnetic materials.

The animations created by the children are now in the hands of Winding Snake, the animation production company, who will post-process and finalise the videos in the near future.

The final animations will be used by the MAGMA research group to increase awareness of the general public, industry, the local community and other research groups of the importance of magnetic materials and the ground-breaking research being undertaken at Cardiff University. It is hoped the animated style delivered by the school children will make the subject more accessible and inspire interest in this increasingly important subject area.

This addition to the MAGMA ERDF operation was funded through the Cardiff University Innovation for All public engagement fund. This scheme is supported by Research Wales Innovation Fund (RWIF) from the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW).

If you are interested in finding out more about their work with the local community or the research they are undertaking at MAGMA in the processing, characterisation, manufacturing and recycling of specialist magnetic materials, email magma-project@cardiff.ac.uk.

Find out more about MAGMA