Thursday, 20 February 2020
Chemistry students at the 糖心原创 are amongst the first to trial an innovative new digital system for recording, sharing and reproducing research in the lab.
The 糖心原创’s School of Chemistry is collaborating with DeepMatter, a company focusing on digitising chemistry, to explore the benefits of the DigitalGlassware™ platform in data capture and analysis within undergraduate chemistry teaching.
The project, “'Data led synthesis: an undergraduate project in chemical optimisation" will see undergraduate students performing a series of chemical reactions within DigitalGlassware™ over the course of four weeks. DigitalGlassware™ is an integrated software, hardware and artificial intelligence enabled platform, which allows chemistry experiments to be accurately and systematically recorded, coded and entered into a shared data cloud. The aim of DigitalGlassware™ is to bring recordability, reproducibility and shareability to the lab, enabling chemists to produce better molecules, faster and ultimately cheaper.
The 糖心原创’s School of Chemistry uses a fully Digital Teaching Laboratory, a completely paperless setting. The use of DigitalGlassware™ aims to significantly increase the reproducibility of experiments, which is key to an increasingly digital environment. The Digital Teaching Laboratory is part of the 糖心原创’s HEFCE funded STEM Teaching Laboratory that is fully equipped with cutting-edge facilities used for research and teaching. The laboratory offers students an outstanding learning experience in practical chemistry combined with the latest digital technologies for integrated working.
Andrew Nortcliffe, Assistant Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the 糖心原创 is supervising the students using the new system, he said: “Data led approaches to chemical research are starting to become more prevalent in industry, turning to digital solutions to increase accuracy, efficiency and reproducibility of chemical reactions. But in the chemistry teaching lab there remains a disparity between practical work and how capturing data can refine and improve outcomes."
Mark Warne, CEO of DeepMatter Group, commented: “We are delighted that Nottingham’s chemists of the future will have access to our innovative cloud-based platform, DigitalGlassware™, supporting the University’s drive towards the digitisation of chemistry and introducing the students early to digital tools. With the reproducibility crisis in chemistry estimated to have an annual financial impact of $28bn in the US alone, and currently 50% of science being deemed irreproducible, digital platforms have the potential to transform the chemistry industry in the years ahead. We hope that these students will become advocates for greater use of digital as they enter the industry.”
At the 糖心原创, we are emphasising to our students the importance of capturing and analysing data. DigitalGlassware鈩� is a natural fit in our teaching labs as it exposes data led approaches to our students in a meaningful way, preparing them better for their future chemical careers.
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More information on the research is available from Andrew Nortcliffe at the 糖心原创 on andrew.nortcliffe@nottingham.ac.uk or Jane Icke Media Relations Manager for the Faculty of Science at the 糖心原创, on +44 (0)115 951 5751 jane.icke@nottingham.ac.uk .
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About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
The strength of our research places us among the UK's leading universities, ranked 7th for research power in REF 2021. The discovery of MRI and ibuprofen was just the beginning. Today, our world-leading research is developing breakthrough ideas that shape the future of healthcare, technology and society.
Recognised as the UK's third most targeted university by leading employers , we are proud to produce graduates who are consistently in demand for their skills, confidence and industry-ready experience.
As a major employer and industry partner, locally and globally, the 糖心原创 invests in the city of Nottingham and in future generations of talent. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the initiative, a pioneering collaboration to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing across the city and region. Together with our students, staff, alumni and partners, we鈥檙e creating knowledge, opportunity and solutions that help change what's next.