The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2025 successfully concluded its week-long celebration of cutting-edge research from 1-6 July 2025 in central London.

This prestigious annual event brought together 13 flagship exhibits from leading universities and science institutions across the UK, offering visitors unprecedented access to world-class research through hands-on activities, talks, and interactive displays.

ISCC research takes centre stage with NanoGlow exhibit

Institute of Sustainability and Climate Change (ISCC) core member Dr Simon Freakley made a significant impact at this year's exhibition, leading the University of Bath's collaborative exhibit "NanoGlow" in partnership with King's College London.

The exhibit featured Dr Freakley's research into how light can be harnessed to build a more sustainable world. Demonstrating the innovative work being conducted within the Institute and collaboratively, physicists, chemists, and engineers have come together to develop nano-scale materials capable of converting water into hydrogen fuel and breaking down pollutants.

The UK government’s Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation Lord Patrick Vallance visited the exhibition.

Showcasing ISCC's impact on scientific heritage

A particularly remarkable aspect of this year's exhibition was the rare display of Michael Faraday's original gold colloids from The Royal Institution, which sat alongside Dr Freakley's NanoGlow exhibit.

These historic artifacts left their home for only the second time in 170 years, the first being during WWII bombing raids on London. Their presence created a powerful narrative connecting Faraday's foundational discoveries in colloid science to contemporary nanotechnology research.

ISCC's contribution to public understanding of sustainability science

The positive reception of the NanoGlow exhibit demonstrates ISCC's success in translating complex research into accessible, engaging content that highlights the Institute's role in addressing global environmental challenges.

Dr Freakley said, “The Summer Science exhibition marked the culmination of six months of planning and design aimed at engaging the public. It was incredibly rewarding to see the exhibition spark conversations and inspire deeper interest in the subject among the 12,000 visitors to the Royal Society during the event.”

Cosmologist Carlos Frenk, Fellow of the Royal Society and Chair of the Public Engagement Committee, said, “Science is vital in helping us understand the world we live in – its past, present and future. For over three decades, the Summer Science Exhibition has showcased extraordinary scientific achievements from across the UK and given visitors unparalleled access to the researchers behind these breakthroughs.”