Celebrating Innovation, Collaboration and Technical excellence
On 10 June 2026, the UK RAS STEPS community gathered at the National Robotarium in Edinburgh for a highly successful Special Interest Group (SIG) Showcase, followed by an evening celebration at Dynamic Earth. The event brought together research technical professionals from across the UK to share progress, insights and the growing impact of the STEPS programme.
Among those attending was IST Education Officer Arthur Nicholas, who was delighted to represent the Institute of Science & Technology at the event. Arthur was honoured to be invited by the organisers to present the awards during the evening celebrations, recognising the outstanding achievements and contributions of members of the UK RAS STEPS community.
Showcasing Innovation and Impact
The Showcase demonstrated the depth and breadth of activity taking place across the UK RAS STEPS network, with a strong emphasis on collaboration, innovation and delivering real-world impact. Throughout the day, presenters delivered engaging and insightful talks that reflected the increasing visibility, confidence and leadership of research technical professionals within robotics and autonomous systems.
The morning sessions highlighted significant developments across several STEPS Special Interest Groups. Thomas McGravie and Rob Woolley presented updates on sustainable 3D printing practices, while Ana Rubio Denniss explored knowledge sharing in sustainable robotics. Omar Dawaba and Keith Greenhow also shared valuable insights into learning through iterative design.
The Automated Liquid Handling Special Interest Group, presented by Sarah Bennett, Rennos Fragkoudis, Lee Murphy and Rob Clowes, demonstrated the benefits of cross-institutional collaboration in advancing technical capability and sharing best practice.
A particular highlight was the session on international collaboration. Simon Castle-Green and Alex Sleat reflected on the UK RAS STEPS knowledge exchange visit to Tokyo, while Pete Jiadong Qiang showcased innovative approaches to creative robotic systems. Together, these presentations illustrated the value of global partnerships and the opportunities they create for research technical professionals.
During the afternoon, Graham Brown delivered an inspiring presentation on applying STEPS expertise within Uganda’s medical device sector, demonstrating the programme’s impact well beyond the UK and highlighting the important role technical professionals play in addressing global challenges.
Rob Woolley also delivered an engaging session on organising and maximising the impact of technical events, offering practical advice on planning, community engagement and effective follow-up. His presentation combined practical experience with creativity and enthusiasm, inspiring delegates to strengthen their own professional networks.
Further presentations from Piotr Cuber and Devashish Tambade highlighted individual STEPS journeys, demonstrating how engagement with training and development opportunities can lead to meaningful research contributions and career progression.
The afternoon programme also featured an update on career pathways from Professor Briony Thomas, an exciting robotics competition, and a series of interactive breakout sessions exploring future priorities across key thematic areas. The discussions generated valuable ideas that will help shape the next phase of the STEPS programme as it continues to evolve and support the UK’s research technical community.
Recognising Excellence
The event concluded with the UK RAS STEPS Technical Awards, celebrating exceptional achievements across the community. Arthur Nicholas was delighted to present the awards on behalf of the organisers, recognising the commitment, innovation and collaborative spirit demonstrated throughout the programme.
Award winners included:
- Outstanding Special Interest Group Award
- Winner: 3D Recycling Group (Thomas McGravie, Rob Woolley and colleagues)
- Highly Commended: Automation of Liquid Handling Group
- STEPS Emerging Leader in Technology
- Winner: Katarzyna Hafezi (University of Edinburgh)
- Highly Commended: Noushin Raeisi Kheirabadi (UWE)
- Special Mention: Salzitsa Anastasova (Imperial College London)
- Special Interest Group Collaboration Champion Award
- Winner: Ana Maria Rubio Denniss (King’s College London)
A Strong and Growing Community
The 2026 UK RAS STEPS Special Interest Group Showcase demonstrated the continued success of the programme in building a connected, collaborative and confident community of research technical professionals. The quality of presentations, the willingness to share expertise and the enthusiasm shown throughout the day highlighted the important contribution technical professionals are making to robotics and autonomous systems research at institutional, national and international levels.
The Institute of Science & Technology was pleased to see such a vibrant and engaged community coming together to celebrate innovation, collaboration and professional excellence, and congratulates all of the presenters, organisers and award winners on another outstanding UK RAS STEPS Showcase.
*All Images and information within this post have been kindly provided by UK RAS STEPS and Marie Daniels, UK RAS STEPS Programme Manager.