Spectra: Herts’ new flagship building

Research culture at Herts is defined by a strong spirit of enquiry, innovation and enterprise, and feeds into teaching and learning to enrich students’ experience. Our expert researchers are committed to protecting people and the planet by finding innovative and sustainable solutions to the most critical social, environmental and economic challenges facing society today.

We work with government and industry partners to develop and optimise new biodetection systems for the military and agriculture sectors that can autonomously detect, collect, process and analyse airborne toxins, bacteria and viruses in real time.

The Wolfson Centre for Biodetection and Instrumentation Research will be located on the top floor of the new Spectra building. With a £750,000 grant from the Wolfson Foundation, it will contribute towards top-of-the-range facilities which will advance our internationally-renowned biodetection work, and enhance research and development into biosecurity threats including airborne pathogens, crop diseases and biowarfare.

With funding of £13.5m from Research England – our largest ever research grant – to expand and progress sector-leading, research-led development of biodetection technologies against harmful, airborne pathogens. It will propel our capacity for innovation at Herts at a time where there is an urgent need to enhance our understanding of biological hazards that impact human, plant and animal health, and strengthen our knowledge of atmospheric processes associated with climate change and its impact.

Professor Daniel McCluskey, Dean of the School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science explains why our biodetection research is important for the health and safety of the nation.

Find out more about research at Herts.

Physics, Engineering and Computer Science influence all aspects of our lives and help provide and maintain the modern high technology world that drives economies and society. We prepare students with the skills for that world so they can change lives.

Businesses, industry and the public sector need talented graduates that have the skills and advanced knowledge to work effectively in the modern, high technology world that drives economies and society. We focus on equipping students with the underpinning knowledge and practical skills to solve the challenges of our ever-evolving world. They are taught by exceptional scientists, engineers, computer scientists and mathematicians who are at the forefront of their field.

We also provide local and regional businesses with the facilities and expertise to support them in pioneering new safe structures for the future. Our new structural Strong Floor testing lab is located on the ground floor of the Spectra building and the facilities will be used by companies to test the strength of steel girders and beams for large structural buildings.

If you represent a business who wants to discuss partnering with our School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science, please email business development.

Our courses are designed to reflect the needs of industry now and in the future, and are taught using facilities and equipment that include flight and driving simulators, cybersecurity and specialist robotics laboratories, electronics and physics laboratories. To enhance our facilities and transform the way we educate our students, the new sustainable Spectra building will provide students, staff and businesses with a hub for innovation, research and enterprise.

The multi-purpose, versatile building will accommodate all of the School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science teaching staff and researchers under one roof, enhancing the student experience and creating stronger and more supportive academic communities and teaching spaces. The new facilities will replicate the modern working environments that mirror our students’ future careers, and they will benefit from large Experiential Learning Zones, workshops and laboratories as well as flexible teaching and learning environments.

The building will house modelling, simulation and research labs, including our Merlin Flight Simulator and automotive workshop complete with electric vehicle facility, as well as a Strong Floor testing lab, wind tunnel, welding bay and controls testing suite. Students will have access to state-of-the-art cyber security facilities while the upper floors will provide space for workshops, research and computer science, as well as social and meeting spaces to collaborate and socialise.

The computer science labs house telecommunications, robotics, robotics teaching, human-robot interaction and UX empathy labs. The research spaces and hub include space for dark rooms, clean rooms, sample prep labs, calibration and assembly labs. All of this will support our Research Centres in Astrophysics, Atmospheric and Climate Physics, Climate Change, Biodetection Technologies and Computer Science and Informatics.