The Research Hub will provide a space where world-changing research can thrive. Work is under way to deliver advanced digital technology within the new building to support the vision and aspirations of the Hub and allow greater connectivity between researchers.

The Research Hub will invest in advanced IT systems to support collaboration and ensure researchers and visitors have access to state-of-the-art audio-visual and networking facilities for building connections and engaging with other research groups.

Agile IT

The IT systems within the Hub will enable academic staff, students, and visitors to move around the building by providing docking stations for laptops and MacBooks instead of static PCs. Public spaces such as the exhibition and meeting areas will also be fitted with similar technology and will support wireless interaction, including provision for guest users.

This Agile IT approach will ensure the space is flexible for a wide variety of users and will encourage collaboration between groups who may not have interacted without these facilities.

Technology to improve interaction

The Hub will feature cutting-edge audio-visual equipment to support the delivery of events, meetings and engagement activities for all users.

The new building will also house one of the largest virtual reality (VR) suites in the UK. This unique facility, with the provision to feed video into meeting rooms or adjacent public areas, will advance understanding about how VR can be incorporated into research and teaching activities.

Martin Munro, Senior Project Development Manager of the Research Hub Project Delivery Board, explains: “The digital environment within the Research Hub will provide an Agile IT Ecosystem to enable research across many different disciplines within and beyond the Hub, and allow our researchers to work without barriers.”

First published: 19 November 2020

<< 30 November 2020


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Campus development: Research Hub