In connection with : Tyndall National Institute, University of Warwick, Instituto de Reconocimento Molecular Y Desarollo Tecnológico

Molecular Communications is one of the research fields that support the investigations on biosensing and biocomputing systems in VistaMilk SFI research centre by combining Electronics, Biology and Communications Systems. Molecular Communications can facilitate collaborative research among VistaMilk research partners, bringing an innovative perspective on their investigated subject. To explore this potential, Walton Institute and VistaMilk offered a Molecular Communications Masterclass to Tyndall researchers working on electrochemistry and sensing technologies.
Dr Daniel Martins presents at the Molecular Communications Masterclass.

The Molecular Communications Masterclass was organised by the Dr Daniel Martins (Walton Institute, South East Technological University) with the support of Hazel Peavoy (Walton Institute, South East Technological University), and Gerry Mouzakitis (Tyndall National Institute). Walton have contributed in a number of projects and SFI research centres on the topic of Molecular Communications, obtaining the expertise in this research area. This Masterclass covered introductory concepts and applications of Molecular Communications systems and it was designed to help Tyndall researchers to understand the fundaments of this research area to apply them on their own research. In total, fifteen researchers from different experience levels attended the event.

The event covered the basics of Molecular Communications with a mixed approach (theoretical + how-to) focusing on microfluidics and electrochemistry applications. The first speaker of the Molecular Communications Masterclass was Prof Adam Noel (University of Warwick), who covered the introductory concepts of biological signaling, system design and applications to molecular communications. The second speaker was Prof Antoni Llopis-Lorente (Polytechnic University of Valencia), who introduced the engineering of chemical communications for Micro and Nanoscale systems. The final speaker was Dr Daniel Martins, who recapped the concepts and examples from the previous presentations and mediated discussions on how to use such knowledge to extend microfluidics and electrochemistry research with Molecular Communications systems.

The Molecular Communications Masterclass was a successful training event organised by Walton Institute and Tyndall National Institute. The results from this training can lead to the strengthening of the relationship of both Institutes on Agri-related research.

Fig. 1- Shannon’s communication model applied by both Prof Adam Noel (left) and Prof Antoni Llopis-Lorente (right) to present their work on Molecular Communications.