ARIA Workshop

The purpose of this interactive workshop is to test ideas set out by Programme Directors Sarah Bohndiek and Gemma Bale from the Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) in their programme thesis on Ubiquitous Particle Profiling (UPP).

ARIA is an independent, publicly funded, research and development funding agency established to back ambitious scientific and technological breakthroughs. The UPP programme thesis outlines the current state of the art and unmet needs in particle profiling can be found here. Subject to approval, the programme will be open to concept paper submissions in late 2026.

Motivation for the workshop

Particulate matter is one of the least well-resolved features of the air around us, despite it having far reaching consequences for our environment and health. The same particles that trigger respiratory disease, cancer and premature death also influence cloud formation, alter rainfall and swing the planet's energy balance, and aerosol-cloud interactions remain the largest single uncertainty in our climate projections.

Today’s measurement tools force a choice between low-cost sensors that tell us little more than how much particulate matter is present, and complex laboratory instruments that are too expensive and fragile for widespread use. To close this gap, the programme will aim to make detailed particle profiling possible anywhere: compact, autonomous systems that read a particle’s size, shape and composition in real time and trace it back to its source, turning invisible matter into actionable information.

Aims

Optics and photonics are core to current particle profiling, such as optical scattering for size evaluation, autofluorescence for bioaerosol identification, and digital holography for imaging ice nucleating particles. We believe that new capabilities can now meet the needs of the UPP thesis, from nanoelectromechanical spectroscopy systems for speciation, to lightweight low-cost LEDs and photonic integrated circuits for deployment on uncrewed aerial systems.

This workshop aims to introduce Photon 2026 attendees to real world end-user problems in particle profiling, enabling participants to stress test the goals set out in the ARIA thesis, brainstorm new technology ideas, and perhaps even form nascent teams to collaborate on proposals for a future ARIA funding call.

Workshop Agenda

Scene Setting - 30 mins

Intro to ARIA and the UPP thesis.
Q&A.
Outline end user challenges.

Breakouts in small groups - 60 mins

Introductions in each group: background and interest in the workshop.
Discussion of UPP thesis targets: how could optics and photonics help?
Ideation of new technology innovations that could meet needs.
Play back to the wider group.

Conclusion and next steps