Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge

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For 24/7 returns, use the drop box outside the library.

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📣 Researchers from and affiliated to the Department of will work with local government to advance in public services.

The inaugural Local Government AI Accelerator, launched by ai@cam – the University of Cambridge’s flagship mission on AI – is a programme that establishes a new model for how universities and local government can work together, developing practical, proof-of-concept AI solutions to real operational challenges, and delivering meaningful improvements for communities. 👇

📌 MORE INFO: https://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/news/university-council-collaboration-develop-ai-solutions-operational-public-service-needs

Funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the 12-month Accelerator pairs Cambridge researchers directly with local councils to develop a range of AI solutions that deliver tangible public value, from automating housing data collection to detecting fly-tipping using cameras on refuse vehicles. The programme places public concerns directly into the process.

Six projects have been selected in total, three of which involve researchers from and affiliated to the Department of Engineering:

🏘️ SHIFT: AI-enabled Surveys for Housing Intelligence and Future Trajectories
👤 Principal Investigator: Dr Matteo Zallio (pictured far left)
🤝 Council Partner: Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service (Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council).

⚠️ Deep Learning for Fly-Tipped Waste Detection
👥 Principal Investigators: Dr Florian Urmetzer (pictured second right) and Tyler Holderness (pictured second left), both from the Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge.
🤝 Council Partners: South Cambridgeshire District Council and Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Services.

🗣️ 🧩 Human-Oriented AI: Design Framework for Reaching Vulnerable Tenants
👤 Principal Investigator: Dr Viviana Angely Bastidas Melo
🤝 Collaborator: Professor Jennifer Schooling, Anglia Ruskin University (ARU).
🤝 Council Partners: Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council.

cc. Trinity Hall, Cambridge

University-council collaboration to develop AI solutions for operational public service needs The inaugural Local Government AI Accelerator, launched by ai@cam – the University of Cambridge’s flagship mission on AI – is a programme that establishes a new model for how universities and local government can work together, developing practical, proof-of-concept AI solutions to real operat...

Industrial Placements are a key part of the Cambridge MEng course, helping students gain valuable experience, industry insights, and career development opportunities. Engineering undergraduate Madeleine Conway describes her experience of working as a summer intern at Trigon a brilliant example of how industrial experience can deepen technical understanding, sharpen communication skills, and offer real-world insight into complex sectors like fire engineering. Thank you for sharing, Madeleine!

Student internship: Madeleine Conway at Trigon I spent summer 2025 working at Trigon, an independent fire safety engineering consultancy. Fire engineering involves designing and implementing strategies to prevent fires, reducing fire spread, minimising risk and prioritising life safety. Fire engineering is vital in almost every construction proj...

Do you have questions about postgraduate study at Cambridge? 🙋

Our postgraduate international Q&A webinar series explores the ins and outs of applying for a postgraduate degree at Cambridge, with dedicated time to answer your burning questions.

The webinars occur on the last Friday of every month. Don’t miss the chance to ask about programmes, applications, life in Cambridge, or just about anything else.

Register today through the link in the comments 🔗

From non-invasive glucose monitoring to rapid food and materials analysis a new class of optical spectrometer could transform how and where high-precision measurements are made.

Researchers from the Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge and GlitterinTech (a start-up founded by the same research group) have unveiled a fundamentally new type of optical spectrometer that delivers laboratory-grade precision in a device small enough to be embedded in portable and wearable technologies.

By rethinking how spectra are measured and processed, the team has demonstrated a spectrometer costing around only $10, operating at centimetre scale, and capable of applications ranging from industrial quality control to real-time healthcare monitoring.

Mass-manufacturable spectrometer chip for wearable healthcare and smart industry Researchers from the University of Cambridge and GlitterinTech (a start-up founded by the same research group) have unveiled a fundamentally new type of optical spectrometer that delivers laboratory-grade precision in a device small enough to be embedded in portable and wearable technologies. By ret...

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Deborah Prentice, warmly welcomes the Government's announcement of a new Development Corporation that will work with local partners across Greater Cambridge.

Learn more here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/greater-cambridge-gets-regeneration-body-to-accelerate-growth

Annually, an estimated 69 million people worldwide sustain a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), making it the leading cause of death and disability in people younger than 40 years – it exceeds the combined global burden of HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria combined.

TBI needs to be urgently prioritised on the world health agenda, argue researchers from the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge and the Department of Clinical Neurosciences Cambridge, who are working together as part of the Global Coalition for TBI.

TBI is fundamentally a systems problem. The injury itself may be acute, but its consequences ripple across health, education, employment, housing and social welfare, and for many, for a lifetime. TBI doesn't just change one life; it reshapes the lives of families, carers and entire communities. Engineering has a critical role to play in designing the systems that can actually respond to that complexity.

Traumatic Brain Injury the global health crisis hidden in plain sight Annually, an estimated 69 million people worldwide sustain a TBI, making it the leading cause of death and disability in people younger than 40 years – it exceeds the combined global burden of HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria combined. TBI can impact anyone at any age, with the potential for lifelon...