Prof Gordon Wallace (Executive Research Director, ACES) with A/Prof Mario Romero-Ortega (University of Texas at Arlington, USA) in front of the mural showing neural cell growth on conducting polymer structures.

Over 120 registrants attended the third annual ACES International Electromaterials Science Symposium held in Clayton, Melbourne. The Symposium attracted attendees from China, Europe, America and Australia, with presentations covering areas as diverse as solar energy (capture and conversion), novel batteries and fuel cells, “bioinspired” water oxidation catalysis, actuation, and SEM and NMR characterisation of electroactive materials.

The HEARing CRC sponsored key note speaker Associate Professor Mario Romero-Ortega (University of Texas at Arlington, USA) who described his most recent work on the use of nerve growth factors to guide sensory nerves to specific target areas. Ultimately, this work might lead to the improvement of the neural control of future robotic prosthetic devices used by amputees, and also has a potential role in addressing hearing loss caused by nerve damage. Interfacing advanced robotic prosthetic devices with the nervous system of amputees, offers the possibility of functionally replacing their missing limbs by enabling them to naturally control and feel a bionic substitute.