Illuminating the Future: The Transformative Power of Laser Materials Processing in Science, Engineering, Art and Design

How advanced laser processing reshapes manufacturing, enables novel materials, and inspires groundbreaking artistic expression

• Mon 9th Feb 2026
• 19:30-21:00
• Wolfson Lecture Theatre, Churchill College, Storey's Way, Cambridge, CB3 0DS
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You can book for in-person attendance at Bookwhen, where you will also find the link for Zoom viewing.

This lecture traces how laser materials processing is reshaping the physical world while also expanding the possibilities of artistic expression. Beginning with the foundations of electromagnetism and Einstein’s concept of stimulated emission, it outlines the unique attributes of lasers - coherence, directionality, controllable intensity, and wavelength, and shows how these underpin modern industrial photonics, from cutting and welding to advanced additive manufacturing and surface modification. The discussion then broadens to explore the deep synergies between engineering and the creative arts. Case studies from product design, architecture and interactive installations illustrate how artists and engineers share methods of prototyping, optimization and systems thinking, and how laser-based processes enable new material aesthetics, and light-based environments. Throughout, the lecture emphasizes human-centred and sustainable design: using laser precision to reduce waste and energy, tailoring surface function at micro- and nanoscales, and creating environments and artefacts that are technically sophisticated yet emotionally engaging. It concludes by highlighting emerging educational models that integrate art, science, and engineering, arguing that future innovators will need literacy in both science, engineering, and creative practice to design technologies and spaces that are efficient, sustainable, and enriching for society.

Prof Bill O’Neill FREng, FInstP, FLIA, FIAPLE, Director of the Centre for Industrial Photonics, Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge

Professor William O’Neill is Professor of Laser Engineering at the University of Cambridge and Director of the Centre for Industrial Photonics at the Institute for Manufacturing. Trained in applied physics and laser physics, with a PhD from Imperial College London, he has over three decades of experience at the forefront of laser materials processing, precision manufacturing, and advanced photonics-enabled production. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and of several professional bodies and has received major international distinctions including the Arthur L. Schawlow Award of the Laser Institute of America, the Mazak and Boeing innovation awards. O’Neill has led or co-led numerous large EPSRC and industrially funded programmes in laser-based manufacturing, ultra-precision engineering, and additive manufacturing. Alongside his research and teaching, he has been deeply engaged with industry, advising global companies in sectors ranging from machine tools and photonics to aerospace and medical devices, and has served on national and international advisory and review panels shaping manufacturing, photonics research, and innovation policy.

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