More than 10,000 young people came together to discover more about the county’s fast-growing cyber ecosystem, with venues like Edge Hill showcasing the valuable cyber skills required for industries including aerospace, manufacturing and engineering.

Visitors to the Ormskirk campus met with the University’s staff and students from the Department of Computer Science to explore routes to academic study and heard from professionals in cyber-related roles.

And Edge Hill students took part in a ‘Capture the Flag’ competition against other university and HE students and apprentices, completing a number of real-world tasks across a variety of technologies.

Professor Amr Ahmed, Head of Department for Computer Science, said: “We were delighted to welcome so many bright young minds from across the county to discuss the wonderful opportunities available in the world of cyber.”

The event showcased the expertise of participating students and the practical application of their skills across computer and engineering sciences.

Dr Muhammad Usman, programme leader for BSc (Hons) Cyber Security, said: “We are proud that our students secured first and third place in the Capture the Flag event, a testament to the hard work of both our staff and students.

“It is also encouraging to see a significant rise in participation from local sixth forms and colleges, reflecting a growing enthusiasm for using cyber security skills to serve and protect our digital community.”

Lancashire Cyber Partnership’s vision for the county, and the wider North West Cyber Corridor, is to be one of the world’s leading destinations for cyber businesses, support agencies, careers, training and research, with Lancashire now the proud home of the National Cyber Force Headquarters.

A spokesperson for the Partnership said: “Education Week plays an important role in the Lancashire Cyber Partnership’s long-term goal of creating a talent pipeline for the many cyber-focussed roles UK businesses will require in the future.

“We are proud that many schools, colleges and universities in the county actively took part in the week. Unlocking the next generation’s ability to take advantage of cyber and tech-based jobs in Lancashire is imperative.”

Find out more about courses available in the Department of Computer Science at Edge Hill University.

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How can computer vision and artificial intelligence change our lives for the better? Professor Ardhendu Behera

Professor Ardhendu Behera, Professor of Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence at Edge Hill University, has focused his research in this area for the last eight years, and brings his knowledge and expertise to the forefront of his teaching. We caught up with him to find out about his latest research projects, and how students in our Department of Computer Science can get involved.

What comes to mind when you think of artificial intelligence? In recent years, movies like I, Robot and Avengers: Age of Ultron have depicted robots that were designed and programmed to assist human beings, but end up doing quite the opposite. In these scenarios, not much attention is given to the sheer amount of work that goes into programming robots so that they become intelligent systems/machines. There is a whole wealth of expertise and knowledge involved in AI – such as data analytics, programming and computer vision. Here at Edge Hill, we have experts who are front-runners of international research projects looking at how we can harness newly emerging technologies and use them for the greater good.

“Over the last 50 years, technology has grown and developed beyond what we could have dreamed of, and with this growth comes fantastic opportunities to use technology to help people in many different situations. One of the research projects I’m leading on at the moment focuses on how AI could be used to improve early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Through carrying out research into how the cells change during the early stages of cancer, and using data analysis and programming to teach AI how to detect these early signs or ‘biomarkers’, we hope to be able to detect pancreatic cancer much earlier in the patient journey. This has the potential to make a huge positive difference in the medical community, on a global scale. We live in a modern age of gadgets and technology, so how can we use this to our advantage to improve quality of life? That’s what my research looks at.

“One of the research projects I’m leading on at the moment focuses on how AI could be used to improve early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer… using data analysis and programming to teach AI how to detect these early signs or ‘biomarkers’, we hope to be able to detect pancreatic cancer much earlier in the patient journey.”

“Another area of research that I’ve focused on since 2016 is centred around autonomous vehicles. This is an international project, allowing me to work with experts at the UK and India’s top universities, and again focuses on how we can use today’s technology to advance connected and autonomous vehicles to improve quality of life for people with limited mobility. My role in this project is to apply my expertise in AI and data analytics to develop the intelligent systems within new cars, to allow them to make smart decisions. I do this by analysing data from road traffic conditions, as well as the behaviour of human drivers in the moments leading up to an accident, and then use this data to train the brain of a car to spot signals of an inattentive or distracted driver. Not only will this make cars much safer, but it also opens the door to the potential of ‘driverless’ cars. We might find that over the next five to ten years, car users will become commuters rather than drivers – using their journey to reply to emails, read a book, or browse social media. If we can programme a car to understand that a driver is busy doing something else, and that it needs to make safe and smart decisions on the drivers’ behalf, that’s where automation can really come into its own.”

Students are able to get involved with Ardhendu’s research alongside their studies, gaining practical experience and putting theory into practice. One of Edge Hill’s resident robots, Robbie, was programmed by a team of students to support people with dementia. Ardhendu led this project, too, with support from Edge Hill’s Student Opportunity Fund and Research Investment Fund.

“During the first stage of Robbie’s programming, our students trained him to recognise over 80 common objects, human actions and emotions through data analytics and programming. We then used scenes from the popular soap opera Emmerdale, as the Alzheimer’s Society described Ashley Thomas’ storyline as a ‘realistic portrayal’ of the condition.

“Students worked on breaking scenes from the show into over 65,000 images, and were able to use these to programme Robbie to recognise facial expressions and body language. This project was a great example of the potential robotics and AI have to provide help, support and companionship to elderly people or those in need.”

Zachary, one of the students who worked on the project, recognised the potential importance of the work he did.

“The aim is for Robbie and robots like him to look for clues as to when the person might be beginning to show aggressive behaviour and perhaps offer a distraction to help them calm down. It might be through playing music or showing a video, talking to them. The potential use of robots is huge as they can not only help with the daily routine of a sufferer for friends and family but could potentially intervene in situations to help.”

Ardhendu brings his real-world examples and experience into the classroom to help students learn how computer vision and AI can be applied to solve real problems. He teaches on the Robotics and AI, Intelligent Systems and Programming modules, and all of his teaching is driven by his current research – making our students’ learning as authentic as possible.

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Computer science and geography students enjoyed an opportunity to meet with the scientists for two inspiring seminars on the diverse career paths available with NASA.

Dr Nathan Thomas, Senior Lecturer in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing at Edge Hill University, co-ordinated the meeting. He previously worked at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center during his tenure at the University of Maryland and still works as a scientist on the MAAP project.

Dr Thomas shared his excitement about hosting the groundbreaking event: “It’s a privilege to welcome world-leading scientists from NASA and ESA to Edge Hill University.

“This meeting signifies not only an opportunity for international collaboration but also an inspiration for our students and faculty, highlighting the global reach of our University’s academic network.”

The MAAP project brings together data, algorithms and computing capabilities to address the challenges of sharing and processing data from the field, the air and space. One ongoing experiment is mapping and measuring forests, focusing on areas of rapid change and deforestation to inform policy and decision-making.

The group meeting, which reviews progress and sets plans for the upcoming six months, is typically held twice a year – once at a NASA location in the United States and once at ESRIN, ESA’s European Space Research Institute in Rome.

While at Edge Hill, NASA mission scientists Dr Laura Duncanson, Associate Professor at the University of Maryland, and Sam Niemoeller, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Software Engineer met with geography students and discussed the opportunities for geoscientists and how NASA’s technology is revealing Earth’s secrets.

And Sujen Shah focused on computer science and its use in space missions and research, and offered valuable career advice and insights into the skills needed to contribute to high-level scientific endeavours.

Dr Thomas added: “Hosting experts from NASA not only reinforces the University’s commitment to global research collaboration but also provides an unmatched opportunity for our students to understand how their education can translate into impactful careers.”

Find out more about studying geosciences and computer science at Edge Hill University.

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J. Wareing & Son designs and builds steel-framed structures for agricultural and commercial sectors and has been trading for 105 years.

The Preston-based company has partnered with the University to develop a cloud-based quoting system that will use bespoke AI technology to boost business.

This cutting-edge system will improve the company’s productivity and expand its market share both regionally and nationally.

The two-and-a-half year venture is being supported by £170,000 from Innovate UK’s Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) programme.

Professor Marcello Trovati, a leading expert in computer science at Edge Hill University, will spearhead the innovative project and is highly experienced in delivering AI-based KTPs.

He said: “We are delighted to expand Edge Hill’s AI-driven KTP portfolio with this exciting new partnership.

“This complex and forward-thinking project is set to revolutionise J. Wareing’s operations by enhancing their capacity, efficiency and accuracy through an intelligent cloud-based quoting system.

“The outcomes will not only solidify J. Wareing’s competitive edge in the construction market but also create significant opportunities for advancing our research and fostering knowledge exchange.”

J. Wareing first collaborated with the University in 2021 through the SME Productivity & Innovation Centre’s Innovation Sprint Programme. The new partnership will also see the employment of a Computer Science Master’s level associate who will play a key role in developing the AI solution.

Construction Director, Chris Wareing said: “The KTP project will be transformative for our business. Bringing AI solutions and capabilities in-house will not only strengthen our competitive advantage in the market but also equip us to tackle challenges beyond the KTP, ensuring the business remains agile and future-ready for generations to come.”

This is the sixth AI-focused KTP project delivered by the University in the last eight years, reinforcing Edge Hill’s position as a leading provider of KTP projects in the region.

For more information on the growth support offered by Edge Hill’s SME Productivity & Innovation Centre, visit Edge Hill University SME Centre.

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Department of Computer Science end of year showcase – 2024

Each year the Department of Computer Science host an annual event, in which students are able to showcase their end of year projects.

This is an exciting opportunity for Edge Hill University students to present their incredible work and demonstrate to local employers the skills and knowledge that they gave gained from their degree.

Through using facilities in our state-of-the-art Tech Hub, including our specialist laboratories and four-screen CAVE, our Computing and IT students have produced projects such as a hexapod robot and an automated phishing email detector.

“What a fantastic way to conclude the academic year with. Great to see students’ projects on display and demonstrated by students from various levels, including groups, and across all programs and pathways in the department. It was a nice celebration of the students’ hard work, and we welcomed external industrial representatives to see and hear directly from the presenting students. All participating students were presented with participation certificates.”

Professor Amr Ahmed, Head of Department of Computer Science

“We are a software company working with utilities using AI to find water leaks and to keep water scarcity down. I enjoy coming here and seeing the variation of all the projects. It’s also nice to the students about their projects and how they would develop it further for the real world. One of the students here did a placement with us, which then enabled him to decide which career path he wanted to take.”

Neil Carter, Head of Engineering at FIDO Tech

The three prize winners at the event were:

Robert Henderson – Virtual Reality Tech Hub Model, BSc (Hons) Computing (Games Programming)

Morgan Lyons – Using Machine Learning to predict football match outcomes, BSc (Hons) Computer Science

Luke Turner – Hexapods: Search and Rescue, BSc (Hons) Robotics & Artificial Intelligence

“This research and development module is about the students’ independent learning, and applying the skills and knowledge they have developed and demonstrate what they can do. I encourage them to do something that they can take to employers or future interviews. I love days like this where the cohort all come together and they are proud of what they’ve done.”

Professor Ella Pereira, Professor of Computing

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Uzair was involved with his local Youth Zone, leading sessions with young people and sharing his knowledge in areas like 3D printing and beginner electronics. He also assists his mosque with its IT systems and has volunteered at a local creative space, ‘The Making Rooms,’ for five years, helping others set up businesses or pursue their passions. 

Amazingly, Uzair still manages to find time to indulge his love of tech, inventing apps and other gadgetry to solve day-to-day problems and inefficiencies, such as a video intercom and registration system for businesses in multi-occupancy buildings, which also acts as a booking system and notifies tenants of activities.

For Uzair, the scholarship win is a welcome boost and recognition for his extracurricular commitments:

“Through this scholarship, I will be able to expand my research and knowledge, helping my prospects. I hope to get some years of industry experience, and my ultimate goal is to start a company that uses technology to improve people’s lives.

“I’m most proud of volunteering to help others learn more about technical skills. It’s very important to share knowledge as it can help inspire others to pursue their passions.”

Uzair is a strong advocate for his course and all the support he gets around it:

“It has broadened my horizons about possible careers within my field of interest. I love the varied course content and using the latest equipment. All the staff I’ve met are exceptionally friendly and open to feedback and suggestions about the course. This has helped boost my confidence to become a course rep. They’ve also allowed me access to facilities like the electronics lab and are always on hand to answer questions. They’re even open to helping me with my extracurricular activities.”

And when Uzair is not in the lab, he’s making the most of the campus facilities.

“Edge Hill’s campus is amazing. The roof garden of Catalyst – home to the University library and student services – is one of my favourite places.” 

Excellence Scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate determination, commitment and achievement outside their studies. We have a broad programme of scholarships for prospective and current students, recognising practical and academic excellence.

Edge Hill’s Department of Computer Science offers a range of undergraduate and graduate courses from a STEM foundation year to Robotics & Artificial Intelligence and Information Technology Management for Business. All students have the opportunity to gain extra free industrial certification.

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Student success at Microsoft Office Specialist Championship Final.

Robert Henderson, a second year Edge Hill University computing student, was recently awarded second place at the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) UK & Ireland Championship Final.  

Taking the opportunity to sit an optional Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certificate alongside his  BSc (Hons) Computing (Games Programming) degree, Robert not only passed his exam but made it through to the MOS UK & Ireland Championship final in the Microsoft Word category, beating thousands of entries across the UK and Ireland.

“When I took the first MOS exam, I never expected to make it to the championships, let alone to come second out of the whole of the UK and Ireland. I undertook the certification to take advantage of the opportunity given to me, as well as to bolster my experiences and employability options for the future. I would wholeheartedly encourage anyone who gets the chance to take the exam to do so, you won’t regret it!“

Robert Henderson
BSc (Hons) Computing (Games Programming)

What is the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) UK & IE Championship?

The Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Championship is a global competition that is operated and sponsored in the UK and Ireland by Prodigy Learning. It tests students’ skills on Microsoft Office applications with over 30,000 students across the UK & Ireland competing in the championship each year by passing a Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) exam. Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification is the world’s most recognised computing qualification for verifying a person’s skills and abilities in Microsoft’s Office applications. 

“With 72% of hiring managers more likely to hire someone with a certification, it is a highlight of our year to host the UK & Ireland MOS Championship Final. Congratulations to Robert on an incredible achievement, we know he will have a very successful future career.“

Andrew Lenehan
Regional Account Manager, Prodigy Learning

The Department of Computer Science’s strategy is to encourage all Edge Hill University students to get involved with as many extracurricular activities as they can. The aim of this is to enable our students to grow as individuals and gain invaluable experiences and discussion points when embarking on their future career. 

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Cyber Security Student Club

Do you have a strong interest in the field of cyber security? Do you want to expand your knowledge, enhance your employability, and practise ethical hacking exercises?

The Cyber Security Student Club is open to computer science students here at Edge Hill who express a strong interest in the field of cyber security. You will regularly meet to expand your knowledge by discussing and solving practical exercises and problems in system and network security, to socialise, and in general, to have fun with other members.

“The Cyber Security Student Club is an excellent opportunity for students at all years and levels to explore limitless security areas via practical exercises and gain new skills and knowledge beyond the scope of timetabled classes. With sessions organised every second week, club members can build new friendships, form collaborations as well as be part of a community, enjoying ethical hacking together. It is also a great opportunity for the students to show their leadership skills to present and guide a discussion on specific security problems, sharing their findings, showing their creativity and learning from other club members.”

Dr Vinh-Thong Ta
Senior Lecturer in Computer Science

The club launched in January 2022 as part of our Cyber Security Research Group. The research group is committed to carrying out internationally recognised, high-quality research on security and privacy in computer systems and networks.

We caught up with some of our students and members of the Cyber Security Student Club to find out what they like about the club and how it supports their studies.

The club sessions are led by staff and senior student member(s), and attendance is voluntary. You will extend your knowledge beyond the classroom with hands-on practical hacking exercises. Our extracurricular activities will enhance your professional development and inspire your future career.

If you are interested in joining the club, please contact Dr Vinh-Thong Ta. Note: The club is only open for students of the Computer Science Department at Edge Hill University.

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Department of Computer Science host end of year showcase

The Department of Computer Science hosted their end of year showcase to celebrate their achievements and bring together a selection of final year student projects.

At the end of each academic year the Department of Computer Science celebrate the success of final year students to highlight their fantastic work. Students are invited to present their project work to other students, staff and employers, showcasing their achievements using state-of-the-art facilities to solve extracurricular challenges. Employers always have high praise for our students and their achievements, with their attendance at the showcase providing an opportunity for students to build their network and chat with high-profile companies during the round-table discussions.

There were 17 projects on display representing both Computing and IT and Engineering Students. Courses included BSc (Hons) Robotics & Artificial Intelligence, BSc (Hons) Software Engineering, BSc (Hons) Computer Science, BSc (Hons) Computing (Games Programming) and MEng (Hons) Intelligent Automation & Robotics.

Projects on display included robots, artificial intelligence, virtual reality games and apps. The top 3 voted projects from this year were:

“The end of year showcase was a great experience. The feedback and questions asked by the guests was invaluable as it gave insight into my project that I didn’t have before. To have the opportunity to present my project really boosted my confidence in my public speaking ability. I found myself becoming more comfortable as the event went on as I was able to improve my conciseness while presenting from common questions that the guests asked. I would definitely recommend that other students should take the opportunity to showcase their project as it is an opportunity to show off your hard work in a fun atmosphere whilst developing your confidence in your speaking skills.“

Joshua Burns-Black
BSc (Hons) Computer Science

Over 20 Industry experts attended the showcase from companies including BAE Systems, Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh NHS Trust , FIDO Tech Ltd, Matalan, Lancashire Constabulary  and Wigan Council who along with academics helped to judge the student projects.

“I’m very proud of our students and pleased to have joined them in celebrating their successful and interesting projects, which they presented to our guests from industry as well as the academic community. It has been a nice and busy event that we’ll expand year on year”

Professor Amr Ahmed
Head of Department of Computer Science

Join a thriving, international community of students and staff in the Department of Computer Science at Edge Hill University. We are committed to teaching and research excellence, professional practice, interdisciplinary collaborations and partnerships.

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Professor of Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Ardhendu Behera said: “While there is much talk of using AI and autonomous platforms as weapons, this project does the opposite, helping to save lives, protect soldiers and make war less deadly.

“When completed ATRACT will be a reliable drone-driven autonomous system that can help frontline medics in decision-making in the ‘platinum ten minutes’ following trauma.”

The project is being developed in reaction to changes to the modern battlefield that make traditional evacuation by helicopter impossible.

Explaining the changes to modern warfare that make this technology necessary Professor Behera said: “In the Vietnam War, American evacuation helicopters transformed soldier survivability with the emergence of the ‘Golden Hour’, using superior air power to evacuate casualties quickly and effectively.

“However, as seen in Ukraine the use of low-cost, accurate, shoulder-launched ground-to-air missiles has significantly disrupted helicopter operations, presenting a heightened risk to casualty evacuation operations.

“Moreover, frontline army medics are often required to monitor multiple casualties and prioritise them based on the severity of injuries. There is an urgent unmet need for enhancing casualty survival in a warzone where conventional helicopter evacuations simply aren’t possible.”

Edge Hill University is leading Project ATRACT with support from Loughborough University, University of Brighton, and University of Portsmouth. It is funded by the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation, which has provided over £850,000 and will conclude in 2026.

The project will focus on four main objectives that all represent major innovations in the use of AI and RAS helping to advance a wide range of technologies while remaining part of the same project.

“Our previous studies of AI used for healthcare and autonomous vehicles applications revealed the gaps in the knowledge and understanding,” Professor Behera added. 

“In this interdisciplinary project, a truly transformative approach will be taken to bring the UK to the forefront of research on trustworthy AI and RAS technologies for national security and defence. At the same time, it will also bring about potential commercial opportunities, as well as social and economic benefits.”

The first stage is to develop advanced sensors so that ATRACT can accurately search for injured soldiers using visual and thermal imaging data while still manoeuvring over and around difficult terrain.

The second and third objectives are focussed on the data ATRACT collects. The research team will combine advanced multimodal AI sensing and state-of-the-art algorithms to detect the location of frontline soldiers and provide real-time monitoring of soldiers’ injury severity and their vital signs for effective triage management.

Finally, ATRACT will have to provide real-time casualty information to a medical team as it approaches, enabling more effective crew resource management and casualty prioritisation, thereby reducing time on the ground, and minimising the risk of the frontline medics being attacked.

The research team will also incorporate the laws of war, medical ethical principles and UK Ministry of Defence AI and Autonomy ethical principles at every stage of the project.

Co-investigator Professor of Applied Ethics Peter Lee from the University of Portsmouth added: “From design to completion, a unique aspect of the ATRACT project is the creation and use of a bespoke ethical and legal checklist at every stage. AI provides new ethical challenges and we are determined that they are addressed throughout and not just tagged on as an afterthought.”

To discover more about Edge Hill University’s courses, please visit ehu.ac.uk/study.

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