We were delighted to host our annual RIED Conference at Room2 Hometel in Belfast from 14–16 October 2025. The venue was carefully chosen to reflect our commitment to sustainability and the net zero agenda. Room2 stands out as a pioneer in eco-conscious hospitality, operating entirely on electric and low-carbon renewable energy and upholding a zero-waste policy, making it a fitting setting for our event.
Each day, the Conference welcomed approximately 47 attendees, including Academics, Researchers and PhD Students from the RIED Programme team, along with representatives from our Industrial Partners: Rolls-Royce, Airbus, an independent and AMIC. We were also pleased to be joined by members of our Scientific Advisory and Strategic Governance Boards, including the Programme Focal from EPSRC.
This strong turnout is a testament to the high level of engagement and collaboration that continues to define the RIED Programme. The event fostered meaningful discussions, knowledge exchange, and reinforced our shared commitment to innovation and sustainability.
Over the first two days, the Conference featured four themed sessions aligned with our RIED research “Threads.” A total of 25 researchers and PhD students presented their latest findings, sparking insightful discussions and knowledge exchange. A major highlight was the final day session given over to the Wing Box Capabilities Demonstration, showcasing the real tangible progress made by RIED across the full “re-imagined” design process as applied to a real-world example of an aircraft Wing Box structure.
For a fuller description of the event please keep on reading….
Day1
The first day of the RIED Conference began with an inspiring welcome from Professor Mark Price, the RIED Principal Investigator, who set the tone with an overview of the event’s vision and goals. We also hosted our first Keynote guest speaker Dr Daniel Pincheira-Donoso (Queen’s University Belfast, School of Biology) who shared with the Conference his research on “Natural Selection: A Universal Law of Competition and Design”.
The day unfolded with two themed sessions on “Evolution & Bio Concepts” and on “Simulation, Modelling & AI” with 6 papers being presented for each theme by the Researchers and PhD Students.
Day2
Day 2 kicked off with an inspiring Keynote talk from Dr Ksenija Dvurecenska (University of Liverpool) who shared her cutting-edge research on “Building and Communicating Confidence in Virtual Testing”. The conference continued with two dynamic themed sessions: “Design for Prescription – Verification & Validation” from the Loughborough University based Thread 3 team as well as “Manufacturing & Supply Chain”. Each themed session featured six presentations by our Researchers and PhD students. Another highlight of the Conference was the live demonstration of the RIED process as applied to a trailer structural design task conducted by three Researchers from AMIC during the Manufacturing session.
Day 3 – Engineering Excellence on Display
The third day opened with Professor Mark Price giving an overview of the RIED Design process which lead into our fifth main session of the Conference i.e. the “Wing Box Capabilities Demonstration”.
This offered a deep dive into the full re-imagined engineering design process, brought to life through a compelling real-world example of the design of an aircraft Wing Box. This full suite of RIED capabilities were developed and integrated together through an intense agile sprint process by a team of nine Researchers and PhD Students over the summer.
This session was centred around a live demonstration of the “General User Interface” by Thomas McCaughtry and Julian Francis and a series of twelve presentations . The presentations covered each of the topics shown on the process chart below including results from the experimental tests conducted following the sprint.
The demonstration highlighted the remarkable progress made so far. From concept to execution, the demonstration was a testament to the team’s dedication, expertise, and collaborative effort. A truly proud moment for everyone involved!
On Day 3, we also welcomed the Marketing Team from the QUB School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering who had the exciting mission to produce a dynamic and informative video showcasing the RIED Programme. The timing couldn’t have been better. With the conference in full swing, the team was able to capture live presentations of RIED papers, conduct insightful interviews with Professor Mark Price, Tony Phipps (Chief of Future Methods from Rolls-Royce), Caitlin Sands (PhD student) and with Professor Sam Turner, the CEO of AMIC. This initiative aims to provide a vivid overview of what RIED is all about, highlighting its impact on doctoral research, its value to the University, and the strong connections it fosters with industry – you can access the video by clicking the link below.
https://app.playplay.com/app/share/queens-university-belfast/112b6051-a088-4686-a1c1-3958476a8c72
Summary
The three dynamic days were filled with insightful discussions and meaningful collaboration. This year’s conference was not only informative, but it was a celebration of progress and the spirit in the team.
In the evenings, the RIED team and delegates took well-earned opportunities to unwind and celebrate their achievements. On Tuesday evening, we all gathered for a vibrant dinner at 7Spices, where laughter and conversation flowed freely, strengthening bonds beyond the conference room.
The celebrations continued with a spectacular gala dinner at the iconic Titanic Belfast where we were joined by 55 Conference delegates and guests. This elegant evening offered not only a chance to relax and reflect, but also to deepen connections among colleagues and delegates in a truly unforgettable setting.
Finally, on behalf of Professor Mark Price, the whole of the RIED Team and Conference delegates, we would like to thank again the incredible team at Room2 Hometel Belfast – Joanne, Iza, Roxana, Kerri, and Amy, whose dedication and hospitality played a vital role in the success of the event. From the planning stages to the final day of the conference, their support was exceptional. Guests and delegates were full of praise for the welcoming venue, delicious refreshments, and seamless experience.