On 10th June 2026, the UK RAS STEPS community came together at The National Robotarium, Edinburgh, for a highly successful Special Interest Group (SIG) Showcase, followed by an evening celebration at Dynamic Earth. The event brought together research technical professionals from across the UK to share progress, insights and impact from across the STEPS programme.

The Showcase demonstrated the depth and breadth of activity across the network, with a strong focus on collaboration, innovation and real-world impact. Throughout the day, presenters delivered high-quality talks with confidence and clarity, reflecting the growing visibility and leadership of technical professionals within robotics and autonomous systems.

Showcasing Innovation and Impact

The morning sessions highlighted key developments across STEPS Special Interest Groups. Presentations included updates on Sustainable 3D Printing Practices from Thomas McGravie and Rob Woolley, alongside contributions from Ana Rubio Denniss on knowledge sharing in sustainable robotics and Omar Dawaba and Keith Greenhow on learning through iterative design.

The Automated Liquid Handling SIG – presented by Sarah Bennett, Rennos Fragkoudis, Lee Murphy and Rob Clowes – demonstrated the value of cross-institution collaboration in advancing technical capability.

A standout session focused on global collaboration, with Simon Castle-Green and Alex Sleat sharing insights from the UK RAS STEPS knowledge exchange visit to Tokyo, complemented by Pete Jiadong Qiang’s presentation on creative robotic systems. These talks provided valuable perspective on international partnerships and the opportunities they create for technical professionals.

In the second session, Graham Brown presented a powerful account of applying STEPS expertise within the Ugandan medical device sector, highlighting the tangible, real-world impact of the programme beyond the UK.

Rob Woolley’s session on running and engaging with technical events offered practical guidance and inspiration, emphasising the importance of community, preparation and follow-up—delivered with his characteristic energy and creativity.

Further talks from Piotr Cuber and Devashish Tambade showcased individual journeys within STEPS, illustrating progression from engagement in training activities to delivering meaningful research impact.

Looking Ahead

The afternoon programme included a career pathways update from Professor Briony Thomas, a robotics competition, and interactive breakout sessions exploring future priorities across key thematic areas. These discussions will help inform the next phase of STEPS activity as the programme continues to evolve.

Recognising Excellence

The event concluded with the UK RAS STEPS Technical Awards, celebrating outstanding contributions across the community:

• Outstanding Special Interest Group Award
  Winner: 3D Recycling Group (Thomas McGravie, Rob Woolley et al.)
  Highly Commended: Automation of Liquid Handling Group
• STEPS Emerging Leader in Technology
  Winner: Katarzyna Hafezi (University of Edinburgh)
  Highly Commended: Noushin Raeisi Kheirabadi (UWE)
  Special Mention: Salzitsa Anastasova (Imperial College London)
• Special Interest Group Collaboration Champion Award
  Winner: Ana Maria Rubio Denniss (King’s College London)

A Strong and Growing Community

The 2026 SIG Showcase highlighted the continued success of UK RAS STEPS in building a connected, collaborative and confident technical community. The quality of presentations and the enthusiasm across the day demonstrated how participants are taking ownership of their work, driving innovation and contributing to impact at institutional, national and international levels.

The programme remains a powerful platform for enabling technical professionals to develop, collaborate and lead within the UK robotics and autonomous systems landscape.