Technical Showcase
Celebrating Success: UK RAS STEPS Technical Showcase 2025
On 18th June 2025, the UK RAS STEPS Technical Showcase brought together more than 130 Research Technical Professionals (RTPs), academics, and linked programmes at the iconic Science Museum in London to celebrate the outstanding contributions of technical staff working in Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS).
The event was a resounding success – highlighting the technical excellence, innovation, and collaborative spirit that define the UK’s Technical RAS community. With a dynamic programme of presentations, panel discussions, technical demonstrations, and workshops, the Showcase offered an engaging platform for RTPs to share their work and shape conversations about the future of robotics.
The Showcase formed part of the wider UK RAS STEPS initiative, which continues to champion the role of technical professionals and provide opportunities for training, collaboration, and recognition.
Thank you to everyone who attended, presented, and supported the event. We look forward to building on this success and continuing to spotlight the invaluable contributions of RTPs across the RAS landscape.
Awards Presentations
A key highlight of the day was the awards ceremony, recognising achievements in three categories:
Innovative Teamwork in Robotics
Winner: Graham Brown, University of Leeds
Highly Commended: Thomas McGravie (The National Robotarium, Heriot Watt University); Charles Richards (University College London), Fabio Tatti (Imperial College London), Robert Woolley (University of York)
Transformative Robotics Impact
Winner: Yuen Ting Chan (Natural History Museum)
Highly Commended: Daniel Marfiewicz-Dickinson (University of York), Gerry Rafferty (Queen’s University, Belfast)
Outstanding Robotics Engineering
Winner: Rob Clowes (University of Liverpool)
Highly Commended: Ana Rubio Denniss (King’s College London), Ian Dukes (University of Essex)
These honours celebrated the ingenuity, dedication, and influence of RTPs across the sector.
The Strategic Technical Platform and UK RAS STEPS
The STEPS (Strategic Technical Platform for Research Technical Professionals) project, part of the Strategic Technical Platform, aims to provide RTPs with the skills, knowledge, and support they need to succeed in their careers. Through training, mentorship, networking, and collaborative opportunities, STEPS is creating a thriving community of professionals who are passionate about advancing robotics technologies.
The UK RAS STEPS Technical Showcase is an integral part of this initiative, offering a forum for RTPs to share their work, learn from one another, and contribute to the growing impact of robotics in the world.