Creating new communities - the legacy of the imaging theme

“The imaging theme was first and foremost about opening up the potential of using x-ray and neutron imaging techniques to new communities”, says theme leader, and outgoing LINXS director, Stephen Hall.

He led the theme from 2017 – 2021. Officially the theme should have concluded at the end of 2020, but various activities, that were delayed by the pandemic, have continued through 2021.

As he reflects back on the achievements of the theme’s core and working groups, one thing is clear: the greatest legacy of the theme overall is how it has sparked interest and curiosity to use X-ray and neutron imaging techniques to advance science over a broad spectrum of research areas, and involving many researchers who are completely new to the subject .

Stephen Hall, LINXS outgoing Director and leader of the Imaging theme

Reaching large research communities

Stephen Hall gives some key examples of how the theme engaged a large group of researchers from different fields during its time at LINXS.

One such example was the very first workshop the theme organised back in 2017 on X-ray fluorescence imaging, which paved way for a new user group at NanoMAX at MAX IV and the building of a new working group, “New opportunities in Imaging with X-rays and Neutrons”.

The GeoArcheology and Cultural Heritage (GeoArCH) working group attracted new users and sparked interest in imaging techniques among, for example, archeologists and paleontologists, whereas the Soil Science working group connected biologist and soil experts to explore new methods and applications.

The hackathons, organised by the QuantIm working group, brought data analysts from around Europe, in particular from the QIM project , together with researchers from many different research fields to discuss options and alternatives for improved data analysis and image quantification. This led to many new collaborations, as well as a template for a new way of collaborative working (the hackathons) at LINXS.

The working group on Food Science and Technology, reached out to food researchers in the region, including from industry and food companies, a group not connected to LINXS previously and not common users of X-rays and neutrons. Late in the Theme, an activity within the “New opportunities in Imaging with X-rays and Neutrons” working group developed (due to corona restrictions) into the webinar series, Co-Work, which focused on coherent diffraction imaging and Ptychography and Holography. This webinar series brought together experts from all over the world for focused discussions on how to plan, conduct and analyse experiments exploiting the coherence properties of X-rays for advanced material characterization. This took place during the corona pandemic and was a great success due to responding to a real need to meet and discuss, even if it was on-line.

A strong ambition to introduce imaging techniques

– It has been great to see how new people and scientific fields have become interested in imaging with X-rays and neutrons during this time. I think it has to do both with working practices, and with the actual scientific direction of the working groups. We have also had a clear ambition to reach out to large communities who are less familiar with x-rays and neutrons, which has led to many new researchers coming into the field. Imaging is a very visual technique, which of course helps in attracting new users!

The overall effect of the theme is actual quite significant, says Stephen Hall. Both locally and on an international level one can start to see lasting impacts, way beyond the duration of the theme.

Consolidated communities around MAX IV and ESS

For example, locally, the theme has helped create a strong user group for fluorescence imaging in Lund, Sweden and in Denmark, as mentioned above. Based on theme’s very first workshop on X-ray fluorescence imaging, MAX IV saw a great increase in applications to use fluorescence in experiments.

The hackathon concept, as a method to capture interest and initiate focused discussions, has also taken off and inspired other themes and working groups. The food working group, meanwhile, has not only gone on to form its very own theme at LINXS, Northern Lights on Food, but has also secured independent funding and is progressing with plans to establish a European Food Laboratory to be located in Science Village Scandinavia.

The theme has also helped to consolidate communities around MAX IV and ESS. Especially when it comes to pushing tomography as technique. For example, the theme helped in forming the communities around proposals for new imaging beamlines at MAXIV. Furthermore, connections made within the GeoArCH working groups led to a pan-european proposal towards supporting multi-model imaging at the future ODIN beamline at ESS. The theme, and LINXS, have also been instrumental in increasing the capacity and knowledge of early career researchers, e.g., with the organisation of doctoral schools on neutron imaging in collaboration with SwedNess and the first Northern Lights on Food master class.

Themes should not be afraid to follow new directions

When asked what he would do differently if he was to start the Imaging theme today, Stephen Hall responds that better planning and organisation are important, as is the need to follow new directions and not be afraid to stop activities that are not developing.

– Our theme grew organically which is great, but to ensure that you hit the ground running once the theme starts, planning in advance is good. Of course, the current LINXS application process ensures that our new themes are better organised.

With better planning one can include more hands-on activities on part of the working groups, says Stephen Hall. For example, experiments at X-ray and neutron facilities, and more hands-on analysis of data. Such activities can in turn help push the advanced aspects of imaging forward – an aspect which he would have liked to see further developed during the theme.

– For example, one could have hackathons extended over a couple of weeks, bring people together over longer time periods, and work more long term in building up the understanding and capacity of the user communities. This way of working, I think, could have had a greater impact in terms of creating opportunities to discuss more, and do more science.

Potential for having shorter running themes could be explored

A faster working pace could also be something for new themes to explore, he reflects. While three years is a good time to get things started, it could also be too long – if it is the case that people have achieved what they want to achieve.

– In that sense, having working groups running for a shorter time could be a way forward – to enable people to go where the passion is, and focus efforts onto one question. It would also allow the theme, and in extension LINXS, to be more dynamic and respond to changing scientific needs, that can lead on to targeted applications for beamtime at facilities or new grant applications.

People and their engagement at the core of LINXS

A final question is how one keeps the momentum of the themes going – especially when the activities within the working groups are very much based on interest, passion and ideas, as opposed to financial recompense.

– With a place like LINXS, it will always be about the people and their engagement. Going forward, there needs to be more discussion of how LINXS can support themes to develop to their full potential, and how researchers involved in themes can have more structure in terms of organising activities and developing their ideas.

– One has to remember, that there are very few arenas that support X-ray and neutron science in the way LINXS does, in terms of organising and funding collaborative events and activities, and providing a platform to meet. This is at the core of LINXS, and is a great precursor for successful themes, as long as we continue to get enthusiastic people; with a vision and passion to push forward scientific ideas, he concludes.