Dr Orla Williams
@drorlawilliams.bsky.social
Assistant Professor in the Dept M3 @uniofnottingham.bsky.social: Milling expert researching low carbon fuels, mechanochemistry, critical raw materials and life cycle analysis. Rocket science is simple; it's the engineering that's hard
@financialtimes.com Year in a word: Rare earths giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... 🧪💡🔌⚒️
Year in a word: Rare earths
These metals have become the plaything of the US-China trade war
giftarticle.ft.com
December 26, 2025 at 9:02 AM
@financialtimes.com Year in a word: Rare earths giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... 🧪💡🔌⚒️
📢 My final paper of 2025 and it's a milling paper! This paper is part of a #ACARP funded project with @csiro.bsky.social Dr Joe Perkins & Prof Ed Lester & Dr Fatih Gulec @uonresearch.bsky.social on co-milling biomass and coal Coal Power Dependent Economies. Read now: doi.org/10.1016/j.jo...
Redirecting
doi.org
December 23, 2025 at 2:06 PM
📢 My final paper of 2025 and it's a milling paper! This paper is part of a #ACARP funded project with @csiro.bsky.social Dr Joe Perkins & Prof Ed Lester & Dr Fatih Gulec @uonresearch.bsky.social on co-milling biomass and coal Coal Power Dependent Economies. Read now: doi.org/10.1016/j.jo...
Last working day of the year starts with an amazing technicolour #dawn @uniofnottingham.bsky.social - it even made the tower building look nice for once #uon #nottingham #sunrise
December 17, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Last working day of the year starts with an amazing technicolour #dawn @uniofnottingham.bsky.social - it even made the tower building look nice for once #uon #nottingham #sunrise
December 11, 2025 at 3:48 PM
I'm a big fan of the annual will they wont they burning of the #GävleGoat (live stream @ www.visitgavle.se/en/gavle-goat) but am just finding out about the #Icelandic #Jólakötturinn - a black cat the size of a house that roams the Icelandic countryside on Christmas Eve
Gävle's brilliant Christmas symbol
Detta är Gävlebockens egna sida. Här hittar du allt från filmerna om Gävlebocken till hela invigningsprogrammet.
www.visitgavle.se
December 5, 2025 at 12:53 PM
I'm a big fan of the annual will they wont they burning of the #GävleGoat (live stream @ www.visitgavle.se/en/gavle-goat) but am just finding out about the #Icelandic #Jólakötturinn - a black cat the size of a house that roams the Icelandic countryside on Christmas Eve
Reposted by Dr Orla Williams
After so many years trying and failing to fix the fact that the UK is not very good at growing new innovative companies, the thought occurs, maybe it is just that research and development is where our comparative advantage lies. Is that so bad? www.ft.com/content/5514...
AI start-ups in the UK need more than money
In Silicon Valley, VCs offer both funding and advice from partners who built their own global businesses
www.ft.com
December 4, 2025 at 8:36 AM
After so many years trying and failing to fix the fact that the UK is not very good at growing new innovative companies, the thought occurs, maybe it is just that research and development is where our comparative advantage lies. Is that so bad? www.ft.com/content/5514...
November 30, 2025 at 9:11 AM
A Resonant quote for me from @oliverburkeman.com: trying to pursue what others might deem interesting or impressive doesn’t seem to lead to feeling interested in it yourself; but pursuing what interests you does seem to evoke the interest of others 💭🏛️📜🔎🔬
November 29, 2025 at 9:12 PM
A Resonant quote for me from @oliverburkeman.com: trying to pursue what others might deem interesting or impressive doesn’t seem to lead to feeling interested in it yourself; but pursuing what interests you does seem to evoke the interest of others 💭🏛️📜🔎🔬
🔊Research Press Release! Our latest research @uonresearch.bsky.social shows waste cardboard can power energy generation, reducing waste & supporting a circular economy. A step toward cleaner, sustainable energy! 🌍🧪💡🔌♻️
Read more: www.nottingham.ac.uk/news/study-s...
#CleanEnergy #Sustainability
Read more: www.nottingham.ac.uk/news/study-s...
#CleanEnergy #Sustainability
News - Study shows waste cardboard is effective for power generation - University of Nottingham
A new study has shown for the first time that waste cardboard can be used as an effective source of biomass fuel for large scale power generation.
www.nottingham.ac.uk
November 20, 2025 at 4:11 PM
🔊Research Press Release! Our latest research @uonresearch.bsky.social shows waste cardboard can power energy generation, reducing waste & supporting a circular economy. A step toward cleaner, sustainable energy! 🌍🧪💡🔌♻️
Read more: www.nottingham.ac.uk/news/study-s...
#CleanEnergy #Sustainability
Read more: www.nottingham.ac.uk/news/study-s...
#CleanEnergy #Sustainability
🧪Friday post - I am trying to think about how best to address reviewers comments on a paper. I'm looking at the visulisation of data comments, and this led me to this fantastic website which contains a plotting bible! how have I not come accross this before!
www.data-to-viz.com#correlogram
www.data-to-viz.com#correlogram
From data to Viz | Find the graphic you need
A classification of chart types based on their input data format.
www.data-to-viz.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:39 PM
🧪Friday post - I am trying to think about how best to address reviewers comments on a paper. I'm looking at the visulisation of data comments, and this led me to this fantastic website which contains a plotting bible! how have I not come accross this before!
www.data-to-viz.com#correlogram
www.data-to-viz.com#correlogram
☢️ Nuclear power stations were partly put in North Wales to provide skills jobs after the demise of slate mining. It’s good to see these new nuclear plants being put where there is already local expertise 🧪🔌💡
x.com/energygovuk/...
x.com/energygovuk/...
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on X: "RT @Ed_Miliband: We’re delivering a golden age of nuclear after years of dither and delay. Today we’re announcing the next step: the UK's…" / X
RT @Ed_Miliband: We’re delivering a golden age of nuclear after years of dither and delay. Today we’re announcing the next step: the UK's…
x.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:30 AM
☢️ Nuclear power stations were partly put in North Wales to provide skills jobs after the demise of slate mining. It’s good to see these new nuclear plants being put where there is already local expertise 🧪🔌💡
x.com/energygovuk/...
x.com/energygovuk/...
Today I am doing a talk on sustainability and #EV #batteries at #xiamen university in #KualaLumpur
🧪🔋🚙🔌 this is a @britishcouncil.bsky.social funded ISPF International Research Seminar on Lithium Battery Recycling - Nov 11 2025 with @uniofnottingham.bsky.social, #WMG, XMU and #UniofAdelaide
🧪🔋🚙🔌 this is a @britishcouncil.bsky.social funded ISPF International Research Seminar on Lithium Battery Recycling - Nov 11 2025 with @uniofnottingham.bsky.social, #WMG, XMU and #UniofAdelaide
November 11, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Today I am doing a talk on sustainability and #EV #batteries at #xiamen university in #KualaLumpur
🧪🔋🚙🔌 this is a @britishcouncil.bsky.social funded ISPF International Research Seminar on Lithium Battery Recycling - Nov 11 2025 with @uniofnottingham.bsky.social, #WMG, XMU and #UniofAdelaide
🧪🔋🚙🔌 this is a @britishcouncil.bsky.social funded ISPF International Research Seminar on Lithium Battery Recycling - Nov 11 2025 with @uniofnottingham.bsky.social, #WMG, XMU and #UniofAdelaide
Very excited to be at the #Selectbio #flowchemistry #conference in #kualalumpur today and tomorrow where I will be present my PhD students research on leaching P and K from #moon #rocks! 🧪🌑🌱
November 6, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Very excited to be at the #Selectbio #flowchemistry #conference in #kualalumpur today and tomorrow where I will be present my PhD students research on leaching P and K from #moon #rocks! 🧪🌑🌱
This week and next I am in #kualalpur for a project meeting for a @britishcouncil.bsky.social funded #ISPF project on #batteryrecycling with @warwickuniucu.bsky.social, #XUM, and uni of #adelaide. As the #sustainability expert for the project, it’s a fantastic opportunity to est. new connections!🧪🔋
November 6, 2025 at 6:51 AM
This week and next I am in #kualalpur for a project meeting for a @britishcouncil.bsky.social funded #ISPF project on #batteryrecycling with @warwickuniucu.bsky.social, #XUM, and uni of #adelaide. As the #sustainability expert for the project, it’s a fantastic opportunity to est. new connections!🧪🔋
📢New paper alert! I'm very proud that my #PhD student Johnson Lau has published his 1st paper from his EngD in #Biomass&Bioenergy: Evaluation of the properties of #cardboard for power generation! 🧪💡🔌Read 4 free: sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
@elsevierconnect.bsky.social@uonresearch.bsky.social
@elsevierconnect.bsky.social@uonresearch.bsky.social
Evaluation of the properties of cardboard for power generation
This study presents the first comprehensive characterisation of post-consumer cardboard as a biomass fuel for power generation, with emphasis on its s…
sciencedirect.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:56 AM
📢New paper alert! I'm very proud that my #PhD student Johnson Lau has published his 1st paper from his EngD in #Biomass&Bioenergy: Evaluation of the properties of #cardboard for power generation! 🧪💡🔌Read 4 free: sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
@elsevierconnect.bsky.social@uonresearch.bsky.social
@elsevierconnect.bsky.social@uonresearch.bsky.social
Great explainer about #REE and why they matter by @edconway.bsky.social 🧪🔌💡⚒️🔬
📽️What on earth are rare earths?
Why do they matter so much?
Why do they nearly all come from China?
And how worried should we be about the latest chapter in the trade war?
These and more questions answered in my latest primer👇 youtu.be/vq4eRtwFjIc?...
Why do they matter so much?
Why do they nearly all come from China?
And how worried should we be about the latest chapter in the trade war?
These and more questions answered in my latest primer👇 youtu.be/vq4eRtwFjIc?...
Trade War Explained: The Rare Earth Metals China Dominates and US needs
YouTube video by Sky News
youtu.be
October 15, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Great explainer about #REE and why they matter by @edconway.bsky.social 🧪🔌💡⚒️🔬
Reposted by Dr Orla Williams
Henry Gao as usual on the ball here to explain these controls
October 9, 2025 at 5:20 AM
Henry Gao as usual on the ball here to explain these controls
Big implications from China's are-earth export controls - time to build up UK and EU capacity in REE through recycling! 🧪⚒️
This could be really damaging. Just imagine Europe or Ukraine trying to buy a military item that contains a trace of a Chinese rare earth from a seller in the United States. Beijing would need to approve!
October 9, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Big implications from China's are-earth export controls - time to build up UK and EU capacity in REE through recycling! 🧪⚒️
I did my PhD on biomass milling with EDF Cottam; this marks the end of an era, but a new chapter begins with a solar farm rising in its place. Farewell to the past, hello to a brighter, cleaner future. 🌅⚡☀️ 🧪💡#EnergyTransition #Renewables”
Cottam coal power station demolished today (the cooling towers).
Will be replaced by a solar farm, using the same grid connection.
Will be replaced by a solar farm, using the same grid connection.
October 7, 2025 at 7:38 AM
I did my PhD on biomass milling with EDF Cottam; this marks the end of an era, but a new chapter begins with a solar farm rising in its place. Farewell to the past, hello to a brighter, cleaner future. 🌅⚡☀️ 🧪💡#EnergyTransition #Renewables”
#GoogleArts&Culture has published an in-depth feature on #mechanochemical techniques! 🧪🔬 Find out more at:
techniqueshttps://g.co/arts/Ux96GmdNYRWxy7g5A
techniqueshttps://g.co/arts/Ux96GmdNYRWxy7g5A
Mix, Crush, Shear: The Tools of Mechanochemistry - Google Arts & Culture
Discover how old techniques can produce greener, cleaner new things
g.co
October 1, 2025 at 10:52 AM
#GoogleArts&Culture has published an in-depth feature on #mechanochemical techniques! 🧪🔬 Find out more at:
techniqueshttps://g.co/arts/Ux96GmdNYRWxy7g5A
techniqueshttps://g.co/arts/Ux96GmdNYRWxy7g5A
A good news story about an injured #peregrinefalcon rescued by @uonresearch.bsky.social staff & released back on campus
blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/sustainablen...
There is at least one breeding pair of peregrine falcons on #UniversityPark hanging around the tower, chimney & other tall buildings. 🧪
blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/sustainablen...
There is at least one breeding pair of peregrine falcons on #UniversityPark hanging around the tower, chimney & other tall buildings. 🧪
September 30, 2025 at 9:15 AM
A good news story about an injured #peregrinefalcon rescued by @uonresearch.bsky.social staff & released back on campus
blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/sustainablen...
There is at least one breeding pair of peregrine falcons on #UniversityPark hanging around the tower, chimney & other tall buildings. 🧪
blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/sustainablen...
There is at least one breeding pair of peregrine falcons on #UniversityPark hanging around the tower, chimney & other tall buildings. 🧪
It was fantastic to share my #milling experiences in the power sector with the #mechanochemistry community at the @incomeofficial.bsky.social #conference at @bamresearch.bsky.social in #berlin this morning. 🧪💡🔌⚒️
Orla Williams ( @drorlawilliams.bsky.social ) at #INCOME2025 delivered a powerful and inspiring talk:
Shaping Chemistry by Force: Using Advances in Milling Knowledge from the Power Generation Sector to Progress #Mechanochemical Extraction
@bamresearch.bsky.social
@humboldtuni.bsky.social
Shaping Chemistry by Force: Using Advances in Milling Knowledge from the Power Generation Sector to Progress #Mechanochemical Extraction
@bamresearch.bsky.social
@humboldtuni.bsky.social
September 17, 2025 at 9:15 AM
It was fantastic to share my #milling experiences in the power sector with the #mechanochemistry community at the @incomeofficial.bsky.social #conference at @bamresearch.bsky.social in #berlin this morning. 🧪💡🔌⚒️
Some great #mechanochemistry talks this morning at @incomeofficial.bsky.social. It’s also raining 🐱 and 🐶 so good to be inside! 🧪
September 15, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Some great #mechanochemistry talks this morning at @incomeofficial.bsky.social. It’s also raining 🐱 and 🐶 so good to be inside! 🧪