Join us on Wednesday and Thursday, 3-4 June, for our annual AFM user meeting to celebrate 40 years of AFM!
Together with our host, Dr Robert Harniman, Bruker warmly invites you to attend our annual UK AFM User Meeting at the University of Bristol. The combination of the rich history of AFM at Bristol, and 2026 marking 40 years of AFM, means this meeting promises to be a very special celebration.
The two-day event will showcase the latest advances in Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and its use in life science and materials science applications, with keynote lectures from Professor Mervyn Miles on the early days of AFM at Bristol, and Professor Zoya Leonenko from the University of Waterloo on the applications of lipid membranes in bio-nanotechnology, molecular neuroscience and quantum biology.
Gain hands-on experience on our state-of-the-art AFM instruments, including:
- NanoWizard V BioAFM + Raman/TERS
- Automated, AI-guided, multi-chamber, in vitro imaging and nanomechanical analysis with Bruker's CellWizard Stage
- The new Dimension Nexus AFM
- Photothermal AFM-IR for ultimate versatility in materials research and industrial R&D
There will be a prize for the best poster presented at the user meeting, so be sure to submit your poster title together with your registration to be in with a chance of winning.
Engage with top researchers in the field and discuss your own research challenges in person with the Bruker applications team and invited speakers. Spaces are limited so early registration is recommended.
Please click here or download the flyer for details of the programme.
We hope to see you in Bristol in June to help us celebrate 40 years of Atomic Force Microscopy.
Location:
Chemistry Building
University of Bristol
Cantock's Close
BS8 1TS Bristol
Conference Fee:
£30 / person
Agenda Day 1 - Wednesday, 3 June
Time | Topics & Presenters |
| 09:00 | Registration |
| 09:45 | Introduction and Order of the Day – Dr Rob Harniman, University of Bristol & Rhys Jones, Bruker Nano |
| 10:00 | Workshop Session 1 |
| 11:00 | COFFEE |
| 11:15 | Workshop Session 2 |
| 12:15 | LUNCH + POSTER SESSION |
| 13:15 | User Meeting Opening Remarks – Dr Rob Harniman, University of Bristol & Rhys Jones, Bruker Nano |
| 13:30 | Keynote Talk | Title tba – Professor Mervyn Miles, Bristol |
| 14:15 | Walls across kingdoms: using AFM to unravel the structure of cell walls in life and death across the tree of life – Professor Jamie Hobbs, The University of Sheffield |
| 14:40 | Latest developments in BioAFM – Joerg Barner, Application Scientist, Bruker Nano Surfaces & Metrology |
| 15:05 | AFM development for cellular and molecular mapping; deciphering the biophysical environments that underpin cellular invasion – Professor Lewis Francis, Swansea University |
| 15:30 | COFFEE |
| 15:45 | Keynote Talk | AFM and KPFM: A frontier to study the Nanoscale Origins of Neurodegeneration – Professor Zoya Leonenko, University of Waterloo, CA |
| 16:30 | From dynamics to data: improving throughput in AFM – Dr George Heath, University of Leeds |
| 16:55 | Variety is the spice of life: AFM as an interdisciplinary platform – Dr Rob Harniman, University of Bristol |
| 17:20 | Latest developments in materials science AFM and AFM-IR – Jiahui Qi, Application Scientist, Bruker Nano Surfaces & Metrology |
| 17:45 | Wrap-up |
| 18:00 | DRINKS RECEPTION |
| 18:30 | Guest Speaker: Dr Heiko Haschke, Director Bruker BioAFM Business Unit |
| 20:00 | Close Day 1 |
Agenda Day 2 - Thursday, 4 June
Time | Topics |
| 09:30 | Registration |
| 10:00 | Workshop Session 1 |
| 11:00 | COFFEE |
| 11:15 | Workshop Session 2 |
| 12:15 | LUNCH |
| 13:00 | Lab Tour |
| 13:30 | Close of User Meeting |
Register to Secure Your Spot
The conference fee is £30 / person.
