Welcome to the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee and our innovation showcase. The Committee wants to understand how the UK supports innovators, and what more can be done. So, to inform our work, each week one of our members selects an innovator to share their story before our main evidence session. Emily is introducing today’s innovator.

Thank you to everyone for inviting me here, and particularly Emily for your kind words. I am a professor of planetary science and exploration at the Open University. It is a lot of fun. In my day job I get to play with rocks—and sometimes rocks from space. For the past 20-odd years I have built my career working on samples brought back by the Apollo astronauts. I am one of the NASA principal investigators in this country. Most recently, as Emily mentioned, I had the privilege of being selected as the first UK scientist to be trusted with precious lunar samples returned by the Chang’e 5 mission. It is the first time that China has ever loaned samples internationally. We have those samples at the Open University in Milton Keynes. That is where our research infrastructure is. I would like to give you all an open invitation to visit our lab. We will be happy to show you around. I could not bring the moon dust, which, although small, is mighty. However, I have brought you a piece of moon to pass around. You are welcome to handle it and afterwards, if you like, you can take photographs. On a serious note, our research allows us to learn a lot more about the moon itself. Of course, humanity has been fascinated by the moon over millennia. We want to understand where it came from and what it could tell us about our own Earth, because it has been a long-standing companion of our home planet. In a way, what we learn about the moon allows us to learn a lot more about our home planet. To do that, we need robust and world-leading instrumentation, which is what we have built in Milton Keynes. These are instruments that no one can buy off the shelf from a commercial company, because decades of research and innovation are required to build the laboratory, piece by piece. We cannot even move the lab from one place to another, it is so unique. It gives us that edge—that leadership in the world. For every mission, around the world, that has ever happened we have at some point analysed a sample in Milton Keynes at the Open University. We are always the first port of call when a mission is being planned: will we be able to participate in the analysis? That goes back to Apollo and the Luna times, and the erstwhile Soviet Union, and all the way to the Chinese Chang’e 5. We are a partner with the Artemis programme. Much as I love the moon, I am also constantly looking for terrestrial applications for the techniques and innovative solutions that we are developing to enable a longer-term presence on the moon. In that respect, we found recently that one of the techniques we are going to use on the moon could be used for remediating mine waste on Earth. I am sure you appreciate that mine waste can be a big environmental hazard. However, I am looking at it from a resource point of view. As to what is considered waste, our ancestors 200 years ago did not know about many of the things that we seek today, such as rare-earth elements. Two hundred years ago, when north Wales was a world leader in supplying copper to the world, they had no idea that those things also contained many of the rare-earth elements that are today sought by modern industries. We have heaps of mining waste around the country. What if we could use the techniques that we are developing for lunar applications to go to those places and not only recover some of those precious resources but reduce the burden on the environment? I am passionate about this project, which is looking at the moon but with feet firmly on the Earth. Secondly, I am passionate about inspiring the next generation. I do not miss any opportunity, including with the media. On the Chang’e 5 story, I was very pleased that on the day the new Pope was announced, and while there was a war going on somewhere in the world, the moon story was top of the news. Everyone wants inspiration and a good story, and that allows us to reach out to children and the young generation, to inspire them. I do not want everyone to go to the moon, but I want to use the moon as an enabler, so that people can feel empowered—can feel that, yes, they can also reach for the moon, metaphorically, if they use their mind and talent for a good cause. That is the story that I want to share. I am interacting with you as policymakers, so that hopefully you realise that the UK has a unique opportunity to lead the world in this area. This has become possible only because of long-term vision, and long-term investment in laboratory infrastructure. You spoke of what the Government could do, going forward: they can ensure that the UK universities where we have leadership in this area remain competitive. The world is changing very fast. If you want to remain competitive and to utilise this opportunity, we have to make those investments. We can also play a big role with science diplomacy. I cannot tell you how many times I have been asked to lead various teams around the world as a result of the research that I have been doing. I am going to Hong Kong next month to give the keynote speech at a major conference, as a result of our moon research, and then I am heading to Japan, because they are looking at doing collaborative research. It is all possible simply because of the scientific research that we are doing—nothing else—and because the UK enables us to have that ecosystem. In short, to close my evidence, I will just say that the Open University is trying to make learning accessible to all, often free—at no cost. You will all most likely have constituents who engage with us in one way or another. Thank you again for your attention.

Thank you very much, Professor Anand. I think you have inspired the entire Committee with your passion and vision. Reaching for the moon while bringing China and Japan together in science diplomacy is a great example. We have loved having you as our innovation showcase.