News

The Old Library at Queen Mary University of London was alive with conversation and ideas as more than 60 researchers, professionals, and students gathered for the IEEE UK and Ireland Section panel, "Twinned Realities: Shaping Our World with Digital Models." on 30th October 2025!

Led by Dr. Mona Jaber, Reader in Internet of Things at QMUL, the event brought together leading voices in digital innovation to explore how digital twin technologies are reshaping the way we model, manage, and understand complex systems.

The panel featured Prof. Akram Alomainy, Paul M. Cunningham, Dr. Caroline Roney, Prof. Christopher Pain, Dr. Jason Shepherd, and Prof. Berk Canberk, who shared insights spanning medicine, infrastructure, AI, and systems engineering. Discussions covered everything from cardiac digital twins used in in-silico clinical trials to sustainable city modelling and intelligent service platforms that bridge the physical and digital worlds.

Reflecting on the discussion, Prof. Akram Alomainy highlighted the transformative power of collaboration in this fast-moving field:

"Digital twins sit at the intersection of science, engineering, and creativity. What makes them truly exciting is how they bring together expertise from so many disciplines to solve real-world problems in smarter, faster, and more human-centred ways."

Dr. Jaber described the event as "a wonderful exchange of ideas that showcased the creativity and collaboration driving this field forward." With more than sixty participants engaging during the session and many staying afterward to continue conversations, the enthusiasm in the room reflected growing momentum behind digital twin research and its cross-sector potential.

As one attendee put it, "Digital twins are no longer just simulations; they're becoming living digital entities. Their connection with Agentic AI could redefine how we build and interact with complex systems."

The event closed with a strong sense of optimism and plans for future collaboration between academia and industry.

Dr. Jaber thanked all speakers and attendees for making the panel a success: "The level of engagement and discussion was inspiring; I look forward to seeing how these conversations grow into new ideas and partnerships."