About us
The Tomography for Scientific Advancement society exists to represent the International Tomography community.
ToScA provides a platform to promote, advance and support innovation, share knowledge and encourage collaborations. It consists of a board of members, that overlook International activities, growth and governance related matters, and a committee in the United States that overlooks operational matters in North America. ToScA believes in a community led approach to enrich and grown technological advancements.
ToScA provides a platform to promote, advance and support innovation, share knowledge and encourage collaborations. It consists of a board of members, that overlook International activities, growth and governance related matters, and a committee in the United States that overlooks operational matters in North America. ToScA believes in a community led approach to enrich and grown technological advancements.
Our aim is to become a central hub to the XCT community
Our History
ToScA was founded in 2013 by Dr Farah Ahmed whilst she was based at the world-renowned Natural History Museum in London. ToScA was initially formed to provide a conference based platform for academia and industry in the UK. The primary focus was to exchange ideas and foster knowledge share in the European sector.
The first international conference was held at the Natural History Museum in September 2013, with over 100 delegates, followed by a banquet under the famous diplodocus, better known as ‘dippy’. The conference was heavily supported by the Royal Microscopical Society and well-established Industry leaders. ToScA has attracted world-leading experts as keynote speakers and toured since 2013.
Previous conferences have been held at universities up and down the country and with the success of the European community, ToScA held its first conference at University of Texas in 2017. With growing international success, in 2017 ToScA formed its official board and a committee in the US. ToScA has grown from a small community-based conference to an international, world recognised society. Our members are from all parts of the world, a diverse range of scientific disciplines with backgrounds from both Industry and Academia.
The first international conference was held at the Natural History Museum in September 2013, with over 100 delegates, followed by a banquet under the famous diplodocus, better known as ‘dippy’. The conference was heavily supported by the Royal Microscopical Society and well-established Industry leaders. ToScA has attracted world-leading experts as keynote speakers and toured since 2013.
Previous conferences have been held at universities up and down the country and with the success of the European community, ToScA held its first conference at University of Texas in 2017. With growing international success, in 2017 ToScA formed its official board and a committee in the US. ToScA has grown from a small community-based conference to an international, world recognised society. Our members are from all parts of the world, a diverse range of scientific disciplines with backgrounds from both Industry and Academia.
The Board
Dr Farah Ahmed
Exponent – President
Farah received a BSc in Biomaterials Engineering and a PhD in Biophysics from Queen Mary University of London. Farah studied the three-dimensional structure of pathological bone using Micro-CT during her time as a PhD researcher. Following a short research position at the school of Medicine and Dentistry at QMUL, she managed the X-ray CT facility at the Natural History Museum in London, working on over 100 CT related projects a year across all science disciplines.
Currently she works as an engineering consultant at Exponent, utilising her extensive experience in fracture mechanics, multi-scale failure, and material selection, with a focus on biomaterials, implant design, and interfaces within joint implants..
Currently she works as an engineering consultant at Exponent, utilising her extensive experience in fracture mechanics, multi-scale failure, and material selection, with a focus on biomaterials, implant design, and interfaces within joint implants..
Dr Jay Warnett
University of Warwick – Secretary
Dr Warnett is currently an Assistant Professor at WMG, where his work is primarily concerned with the impact of XCT in measurement. His primary research interests are in error quantification of XCT for metrology, non-destructive testing, volumetric strain analysis and applied image processing techniques. He has experience in quantitative application of the technique to the evaluation of additive manufacture components, materials characterisation, automotive/aerospace industries and heritage sector.
Dr Gianluca Tozzi
University of Portsmouth – Treasurer
Gianluca is a Reader in Bioengineering at the School of Mechanical and Design Engineering and director of the Zeiss Global Centre. He received a PhD in Bioengineering in 2012 from the University of Portsmouth and a 5-year MSc in Mechanical Engineering in 2008 from the University of Bologna.
Dr Tozzi’s research interest include multi-dimensional/modal X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT), correlative microscopy and digital volume correlation (DVC) of biological tissues and biomaterials, such as 3D-printed implants and electrospun scaffolds for tissue engineering.
Dr Tozzi’s research interest include multi-dimensional/modal X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT), correlative microscopy and digital volume correlation (DVC) of biological tissues and biomaterials, such as 3D-printed implants and electrospun scaffolds for tissue engineering.
Prof Graham Davis
Queen Mary University of London – Membership and Awards
Graham Davis graduated as an electronic engineer in 1980 and obtained a PhD in medical electronics in 1984. After working originally in the design of computerised electromyography apparatus, he moved to the London Hospital Medical College (now part of Queen Mary University of London) in 1988 and shortly thereafter began work on the development of X-ray microtomography (XMT). Designing scanners and software algorithms with accuracies exceeding commercially available systems, he is well recognised in this area of development and has served on the European Standards Committee CEN/TC 138/WG 1/AH 1 Computed Tomography. He also serves as a program committee member for the "Developments in X-ray Tomography" conference held every 2 years as part of The International Society for Optical Engineering's (SPIE) International Symposium on Optical Science, Engineering, and Instrumentation.
He is currently the lead for Imaging Sciences in the Centre for Oral Bioengineering, which includes electron microscopy, X-ray imaging, optical coherence tomography and facial scanning. His chief aim is to work alongside clinicians towards better understanding and treatment of dental conditions and has an additional interest in developing public engagement activities related to dentistry involving gaming and virtual reality. He also supports staff and student wellbeing at QMUL, helping to organise the QMUL running club, and is trained in mental health first aid.
He is currently the lead for Imaging Sciences in the Centre for Oral Bioengineering, which includes electron microscopy, X-ray imaging, optical coherence tomography and facial scanning. His chief aim is to work alongside clinicians towards better understanding and treatment of dental conditions and has an additional interest in developing public engagement activities related to dentistry involving gaming and virtual reality. He also supports staff and student wellbeing at QMUL, helping to organise the QMUL running club, and is trained in mental health first aid.
Prof Richard Johnston
University of Swansea – Social Media/Equality and Diversity
Dr. Richard Johnston is a Professor in the Materials Research Centre, Swansea University, a 2013 British Science Association Media Fellow (based at Nature), and a 2015 Software Sustainability Institute Fellow.
Embracing a multidisciplinary approach, Richard's research has taken him from artificial intelligence in manufacturing, through gas turbine materials (abradables, nickel superalloys, ceramic matrix composites), and on to X-ray microtomography. Richard has written for Nature, Scientific American, The Guardian, Huffington Post, and has worked on TV documentaries with the BBC (Rhys Jones’ Wildlife Patrol) and Horizon (Animal Mummies). In particular, his group has a focus on biomimetics and bioinspiration. Using XCT to investigate the hidden internal worlds of nature, and thinking about how and why these structures formed. We then look for challenging engineering applications that could benefit from the inspiration gained from these natural architectures. Utilising 3D-printing, we can create rapid replicas or prototypes of previously hidden structures found via X-ray CT, demonstrated on an everyday object.
Embracing a multidisciplinary approach, Richard's research has taken him from artificial intelligence in manufacturing, through gas turbine materials (abradables, nickel superalloys, ceramic matrix composites), and on to X-ray microtomography. Richard has written for Nature, Scientific American, The Guardian, Huffington Post, and has worked on TV documentaries with the BBC (Rhys Jones’ Wildlife Patrol) and Horizon (Animal Mummies). In particular, his group has a focus on biomimetics and bioinspiration. Using XCT to investigate the hidden internal worlds of nature, and thinking about how and why these structures formed. We then look for challenging engineering applications that could benefit from the inspiration gained from these natural architectures. Utilising 3D-printing, we can create rapid replicas or prototypes of previously hidden structures found via X-ray CT, demonstrated on an everyday object.
Dr Jessie Maisano
University of Texas – North America Chair
Dr. Jessie Maisano is a research scientist at the University of Texas High-Resolution X-ray CT Facility (UTCT) in Austin. She received her BA in geology at Kent State University in 1994 and her PhD in vertebrate paleontology at Yale University in 2000. She then moved to the University of Texas as a postdoc on the then-nascent Digital Library of Morphology (DigiMorph.org). Jessie held a subsequent postdoctoral position on the Deep Scaly project (Assembling the Tree of Life) before being hired as full-time staff by UTCT, where she is now facility manager. She is also the primary operator of UTCT’s Zeiss MicroXCT-400 and caretaker of DigiMorph.org.
Jessie’s main research interests lie in squamate (lizards, snakes, amphisbaenians) osteology as revealed by CT, especially cranial anatomy and ‘extraskeletal’ systems such as osteoderms. However, her collaborations via UTCT have resulted in publications on topics as diverse as carbon sequestration, diamond formation, and Ediacaran fauna.
Jessie’s main research interests lie in squamate (lizards, snakes, amphisbaenians) osteology as revealed by CT, especially cranial anatomy and ‘extraskeletal’ systems such as osteoderms. However, her collaborations via UTCT have resulted in publications on topics as diverse as carbon sequestration, diamond formation, and Ediacaran fauna.
US Committee
Dr Jessie Maisano
University of Texas – Chair
Dr. Jessie Maisano is a research scientist at the University of Texas High-Resolution X-ray CT Facility (UTCT) in Austin. She received her BA in geology at Kent State University in 1994 and her PhD in vertebrate paleontology at Yale University in 2000. She then moved to the University of Texas as a postdoc on the then-nascent Digital Library of Morphology (DigiMorph.org). Jessie held a subsequent postdoctoral position on the Deep Scaly project (Assembling the Tree of Life) before being hired as full-time staff by UTCT, where she is now facility manager. She is also the primary operator of UTCT’s Zeiss MicroXCT-400 and caretaker of DigiMorph.org.
Jessie’s main research interests lie in squamate (lizards, snakes, amphisbaenians) osteology as revealed by CT, especially cranial anatomy and ‘extraskeletal’ systems such as osteoderms. However, her collaborations via UTCT have resulted in publications on topics as diverse as carbon sequestration, diamond formation, and Ediacaran fauna.
Jessie’s main research interests lie in squamate (lizards, snakes, amphisbaenians) osteology as revealed by CT, especially cranial anatomy and ‘extraskeletal’ systems such as osteoderms. However, her collaborations via UTCT have resulted in publications on topics as diverse as carbon sequestration, diamond formation, and Ediacaran fauna.
Dr Ed Stanley
University of Florida
Edward Stanley is a herpetologist and evolutionary biologist and heads up the Florida Museum of Natural History's digital imaging laboratory. His research interests include the evolution of armor systems in vertebrates, African biogeography and developing methods of digitizing and disseminating natural history collections.
He received his a B.Sc. Hons. in Zoology from the University of St Andrews, a M.S. in Biology from Villanova University and his Ph.D. in Comparative Biology in 2013 from the Richard Gilder Graduate School at the American Museum of Natural History.
He received his a B.Sc. Hons. in Zoology from the University of St Andrews, a M.S. in Biology from Villanova University and his Ph.D. in Comparative Biology in 2013 from the Richard Gilder Graduate School at the American Museum of Natural History.
Professor Stuart Stock
Northwestern University
Dr Stock completed his undergraduate and masters degrees in materials science and engineering at Northwestern University where he was last post-doc in the same fields. His PhD was in matallurgical engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He was on the materials science faculty at Georgia Tech for more than sixteen years, rising to the rank of professor. In 2001 he returned to Northwestern University, this time to the medical schol. He has over thirty years of experience in x-ray diffraction and imaging, and has published this knowledge in his book “MicroComputed Tomography: Methodology and Applications".