In this interview, AZoQuantum speaks to Catherine Yokan at the National Manufacturing Institue Scotland about advanced composite materials for aerospace and space exploration, Scotland’s growing role in the space industry, and more.
Can you tell us about your role as a Senior Research & Development Engineer at the Lightweight Manufacturing Centre? What excites you most about the work you do there?
At the LMC, I work between industry and academia, developing advanced composite materials and new ways of manufacturing them. These materials are used in a range of applications, such as aerospace and space exploration, so my work can involve anything from designing parts for a space launch vehicle to figuring out how to recycle composite materials more efficiently. What excites me the most is seeing the research we do turn into something tangible and real – whether it’s making a spacecraft lighter or helping to reduce waste in manufacturing.
Your work involves advancing space exploration in Scotland. Can you walk us through your current project and some of the key challenges you’ve encountered?
Right now, I’m overseeing the design, assembly, and production of a recoverable second-stage demonstrator for a launch vehicle. Essentially, we’re figuring out how to build part of a rocket that can be reused. One of the biggest challenges is making sure the materials and manufacturing methods are efficient and sustainable – we have to balance technical performance with cost and environmental impact, which means constantly looking at how we can improve the way we make things while keeping them practical and affordable.
Image Credit: National Manufacturing Institute Scotland
How do you see Scotland’s role evolving in the space industry, and what unique contributions do you think Scottish research institutions bring to the field?
Scotland is already making huge strides in the space industry, and I think that’s only going to continue. Research centres like NMIS bring together engineers, researchers, and companies to tackle real-world challenges. There’s a lot of collaboration here, which is key for making aerospace materials more sustainable or finding better ways to manufacture complex parts. Scotland is in a great position to lead in space technology because we have innovative research, extensive industry expertise, and strong networks to link them together.
During your time at NASA Langley Research Centre, you worked on anti-icing polymeric coatings and composite manufacturing for aerospace applications. How did that experience shape your approach to materials engineering and manufacturing in your current role?
Working at NASA gave me hands-on experience with materials that have to perform in extreme environments. I worked on coatings that stop ice forming on aircraft and helped with manufacturing composite parts for wind tunnel fan blades. That experience shaped the way I approach my work because it showed me the importance of precision and testing – making sure materials don’t just work in theory but can actually handle the conditions they’re designed for.
Image Credit: National Manufacturing Institute Scotland
You’ve worked with composite materials in both aerospace and manufacturing – what innovations do you see emerging to make composites more sustainable, and how is your team contributing to this effort?
One of the biggest shifts we’re seeing is towards recyclable composites – materials that can withstand performance requirements, can be taken apart, and then reused. We’re also working on ways to make manufacturing more efficient, using automation to cut waste and reduce energy use. At NMIS, we’re looking at the whole lifecycle of composite materials – not just how to make them but how to extend their use and find better ways to repurpose or recycle them at the end of their life. The goal is to make these materials more sustainable without losing the qualities that make them useful in the first place.
With International Women’s Day celebrated earlier this month, what are your thoughts on the current state of gender diversity in STEM fields? Have you faced any challenges as a woman in engineering, and what advice would you give to young women aspiring to careers in science and technology?
We’ve made progress but there’s still a long way to go. Engineering and aerospace are still very male-dominated, and there have been plenty of times when I’ve been the only woman in the room. That can be isolating, but I’ve learned to focus on the work and not let that hold me back. My advice to young women is, don’t doubt yourself. It’s easy to feel like you don’t belong, but the more women we have in these fields, the more that will change. Find mentors, take opportunities when they come, and trust that you deserve to be here as much as anyone else.
In addition to your technical work, you actively participate in STEM outreach. Why is this an important aspect of your career, and what impact do you hope to have on the next generation of engineers and scientists?
STEM outreach is really important to me because I want to show young people – especially girls and those from underrepresented groups – that engineering is for them. When I was younger, I didn’t see many people like me in these roles, and I want to help change that. By working with schools and universities, I hope to encourage more students to see STEM as something they can be part of. The more diverse the industry becomes, the better ideas we’ll have and the stronger our future workforce will be.
About the Speaker
Catherine Yokan from the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland is playing a key role in advancing space exploration in Scotland. Her background includes roles at NASA and the Fraunhofer IFAM Institute, as well as contributions to a range of cutting-edge aerospace projects. We’ve put together a short summary below, including her thoughts on IWD 2025, and would be happy to develop this further depending on what you’re looking for.
About the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland
The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) is a group of industry-led manufacturing R&D, innovation and skills facilities supported by a network of Partners across Scotland, all working together to transform the future of manufacturing.
The group has a national mandate to create and deliver inspiring, sustainable and translational research and skills for all by accelerating innovation in the manufacturing community.
It is where industry, academia and the public sector work together on ground-breaking manufacturing research to transform productivity levels, make companies more competitive and boost the skills of our current and future workforce.
The NMIS Group includes the University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), Lightweight Manufacturing Centre, Factory, Digital Process Manufacturing Centre and researchers working with companies across the manufacturing community in Scotland, the wider UK and beyond – from aerospace giants to renewable energy disruptors, first-time inventors to household automotive names. It also includes the Manufacturing Skills Academy, which is transforming the manufacturing workforce of today and tomorrow and a Capability Network bringing together leading organisations from across the Scottish research and innovation, education and training communities.
NMIS is operated by the University of Strathclyde. It is supported by the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Island Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland, Renfrewshire Council and the Scottish Funding Council. It is part of the UK’s High Value Manufacturing Catapult.
The flagship NMIS building is at the heart of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland in Renfrewshire. The distinct 11,500m2 heather-coloured building, opened in June 2023, houses the NMIS Digital Factory, Manufacturing Skills Academy, Lightweight Manufacturing Centre and publicly accessible, collaboration hub, with a window to the world welcoming all who pass to look inside the world of advanced manufacturing.
www.nmis.scot
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