Making the Invisible Visible

Explore three application stories

At universities today, access to reliable scientific data and professional-grade tools is essential to preparing the next generation of scientists, engineers, and researchers. As disciplines become more data-driven, institutions need technologies that support accurate measurement, deeper analysis, and hands-on learning, without limiting access to a single lab or specialized research group.

Thermal imaging helps meet that need by making invisible heat patterns visible and measurable. When students can observe temperature change, radiation, absorption, and dissipation in real time, abstract concepts become easier to understand and easier to apply.

The Flir A40 Research and Development Kit brings that capability into academic environments with research-grade thermal imaging performance, an accessible price point, and scalable licensing through Flir Research Studio. Together, the camera and software make it possible to bring radiometric data, real-world experiments, and practical analysis skills into more classrooms and research programs.

The following application stories from the University of Sussex show how accessible thermal imaging can support physics and astronomy education, psychology and life sciences research, and data-driven measurement workflows.

Application Story 1: Physics and Astronomy Education

Turning abstract concepts into real-world understanding

In physics and astronomy, some of the most important ideas are also the hardest to see. Energy transfer, radiation, and invisible wavelengths can be difficult to explain through theory alone. Thermal imaging gives students a way to connect those concepts with direct observation.

“Thermal cameras are a wonderful tool because they allow us to reveal things that are normally invisible. They help students see concepts that would otherwise remain abstract,” says Darren Baskill, Professor of Astronomy and Head of Outreach, University of Sussex, UK.

By making the invisible visible, thermal imaging changes how students engage with scientific principles. They can observe heat transfer, absorption, and dissipation in real time, turning abstract concepts into practical, memorable experiences.

In astronomy education, thermal imaging also provides a natural introduction to the electromagnetic spectrum. It reinforces a central scientific idea: instruments extend human observation and open new ways to understand the physical world.

Low-cost, easy-to-use solutions such as the A40 Research and Development Kit allow universities to scale these experiences across more classrooms, more programs, and earlier stages of the academic journey.

Darren Baskill, Professor of Astronomy and Head of Outreach at the University of Sussex, focuses on physics education and STEM outreach, using visual technologies like thermal imaging to help students understand complex scientific concepts.

Application Story 2: Psychology and Life Sciences

Non-contact measurement of human and animal physiology

Thermal imaging is often associated with engineering and physics, but its value in psychology and biology is equally important, particularly in the study of physiological responses and behavior.

Professor Gillian Forrester at the University of Sussex has pioneered the use of thermal imaging in psychological research, applying it to the study of stress and emotional responses in both humans and non-human primates. Her work highlights one of the technology’s most useful advantages: non-contact, objective measurement.

“Thermal imaging offers a window beyond the surface of the skin,” explains Dr. Forrester. “It allows us to see how people are feeling physiologically.”

Traditional methods for measuring stress, such as heart rate monitoring or surveys, can introduce bias or influence the results. Thermal imaging helps reduce those limitations by allowing researchers to observe physiological changes without interfering with the subject.

“It is completely non-contact, objective and portable. It is a game changer,” she says.

One compelling example is the identification of the “nasal dip,” a measurable temperature change associated with stress responses. As Dr. Forrester explains, “Every single participant in the study exhibited a nasal dip, with temperature changes ranging between 2 and 7 degrees Celsius.” That level of measurable, repeatable data shows how thermal imaging can support rigorous scientific analysis, not just qualitative observation.

The technology also enables research with populations where traditional methods may not be viable. Professor Forrester’s work includes infants and great apes, groups that cannot verbally communicate their internal states.

For universities, this creates new opportunities for collaboration across psychology, biology, and data science. Students gain hands-on experience working with real datasets, applying analysis tools, and contributing to meaningful research.

Thanks to accessible platforms like the A40 Research and Development Kit, these capabilities are no longer limited to specialized research labs. They can be integrated into undergraduate projects, graduate research, and collaborative field studies, expanding both participation and impact.

Gillian Forrester, Professor of Evolutionary Psychology at the University of Sussex, focuses on human and primate behavior, using non-contact thermal imaging to study physiological stress and emotional responses in people and animals.

Application Story 3: Data Analysis and Measurement

Research workflows, from imaging to measurement

Across scientific disciplines, the value of imaging lies not only in visualization but in measurement. Researchers need to extract quantitative data from images and turn that data into scientific insight.

Professor Stephen Wilkins describes this transition clearly: “The image provides the observation, but measurement is what allows us to extract scientific understanding.”

In fields such as astronomy, engineering, and environmental science, this process depends on high-quality data and effective analytical tools. Thermal imaging systems must capture accurate temperature data and help researchers process, analyze, and interpret that data efficiently.

“The quality of the data directly influences the quality of the scientific conclusions we can draw,” says Dr. Wilkins.

Integrated software platforms such as Flir Research Studio are essential to that workflow. By supporting data capture, visualization, and export, they help students and researchers move from collection to analysis with fewer barriers.

Flir’s academic licensing model expands software access across entire classes, while Python and MATLAB integration supports advanced analysis and custom workflows. Professor Forrester’s lab also demonstrates how thermal data can be applied to AI, computer vision, and modeling.

For universities, this reinforces the cross-disciplinary value of thermal imaging, not just as a teaching tool, but as a platform for innovation.

Stephen Wilkins, Professor of Astronomy at the University of Sussex, focuses on galaxy formation and infrared astronomy, using advanced imaging and data analysis to explore the structure and evolution of the universe.

Expanding Access, Inspiring Discovery

The Flir A40 Research and Development Kit enables universities to move beyond limited lab access and extend radiometric imaging and analysis capabilities across departments, classrooms, and research programs. Students gain hands-on experience with real data, researchers expand the scope of their studies, and institutions create stronger connections between education, research, and real-world application.

Affordability and ease of deployment are central to this shift. By lowering the barrier to entry, the A40 Kit makes it possible to scale infrared discovery, supporting everything from foundational teaching to advanced cross-disciplinary research.

Ultimately, the impact of accessible thermal imaging is not only in what it reveals. It is in what it enables: curiosity, experimentation, and meaningful scientific exploration.

Learn more: Flir A40 Research and Development Kits