Two globally renowned Oxfordshire research facilities are set to benefit from £4 million funding aimed at offering the next generation of neutron and X-ray science
Scientists at the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s (STFC) Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) will use the funding to lay the groundwork for future development of both major facilities. This will keep them at the cutting edge of what is scientifically possible. Researchers at RAL undertake pioneering work to address some of the important challenges facing society, in areas such as:
- particle physics
- scientific computing
- laser development
- space research
- technology.
RAL is located on the Harwell Campus and is home to a range of laboratories and facilities, and is funded and managed by STFC, part of UKRI.
Part of the funding announced includes £81.5m for the first phase of Diamond-II.
“Diamond’s success owes a great debt of gratitude to the trust and commitment of its funding agencies, the UK Government – through BEIS, UKRI and UKRI’s STFC (Science Technology and Facilities Council), and the Wellcome Trust who have provided ongoing support. It is great to see they are fully behind Diamond-II and all have enabled this funding confirmation. This investment will set a course to strengthen the UK’s global scientific leadership. We are very pleased indeed to have received this support, but we also have to be prepared for the challenges of delivering the Programme in full with the substantial rise in inflation as well as supply chain issues, in a difficult world situation and also in competition with other international facilities.”
Prof. Andrew Harrison, Diamond CEO and Senior Responsible Officer for Diamond-II