STFC Secures International Nuclear Physics Collaborations for UK

Nuclear physicists in the UK will be key to three major international projects following a £7 million investment confirmed by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

The projects, based at CERN in Switzerland and the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility in the US, focus on significant upgrades for research facilities that aim to understand the building blocks of the early universe and unpick the mysteries of matter, as well as answer some of the fundamental questions, such as how stars are born and evolve.

For the UK this will mean the development of new skills and brand new technologies, particularly in the field of detectors and sensors that could be transferred into world changing applications.  STFC’s Chief Executive, Professor John Womersley, said: “As the UK sponsor of nuclear physics, STFC is committed both to keeping the UK at the forefront of research in this area and making sure we contribute to and profit from related technologies. This is a very exciting time to be involved in nuclear physics.  This new investment reinforces our commitment to the field and will help to develop the UK’s next generation of nuclear physicists and engineers.”

Hugh Montgomery, the Jefferson Lab Director expressed his pleasure at this news, "While Jefferson Lab receives its base funding from the US Department of Energy, the experiments we mount and our 1300 active users receive support from other agencies. We are especially proud of the international contributions and see this investment from the United Kingdom as a resounding vote of confidence in the strength and importance of our 12 GeV programme. "

For details of the projects visit www.stfc.ac.uk