CCLRC Annual Report CCLRC Annual Report Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, UK 2004 -2005 Tel: +44 (0)1235 445000 Fax: +44 (0)1235 445808 CCLRC Rutherford Appleton CCLRC Daresbury Laboratory CCLRC Chilbolton Observatory Laboratory Keckwick Lane Drove Road Chilton, Didcot Daresbury, Warrington Chilbolton, Stockbridge Oxfordshire OX11 0QX Cheshire WA4 4AD Hampshire SO20 6BJ UK UK UK 2004 -2005 Tel: +44 (0)1235 445000 Tel: +44 (0)1925 603000 Tel: +44 (0)1264 860391 Fax: +44 (0)1235 445808 Fax: +44 (0)1925 603100 Fax: +44 (0)1264 860142 For further information and advice contact: Publications Editor Communications, CCLRC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, UK Tel: +44 (0)1235 445398 Fax: +44 (0)1235 446665 www.cclrc.ac.uk Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils The Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils’ objects, as defined in its revised Royal Charter, are: (a) to promote and support high-quality scientific and engineering research by developing and providing, by any means, facilities and technical expertise in support of basic, strategic and applied research programmes funded by persons established in this Our United Kingdom and elsewhere; (b) to support the advancement of knowledge and technology (including the promotion and support of the exploitation of research outcomes), meeting the needs of the Research Councils, other customers and Published by TSO (The Stationery Office) and available from: their user communities and, in such matters as Our Secretary of State may from time to time agree, Online to co-ordinate the development of policies and strategies to provide access for scientists to large scale www.tso.co.uk/bookshop facilities both nationally and internationally, thereby contributing to the economic competitiveness of Mail,Telephone, Fax & E-mail Our United Kingdom and the quality of life; TSO PO Box 29, Norwich NR3 1GN Telephone orders/General enquiries 0870 600 5522 (c) in relation to the activities as engaged in by the Council under (a) and (b) above and in such manner Fax orders 0870 600 5533 as the Council may see fit: Order through the Parliamentary Hotline Lo-call 0845 7 023474 E-mail [email protected] – to generate public awareness Textphone 0870 240 3701 – to communicate research outcomes TSO Shops 123 Kingsway, London WC2B 6PQ 020 7242 6393 Fax 020 7242 6394 – to encourage public engagement and dialogue 68-69 Bull Street, Birmingham B4 6AD 0121 236 9696 Fax 0121 236 9699 – to disseminate knowledge; and 9-21 Princess Street, Manchester M60 8AS 0161 834 7201 Fax 0161 833 0634 – to provide advice. 16 Arthur Street, Belfast BT1 4GD 028 9023 8451 Fax 028 9023 5401 18-19 High Street, Cardiff CF10 1PT 029 2039 5548 Fax 029 2038 4347 71 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH3 9AZ 0870 606 5566 Fax 0870 606 5588 The Parliamentary Bookshop 12 Bridge Street, Parliament Square, Edited by Stephanie Hills London SW1A 2JX Telephone orders/General enquiries 020 7219 3890 Designed by Ampersand Design Ltd. 01235 861444 Fax orders 020 7219 3866 Produced by the CCLRC Photographic and Reprographic Services TSO Accredited Agents (see Yellow Pages) and through good booksellers CCLRC Annual Report 2004 - 2005 CCLRC Annual Report 2004-2005 Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (CCLRC) Report and Accounts 2004-2005 Presented pursuant to the Science and Technology Act 1965, C4, S(1), 2(2), 3(3) on 6 July 2005. Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed on 6 July 2005 HC 247 London: The Stationery Office £22.00 1 Council Members The following were members of the Council during the year 2004 - 05. Chairman Professor Sir Graeme Davies FREng University of London Chief Executive Professor John Wood FREng Members Professor Colin Blakemore Chief Executive, MRC until 30/9/04 John Burrows Business Growth and Development Ltd Dr Derek Chadwick Novartis Foundation Professor Mike Cruise University of Birmingham Professor Graham Davies University of Birmingham Stephen Dexter FCA Grant Thornton Professor Robert Donovan University of Edinburgh Professor John Durell University of Manchester Professor Julia Goodfellow CBE Chief Executive, BBSRC until 30/9/04 Professor Peter Gregson University of Southampton Professor Ian Halliday Chief Executive, PPARC until 30/9/04 Anne Kensall Business Advisor Professor John Lawton CBE FRS Chief Executive, NERC until 30/9/04 Professor John O’Reilly FREng Chief Executive, EPSRC until 30/9/04 OST Representative/Observer Paul Williams 2 CCLRC Annual Report 2004 - 2005 Leading world class science in the UK The Council for the Central Laboratory of the • Co-ordination and support of particle physics research Research Councils (CCLRC) is an independent, non- in the UK and contribution to experiments at particle departmental public body of the Office of Science and physics laboratories around the world including CERN; Technology which itself is part of the Department of • High capability computing using HPCx, one of Europe’s Trade and Industry. most powerful academic research computers, e-Science, The CCLRC works with the other research councils to set networking services and user support, and research in future priorities that meet UK science needs. The CCLRC theoretical and computational science; operates three world class research laboratories; the • Microelectronics facilities for the design, procurement, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire, the testing and commissioning of new devices and systems; Daresbury Laboratory in Cheshire and the Chilbolton Observatory in Hampshire. • World-leading wafer scale manufacturing processes for micro- and nano-engineering; Each laboratory offers advanced facilities and expertise to support scientific research; • Research into alternative energy production, radio communications and radar. • ISIS, the world’s most powerful pulsed neutron and muon source - used to study the atomic structure of The CCLRC is UK associate member of the Institut Laue- materials; Langevin, France, a high intensity neutron flux reactor for particle physics, nuclear physics, chemistry, the life sciences • Synchrotron Radiation Source, the UK’s brightest source and materials science. It is also a partner in the European of ultraviolet light and X-rays – for non-invasive Synchrotron Radiation Facility, France, Europe’s most research in materials and life sciences; powerful SR source. • Central Laser Facility with high-power, state-of-the-art On behalf of the UK government, the CCLRC is also the laser facilities for research in fundamental and applied main shareholder in Diamond Light Source Limited. The science and engineering. The Central Laser Facility Diamond synchrotron light source is the largest science includes Vulcan, the world’s highest intensity focused facility to be built in the UK for more than 30 years and is laser; due to start operations in 2007. • Europe’s largest Space Science and Technology department providing satellite and ground based instrumentation, testing and data analysis for Earth observation, astronomy and planetary science; 3 Contents Introduction 4 Section 1 Enabling research 8 Planetary exploration 10 Mapping superconductors 12 The TeraGyroid experiment 14 Storing hydrogen 16 Saving data for the next generation 18 From snake bites …to cancer treatments 20 A forum for fundamental physics 22 Storm chasers 24 Stopping cancer in its tracks 26 Tweezing water 28 Sharing science through the GRID 30 Why matter matters 32 Revealing neutrino secrets 34 RAPID results 36 4 CCLRC Annual Report 2004 - 2005 Contents Section 2 Building partnerships 38 Section 3 Exploiting our potential 44 Section 4 Getting it right for science - investing in the future 48 Section 5 Developing strategy 52 Section 6 Engaging with society 56 Section 7 Awards, appointments and events 62 Section 8 Accounts 2004 - 2005 70 Further Information 120 5 Introduction Balancing delivery of world leading science and technology on a day to day basis with the need to plan for the future on a ten to twenty year time horizon is one of the main challenges for the work of the CCLRC. Visitors constantly comment on the range of activities, length scales and time scales that we operate within. With the excitement of discovery and leadership comes considerable responsibility for the future which the Council is keen to embrace. The last year has seen the CCLRC grow A key element in future funding decisions is into its role as a strategic advisor to the UK as much about socio-economic and government on the need for future large European integration as about the science scale science facilities and the positioning of to be undertaken. This is a critical time the UK within a European and global when decisions made in the UK have context. We are working with the Office of ramifications well beyond our own shores. Science and Technology and other research Essential to supporting these international councils to update the 10-year Roadmap programmes is the need for a critical mass for the UK - a list of new facilities or of scientists and engineers who capture significant upgrades to existing facilities the vision and can realise it wherever a that require major capital investment. facility is built. Building this capacity in Following the UK’s lead, the US new member states has to go hand-in- Department of Energy has produced a hand with sound investment. Likewise, roadmap for the US. Now the CCLRC has the UK cannot remain complacent and I been instrumental, through the European was delighted that the Council adopted a Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures comprehensive training and education (ESFRI) which I chair, in initiating the policy which covers all areas of our activity. creation of a European Roadmap for International partnerships remain essential research infrastructures. It is clear that to global science. For example, CCLRC there are many exciting projects that space science collaborations through ESA might start to be realised at a European with the China National Space level over the next 20 years.