Daresbury's golden anniversary

DARESBURY Laboratory near Warrington – which has an international reputation for excellence in science, celebrates its 50th anniversary this week.
When it opened in 1962 the laboratory was home to the National Institute’s Northern Accelerator. Since then it has pioneered world-leading facilities, techniques and engineering.
Work continues and the site has an international reputation for research excellence.
Head of the laboratory Professor Susan Smith said: “It is tremendous the way Daresbury Laboratory has developed a community in the North West of some of the finest scientific and engineering researchers and technicians at what has become a world-leading research laboratory in areas as diverse as scientific computing, accelerator science, engineering and technology.”
A celebration on Monday was attended by invited guests and present and former colleagues, and looked at the achievements on site during its history.
Professor Smith said: “Looking ahead at what the next 50 years might bring Daresbury, our development in accelerator research could be responsible for future science facilities which would allow scientists to map the atomic details of viruses and film chemical reactions.
“Our collaboration with IBM to bring the fastest and most powerful super-computer in the UK, to Daresbury, will enable researchers to look for scientific breakthroughs that could result in finding cures for serious diseases or significantly improving the prediction of natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods.”
She said the site is currently home to more than 100 high-tech companies employing nearly 500 people in areas such as advanced engineering, digital/ICT, biomedical and energy and environmental technologies.
The recent launch of a Business Incubation Centre offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to exploit the work coming out of CERN, home of the Large Hadron Collider.